Materials and Construction

Laminate flooring is type of flooring made of a laminate material. Laminate flooring is made to look like natural products such as wood flooring or natural stone, yet is made up of either synthetic materials (usually melanine resin) or of synthetic materials combined with natural and recycled ingredients and covered with an attached decorative applique including an aluminum oxide finish.

Laminate flooring has a dense inner core and a glued-on layer or fused layers of outer material. Many types of laminate flooring simulate wood, but some look like marble or granite. A popular alternative to other hard surface products, high-quality laminate flooring resists staining, wear, and fading much better than wood and natural stone while providing unique looks and appeal. It's durable (about 20 times stronger than a kitchen countertop) and is water-resistant, offering use in bathrooms and kitchens in addition to high traffic areas. Unlike most hardwoods, laminates are quite dent-resistant.

1. The protective top layer or overlay
This special developed transparent layer has a specific cellulose structure and is impregnated with resin. This creates a very high wear-resistance.
2. The design layer
Photograph of real wood or tiles printed onto paper which is embedded in resin, shows a variety of attractive and very natural patterns.
3. The water resistant glued HDF board
This High Density Fibreboard has a very high-density and is water resistant glued. This gives the board a relative moisture-resistance character. This kind of board is better than the normal chipboard or MDF board because it has a higher solidity and a better shock-resistance.
4. The resin under layer
This layer, embedded in resin, is made up of melamine which creates a moisture-resistant under layer for the floor

Care

Laminate floors are considered to be very low-maintenance when compared to wood floors. Unlike natural wood, laminate floors do not require waxing, oiling or staining. It is important to keep laminate clean, as dust, dirt and sand particles may scratch the decorative surface over time in high-traffic areas.

Adhesive felt pads are often placed on the feet of furniture on laminate floors to prevent scratching.

Glueless laminate floors may gradually become separated, creating visible gaps between planks. It is important to "tap" the planks back together using the appropriate tool as you notice the gaps, otherwise dirt will fill the gaps making it difficult to close them later.

Benefits

Probably the greatest laminate flooring benefit is its ability to add a smart and sophisticated look to a room, with the cost being considerably less than what it would be if real wood flooring was used. The other main benefit of laminate flooring is the natural look of a genuine wood floor that most good quality laminate flooring products have.

A further laminate flooring benefit is the installation can be relatively simple if a few guide lines are followed. A considerable number of laminate flooring manufacture’s now supply glueless laminate flooring systems which simply slot together, making these systems ideal for both the DIY market are professional contractors.
 
The durability of laminate flooring is another benefit that is far superior to real wood flooring. Laminate flooring is approximately fifteen times stronger than hardwood flooring, and most come with a 10 or 15 year warranty. This is a considerable benefit over real wood flooring.

Apart from the three main benefits shown above, laminate flooring also has other smaller benefits that can get overlooked :

Unlike real wood flooring, laminate flooring has a high UV resistance which blocks the harmful rays of the sun and protects the design from fading. This benefit can save alot of future maintenance that would be required to keep a real wood floor looking as good as laminate flooring.