The significant details of a building’s architectural design include the type of roof, sealing, windows, walls, interior fittings and the floor. A floor is a key aspect of a building because it contributes to the aesthetic feel and often determines how warm or cool the building’s interior temperature will be, as well how cosy the interior looks and feels. While there are different options available to choose from for flooring, more homes and buildings are now being built with laminate floors.
What are the different types of laminate floors?
There are two major types of laminate floors. These are engineered wood and plastic laminate.
Engineered wood
This can be described as legit wood which is just pieced together with glue, with each piece intricately perpendicular to another piece below and above. This is normally preferred by people who love the natural feel of wood. This of course comes at a higher price than plastic laminate. The downside to this type of flooring is that it can easily be stained and scratched but the good news is that all it takes is some sanding and refining and you have a clean and rejuvenated floor again.
Plastic laminate
Plastic laminate is the complete opposite of engineered wood because it’s artificial. This floor type is made of a layer of melamine on the bottom, a resin-saturated fibreboard centre, and a woodgrain print on the top with a layer of clear hard plastic for protection. This floor is durable and ideal for busy places with regular foot traffic and in places prone to water leaks and possible floods. This floor can withstand huge amounts of water and moisture, shoes with sand and possibly pet claws.
What are the advantages of laminate flooring?
Cheaper - The cost of designing and implementing is something that many people struggle with. When you compare the cost involved with buying materials and laying the floor, you will realise laminate floors are on the list of the least expensive.
Easy to install – You don’t need a special skill or contractors’ licence to install a laminate floor. All you need are the cut pieces and other important materials like floor glue, and you are good to go.
Environmentally friendly – The wood used for laminate floor can be recycled and reused. This reduces the amount of waste deposited into the environment.
Easier maintenance – You don’t need specialised services to maintain this type of floor. All you need is a good mop and water or affordable and readily available laminate cleaning agents for the floor.
Healthier environment - Some types of floors are not only expensive but are a threat to human safety. Tiles, marbles and others are expensive floors and can get very slippery and dangerous to fall on. Laminate floors are cheaper and safer especially if you have children in your household.
Here is a detailed guide on cleaning laminate floors
First things first, you need to clear the floors of any dust and debris. You can do this by using a broom or vacuum cleaner. Just remember to put the vacuum cleaner on bare floor setting as you do this.
Do not use soap products as part of the mopping process because they leave the floor looking dull. Rather use hot water with some white vinegar.
Your choice of mop should be microfibre or chamois mop instead of a sponge mop. This is because sponge squeezes huge amounts of dirt and water into grout.
Avoid using a wet mop because excess water causes the wood to swell. It’s advisable to use a damp mop.
When mopping, you need to map your way so that you don’t step back on a freshly mopped floor. The simple rule is to start from the back going towards the front exit.
If you are dealing with nasty stubborn spots such as paint, lipstick and oil, just put some nail polish remover on a cloth and wipe them off.
Children often stick chewing gums on floors. To remove such, place some ice cubes on those areas and then after some minutes, you can use a scrapper to remove it.
To learn more on the laminate floor cleaning process, you can watch this video:
The guidelines provided above if properly implemented will assist you with having shiny and long-lasting laminate floors.
