Laminate Wood Flooring Buying Guide

Laminate flooring has been a common choice in the European market for a number of years, however only recently has it gained popularity in the South African market as an affordable, stylish alternative to traditional wood floors.

What is Laminate Wood flooring?
Laminate wooden flooring is made up of four layers of materials and is available in a number of realistic textures, styles and designs. The four layers are:

• The top layer, which is also known as the wear layer and provides the protection from stains and fading.
• The design layer consists of a high resolution photographic image that gives the floor a realistic wood look and feel.
• The Inner core which is high density fibre board, made from fused wood fibres and resin.
• Lastly the backing layer, which is a moisture barrier and prevents any warping of the floors.

Laminate Wood Flooring Styles
One of the advantages of laminate wooded floors is the vast range of styles, designs and textures available. As mentioned above the design is made up of a highly detailed photograph of real wood which is then “fused” onto the laminate floors to give it a realist wooden look.

View our range of laminate wood flooring to find the perfect look.

How much does laminate flooring cost?
This is a very common question, and the good news is that laminate flooring is one of the most affordable alternatives to conventional wood floors. Prices start at R149 per square metre, but these floors are usually of lower quality and sometimes do not look very realistic. Top brands such as Quick Step start at R249 per square metre and offer quality flooring with a natural look and texture. Other quality brands include Balterio, Kaindl and Finfloor. Read our Laminate Wood Flooring Price Guide

Where to buy laminate wood flooring?
Any reputable flooring company will be able to provide you with a wide selection of laminate wood flooring in different colours, designs and textures.

You can also browse our online catalogue of our range of laminate wood flooring.

Laminate Wood Flooring: Make the right choice
With the endless range and multitude of styles available it can often be a daunting task when trying to decide on what laminated wood floor to choose.

Here are the key basics you need to consider when buying laminate flooring:

• Application

Where is the laminate wood flooring going? Is it in the home, in a high traffic area or is it for the office? If the floors will be in a high traffic area then you need a laminate with a high Abrasion Class (AC) rating. For most residential homes an AC rating of 3 will be suitable. When in doubt ask the flooring experts.

Read more about Abrasion Class(AC) Ratings for Laminate Wood Flooring.

• Quality and Price

As with most products, you pay for what you get. Laminated wood floors are a much more affordable alternative to traditional wood floors, but it is advisable to select a well know brand, such as Quick step, Finfloor or Balterio. Thickness is not an indicator of quality; rather look at the AC rating to see if the floor is suitable for the application. Other features that all quality laminate flooring products will have is a UV rating to protect the product from fading and choose a floor that has dense treated edges so that they can be installed seamlessly and remain that way over time.

• Warranty

All good manufactures offer a warranty on their product. For example the Quick Step range of laminate floors, which are imported from Belgium, offer a 25 year warranty for residential applications. A great long term investment for your home.

Why Choose Laminate Wood Flooring?
There are many benefits as to why you should choose a laminate wood floor, and here are some of them.

Long lasting: most laminate floors are extremely durable and can last for years and come with a 25 year warranty.
Budget friendly: real traditional wood flooring can be extremely expensive, while for a fraction of the price you can get the same look and style with a wooden laminate floor.
Wide selection: no matter what look and design you are after, form sleek and professional to sleek and chic, you will find the perfect colour, texture and style to suite your tastes.

Read our full article on Laminate Wood Flooring versus Traditional Wood Floors

Exclusive Floors are leaders in the supply and installation of quality Laminate Wood Floors. Contact us for more information or browse our range of Laminated Wood Flooring online.