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The value of laminate flooring
Style, affordability, and functionality are just some of the benefits of laminate floors. One question we hear time and again in our laminate flooring showroom is whether it can add value to your home. Yes, it can, especially if you are savvy about your selection.
Take wood; prospective buyers gravitate toward homes with wood floors so a wood look is a reasonable alternative. Stone adds immediate architectural interest to your home and tile is known for increasing value. Be sure, however, to buy the very best quality possible for superior appearance and performance. This is what to look for:
Take wood; prospective buyers gravitate toward homes with wood floors so a wood look is a reasonable alternative. Stone adds immediate architectural interest to your home and tile is known for increasing value. Be sure, however, to buy the very best quality possible for superior appearance and performance. This is what to look for:
A vibrant, accurate, and clear image layer
Good quality laminate is taken with 3D photography, resulting in a brilliant, true-to-life image. You should be able to see knots, grains, swirls, wormholes, and veining/color variations. It should have embossing for depth, dimension and textured appearances, such as wire brushed, hand scraped, weathered, and distressed. Finishes come in a wide assortment of matte, gloss, and high gloss colors.
It should be at least 8-mm thick
Yes, you can get it thinner, but it will feel softer and less stable when you walk on it. If you are opting for planks, you should go as high as 10-mm to 12-mm for that authentic wood feeling. You will be pleased with how it feels underfoot.
Look for an HDF core
Laminate is highly water-resistant, but not completely waterproof, as it is made from wood by products. Therefore, go with the thicker and most resistant to liquid and that is HDF, "high-density fiberboard." MDF (medium-density fiberboard) is used mainly for furniture.
Check the AC (Abrasion Criterion) rating
This is a rating system of durability. For example, AC-1 means it’s appropriate only for low traffic floors. It is recommended to use AC-3 or AC-4 for residential, as they run the gamut from medium to high-density floors. AC-5 is usually used for commercial applications.
Correct installation will affect the floor’s appearance
The floating floor technique is the preferred choice; pieces click together, form a mat, and hover over the subfloor. Joints need to be correctly and tightly aligned with expanders and caulking used when necessary. Subfloors must be clean, dry, and level; sometimes the installer will sand it to be sure it’s smooth so subfloor imperfections don’t telegraph to the surface.
Learn how laminate flooring can improve the value of your home in Hamilton Township, NJ, Trenton, NJ, Bordentown Township, NJ, Ewing Township, NJ, and Robbinsville Township, NJ. Come into the Capitol Floor Covering showroom in Hamilton, NJ to speak to our knowledgeable staff. Be sure to ask about our laminate flooring specials and get a free estimate.
Learn how laminate flooring can improve the value of your home in Hamilton Township, NJ, Trenton, NJ, Bordentown Township, NJ, Ewing Township, NJ, and Robbinsville Township, NJ. Come into the Capitol Floor Covering showroom in Hamilton, NJ to speak to our knowledgeable staff. Be sure to ask about our laminate flooring specials and get a free estimate.
