Renovations can be expensive, but they do not always have to be. Laminate flooring provides the best of both worlds. It is an extremely attractive type of flooring that is affordable and durable. With laminate, you can have the same styles that you see in hardwood flooring for a fraction of the price. Invision Hardwood & Décor offers laminate flooring solutions to all of its clients.
What to Expect with Laminate Flooring
So you are considering installing laminate flooring in your house. There are a few things that you should know first. Laminate is a relatively new style of flooring, designed in the modern era. It features a well-designed layer technology. The top layer, or tread layer, is transparent, stain-resistant, and durable. The decorative layer is below the tread layer and is the main component that creates the distinctive styles associated with laminate flooring. Below that layer is the fiberboard core, which provides impact resistance and stability to the flooring. Finally, the bottom layer is reinforced with melamine, which adds structural stability and moisture resistance.
There are two major advantages that laminate flooring has over other types of flooring. First, it is affordable. It won’t break your budget and it will provide you with a beautiful floor for your home. Secondly, it is stylish and comes in a variety of patterns and styles.
The Costs
If you are ready to commit to laminate flooring, you probably want to know how much it will cost you. The cheapest forms of laminate will cost you less than $1 per square foot, while the more expensive versions can cost as high as $5. On average, a square foot of laminate flooring will cost you around $2.50 to $4.
The price of laminate flooring is determined by the quality of the materials you use. For laminate, the thicker the wear layer, the more expensive it will be. The wear layer is extremely important as it will determine the overall longevity of your laminate. For example, cheap laminate will have a wear layer that is 3mm thin, mid-quality 7mm to 10mm, and high quality 12mm to 15mm. In addition, a stronger and more moisture resistant bottom layer will increase your costs, but that could be a valuable investment if you plan to install your laminate in an area with a lot of moisture.
Installing laminate flooring in smaller rooms is actually more costly per square foot. Cutting pieces for smaller rooms is far more time consuming than laying entire boards down in a larger room. If you are hiring an installation service, this is something to consider.
A general rule of thumb to consider when purchasing laminate flooring is to buy 5 to 10 percent extra. This will compensate for trimming, potential waste, and any unforeseen mistakes. It is always better to have extra materials. There is nothing worse than taking an unnecessary trip to the store—mid project—because you ran out of materials. Plan ahead and you will save yourself both time and money.
Invision Hardwood & Décor has been working with laminate flooring for many years. We offer retail and installation services to customers located in Toronto, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Woodbridge, Vaughan, and the entire GTA. If you have any questions about our flooring selection or installation services, please feel free to contact us today. We would be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.
