Laminate flooring looks and feels similar to real hardwood and can imitate tile or stone flooring. Due to its wide range of styles, durability, and high moisture resistance, this flooring material has always been a popular option with homeowners. It’s also easier to clean and is ideal for high-traffic areas and rooms that may be exposed to direct sunlight.
In this article, we’ll talk about different types of laminate floor materials. You may also want to check out our article about the costs to install laminate flooring.
Types of Laminate Floor
There are many types of laminate flooring, and each differs in terms of its characteristics, installation processes, and AC rating, which refers to its wear rating, etc. You may find all kinds of laminate flooring in our store at the best price.
Installation
Based on installation type, laminate flooring can be classified into four types.
- Pre-glued laminate flooring has the glue already applied, so you can just snap the planks into place. Some edges have to be moistened to activate the glue,
- Glued laminate flooring is very durable because you need to glue the joints of planks or tiles together. Installation cost and time are higher than with a glue-less click-lock laminate.
- Glue-less click-lock laminate flooring is easy to install, so it’s the most popular type. The mess is kept to a minimum, and it is easy to fix your mistakes.
- Underlayment attached laminate flooring comes with an included underlayment, so all you need to do is snap planks into place.
Installation types are especially important to consider if you’re installing the laminate flooring yourself.
AC Rating
AC stands for Abrasion Criteria, so AC rating indicates how resistant the laminate flooring is to general wear and tear. The scale ranges from AC1 to AC5. The higher the rating, the more wear and tear the flooring can cope with. For example, AC4 is ideal for all areas of your home and some commercial spaces, and AC5 is ideal for heavy-duty traffic in commercial spaces.
Features
Laminate flooring products also include features that improve their durability, so you can use them in different areas of your home. For example, a scratch-resistant coating makes laminate a good choice for high-traffic areas of your home. And water-resistant and water-proof laminate flooring features additional layers and special locking designs so you can install it in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
If you are looking to install a laminate floor, at Stone & Tile, you can find a huge selection of laminate wood flooring, including waterproof and water-resistant options. We also offer a wide range of wood trim moldings, including
Instaform profile that can be used to create 5 different applications.
