Those of you who have put parquet at home know for sure that there are several options to choose such as solid parquet and laminate flooring. But what is the difference between them?
Why do you choose one variant and not the other? What conditions impose a certain choice? Is it wise to hire Laminate Flooring Installers in Allen? So, let us discuss the advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring before hiring any expert.
But First The Description of The Variants
Laminate flooring is a synthetic product obtained from several superimposed layers. The appearance of wood is given by an image of wood, practically a photograph or a drawing over which a layer of varnish is applied. The image is very real even for a stranger, very difficult to distinguish wood.
It reproduces the natural pattern of wood, with fiber, knots, pores, but also some effects created by finishes made on wood, such as signs of aging or deterioration of wood over time.
This image is placed on a panel derived from wood, MDF or HDS (high density panels). The sandwich is completed with layers of resin and adhesive. Laminate flooring panels are made to be easily mounted on the groove and groove principle (tongue and groove).
- Laminate flooring can be purchased from Theflooringandremodelingshop at Allen
- Laminate flooring is the cheapest type of flooring
- The solid parquet is obtained from solid wood, being practically a single piece of wood
- Harder essences of wood, oak, acacia are used
Various Advantages of Laminate Flooring
Exotic Essences
It must withstand the pressure and mechanical aggression given. The pieces of solid parquet are also built to join, but there are also straight elements that are glued or nailed to a support. Laminate flooring looks like a combination of the 2 variants. That is, it is a product obtained from the overlapping of several layers, but, unlike the laminate flooring which is synthetic, here it is about layers of wood.
Basically, what can be seen is a layer of solid wood obtained by cutting or rolling from a log, thicker than a technical veneer, to withstand several maintenance operations (scraping and repainting). This layer is glued over layers of technical veneer and placed perpendicular to each other, just like plywood. This composite is then processed and finished exactly like solid parquet.
Layered
Every of these variants have its own advantages and disadvantages. Laminate flooring has the advantage of a very good price, versatility and the fact that it is very easy to install. There are several classes of laminate flooring, depending on the quality.
Specialists of Laminate Flooring Installers in Allen do not recommend installing cheap laminate flooring in areas with high humidity such as the bathroom or kitchen. Cheap laminate flooring has low moisture and scratch resistance.
Durable and Resistance to Moisture
A transparent, waterproof outer layer that provides protection against stains, bumps, scratches, burns and household chemicals. A layer of pattern: a high-resolution image of genuine wood or sandstone that is reproduced by sophisticated printing techniques and finished with melamine resin.
It is very durable and resistant to constant moisture. A layer of balance, which guarantees a perfectly balanced plate, which will not deepen or bend when properly mounted and maintained.
Attractive Models
You will easily discover the perfect flooring solution for the interior of your home in the extensive palette of colors and styles, with modern and traditional models, tiles and floors – large, small or very large.
Quick and Easy Installation
There is a simple, fast and intuitive method of installing laminate floors. No, it’s not a dream! The Flooring & Remodeling Shop makes it extremely easy to mount your floor – even in the narrowest corners of a room. If it seems hard, you must hire experienced Laminate Flooring Installers in Allen from The Flooring & Remodeling Shop.
Quality and Durability
Quick-Step takes the protection of your floor seriously. For this reason, Quick-Step laminate floors come with 1 year warranty – and a highly effective Scratch Guard coating, which makes your laminate flooring up to ten times more scratch-resistant.
Easy Maintenance
With Quick-Step laminate flooring, it’s really easy to keep your floor beautiful and clean. When combined with the appropriate insulation layer and floating mounted, laminate flooring is perfectly suited for under-floor heating or cooling.
Excellent Impact Resistance
At the heart of our laminate flooring is a high-quality, high-density fiberboard (HDF). Combined with the scratch-guard, it gives your floors protection against fallen objects such as high heels and etc. The patented Scratch Guard provides you with the guarantee that you will enjoy your beautiful, natural-looking floor for many years to come.
Unlike solid parquet, laminate is much more dimensionally stable due to the way it is made. It can be mounted without problems on the ground floor and in other areas where the solid one is not recommended. It can be mounted directly on the concrete floor if it has a maximum humidity of 4%. It is more resistant from a mechanical point of view, but we must not forget that the first layer is also a layer of solid wood.
Great Sound for a Pleasant Atmosphere
When combined with a Quick-Step insulation layer, the motherboards used in our floors are optimized for everyday use, producing excellent, pleasant sound.
No Discoloration
Are you afraid to move your furniture because of the discolored floor? With Quick-Step laminate flooring, you can reorganize as much as you want. When exposed to normal levels of (solar) light, our floors retain their original shade, year after year.
Permanent Anti-Static
All Quick-Step floors were treated with an antistatic surface. This way, you don’t have to worry about annoying electrostatic discharges. In addition, thanks to the treatment, your floor will attract much less dust than other floors.
Some Disadvantages of Laminate Flooring
Unnatural
The main disadvantage of this laminate flooring is the unnatural and “broken” noise it makes when you step on it. It is different from wood flooring and sometimes quite strong. It can be attenuated using quality laminate flooring and materials that soundproof and absorb noise. However, no matter how well it is mounted, it will never sound like wood.
Solid and laminate flooring are quite similar, even in terms of price, but they also have elements that differentiate them. Solid parquet is always the most desired, but sometimes difficult to access due to the price. It has natural beauty and “warmth”, and with proper maintenance it will last a long time. It should be noted, however, that, being a solid wood, it also has restrictions, and for some disadvantages.
Humidity
It has dimensional variations depending on humidity, so it is not recommended for the ground floor of homes or for installation in cellars, bathrooms or kitchens. Also due to the humidity, it is never mounted directly on the concrete floor.
Holes or Bevels
It is less resistant to mechanical shocks, so this should be taken into account before mounting in areas where you drive with heeled shoes or where there is a risk of heavy objects falling on the floor. As a result of such mechanical aggressions, holes or bevels may appear on the surface of the parquet. Larger pets are not the “friends” of the massive floor either.
Hire Laminate Flooring Installers in Allen
Laminate flooring is ready finished, the only thing you need to do is install it. Solid or laminate flooring can be finished at the factory or after installation. Finishing in production is done with oils or varnishes that are very resistant to scratches or mechanical shocks. Finishing after assembly can be done with wax, oil or special varnishes for traffic, with high hardness.
As for the installation, it is good that, in the case of solid parquet, it should be done by professionals. Due to the dimensional variation, the distance must be left near the wall to allow expansion. If no such areas are left, the parquet will swell.
You need to have some knowledge and it is good to document yourself very well before you start. Or, better yet, search for professional Laminate Flooring Installers in Allen for the best results. Contact The Flooring & Remodeling Shop for more details