Laminate

Foundation Flooring offers a wide selection of HDF (high density fiberboard) laminate products. The top melamine veneer design layer is top notch and can simulate the looks of natural stone, hardwood, or tile.

Our laminate flooring solutions are ideal for the high traffic areas of your home. This is because they are easy to maintain. Laminates are an excellent solution for homeowners or rental properties with active life styles (kids, animals, and/or do lots of entertaining.)

Pros of laminates

In addition to high resilience, laminate also presents several other important benefits:

• Laminate does not fade or suffer from discolorations related to prolonged UV exposure (perfect for sunny rooms).
• Great for families or renters with active life styles (dogs, kids, and/or lots of entertaining)
• Easy to clean and maintain via sweeping or vacuuming (do not use water to clean)
• Typically packed in 4-foot strips, they are easy to maneuver, install, and remove if necessary.

Cons of laminates

A viable solution in numerous situations, laminate comes with a few setbacks:

• Low resale values compared to other floors (hardwood).
• It is relatively hard underfoot and has a slight “click” sound from traffic even with a foam underlayment.
• Relatively slippery (some laminate come with an extra slip-resistance layer).
• It cannot be refinished or sanded.

What is laminate flooring?

Invented approximately 40 years ago, this fabricated flooring option is essentially a material obtained from fusing various materials together via the lamination process. Versatile, available in a plethora of styles, easy to maintain and highly affordable, laminate has often been dubbed as a super material. The reason for its incredible resilience resides in the structure of the laminate floor, a composition that feature:

• The top layer – usually obtained from an aluminum oxide treatment, making it both invisible and resistant to wear and tear
• Decorative layer – is essentially the coating of laminate that grants the flooring its wonderful appearance; it is available in various pattern and printing options ranging from hardwood and cork to ceramic, natural stone and brick pavers
• Fiberboard core – obtained from sawdust or wood chips that are ground into fine powder and then coated with resins for extra durability, this is the hub of the laminate flooring
• Back layer – the stratum has the important role of creating a moisture barrier between the fiberboard core and the decorative layer; the back layer also adds more stability to the flooring and makes the installation smoother
• Underlayment – by installing a cork or foam roll underlayment you will considerably reduce the hallow noise specific to this flooring solution.  The underlayment also acts as a moisture barrier to protect the laminate from moisture coming through the subfloor. Some also contain anti-microbials to protect against mold and mildew.

We invite you to browse through Foundation Floors' inventory and find your future laminate floor today.