How To Choose Your Laminate Flooring

Choosing flooring can be a minefield, there are so many different options. Having recently renovated our house we have used several different types of flooring for different areas, choosing laminate for the big kitchen diner space. We chose laminate because it was cost effective and easy to clean and warmer on the feet than tiles. I was also really worried that tiles would be hard and hurt our little people should they fall on them. Once we had decided that we were going with laminate flooring we just had to choose which one. There are lots of things to consider when choosing laminate flooring so I thought I would put together this post about how to choose which one is right for you and your home. It's worth saying that we are really pleased with the laminate flooring that we used in the kitchen diner and have since gone onto update the flooring in the study with laminate too. The laminate in our lounge will need updating soon too and I'll be opting for laminate in there and not carpet because it's hardwearing and easy to clean.

Laminated Wood

Laminate flooring is made up of a HDF core which is recycled particle wood with a laminate image layer on top to give its final look and finish. It is about half the price of an engineered wood floor and if you get a good quality one, it looks as good. It's very hardwearing and will last better in environments that are likely to get wet like the kitchen or bathroom. It is very versatile and can be used in most rooms in your home. It's easy to clean and not cold underfoot like other flooring can be. It's a great choice for a practical home.

Thickness

Laminate flooring comes in different thicknesses, generally from 6 millimetres to 12 millimetres thick. The thicker the laminate the better it will cover an uneven floor below. The thicker the laminate the more expensive it is likely to be. You also need to consider the level of your floor, as with the added underlay you need to measure how high up you want the floor to come - you don't want it much higher or lower than the floor in an adjoining room for example.

Resistance to wear

Different types of laminate are suitable for different areas of your home. You need a more resistant laminate for high traffic areas of your home like the hallway and you can get away with a less resistant one in areas that don't get as much footfall like bedrooms. The resistance rating goes from AC1 to AC5 with the AC5 rating being the most hardwearing. Most people recommend getting a laminate with an AC rating of 3 or above, or else you'll need to replace it sooner.

Installation

You need to consider the ease of installation. If you are going to lay the laminate yourself you'll want to go for a tongue and groove easy click system so it's not too difficult to do yourself. If you are having a professional do the work it might be worth asking them which type of laminate they prefer to install.

Warranty

Consider whether the flooring that you buy comes with a warranty. Sometimes they can come with a lengthy warranty which might be worth paying a little bit more for. You can find laminates with warranties that go as long as 25 years!

So I hope that has given you some things to consider when you are picking out your new laminate flooring. If you found this post useful please share it or you could always Pin it for later...