Gone are the days when laminate floors were seen as cheap, plastic imitation of real hardwood flooring. Technological advancements over the years have led to the improvement of the laminate technology, making the current laminates more beautiful, durable and most importantly, affordable.
The use of laminate floors can be traced back to the late 1970s – a period when grooves and tongues were glued together during a floating installation, leading to the creation of flooring surfaces which looked more like plastic.
A lot of changes have been witnessed in the manufacture of laminate floors, and now they present a cheap option for thousands of homeowners who desire durable and beautiful flooring solutions for their homes.
The Manufacture of Laminate Floors
1. There is a bottom backing layer, also known as the balancing layer, which is used to give stable support for the rest of the laminate plank.
2. A high-density fiberboard core or a particle board is then placed on top of the backing layer. The core is designed with melamine particles to offer more protection against moisture.
3. The next layer features image of the actual wood grain, stone pattern or ceramic tile. The technology used in making the floors is constantly developing and is geared towards making boards look very similar to their hardwood counterparts.
4. Melamine resin and aluminum oxide particles are then placed on the top layer of the laminate floors, and the primary duty of these substances is to offer protection against wear, fading, and staining.
All the four layers are pressed together using enormous amounts of heat and pressure. The sheets are then divided and cut into individual planks, fitted with groove edges and click-clock tongues. Before being packaged, stocked or sold, the planks undergo a thorough quality check to ensure they will offer the best value for customers.