Laminate flooring has been gaining immense popularity among homeowners due to its affordability and versatility. What makes laminate flooring Dubai appealing is that it mimics real wood designs.
Modern laminate flooring has transformed to the point where it is hard to tell apart from hardwood flooring. Homeowners can enjoy the hardwood floor look for just a fraction of the price. Today, we will tell you how does laminate flooring mimic real wood, all the technology behind it, and why it is the best choice for modern homes.
Laminate Flooring: What It Truly Is?
Laminate flooring is an artificial product composed of several layers of materials attached together. These materials are made to resemble the feel of natural wood. The structure of laminate flooring has four layers.
- The wear layer, which is the topmost layer – protects the flooring from stains and scratches.
- The design layer, is the high-definition photographic layer that mimics the real wood.
- The core layer, which is made of high-density fiberboard, offers durability and moisture resistance.
- The backing layer offers stability for standing and walking.
For flooring in Dubai, laminate flooring with all these layers is an appealing and practical solution for homes, offices, and other living areas.
How Laminate Flooring Looks Like Real Wood?
Laminate flooring has an impressive wood-like appearance, thanks to the latest advancements in printing and manufacturing processes and technologies. Some of these advancements make the laminate flooring mimic real wood.
1. High-Definition Printing
The heart and soul of laminate flooring is its ability to mimic real wood, as seen in its high-definition printing layer. Manufacturers use high-resolution images of natural wood grains and textures.
These images are then used to create a photographic layer that will be the face of the laminate floors. The higher the quality of the laminate flooring, the finer the details of the wood planks.
- Laminate flooring features the textures of a variety of wood species, such as oak, maple, cherry, and walnut. Each plank has its own patterns.
- Customized designs like reclaimed wood or distressed wood are also printed on demand.
2. Embossed Texturing
While the high-definition design layer can capture the look of real wood, it is a texture that offers that real wood underfoot feel. Most modern laminate flooring Dubai uses the embossing process to make textures that match the design pattern of the wood. This specialized technique is called EIR (Embossed-In-Register), giving the flooring its tactile surface with real wood-like knots, saw marks, and wood grain.
- For a natural feel, EIR embossing gives depth to the flooring to let the owner feel the grooves and ridges for the printed design. This is mostly used to get that distressed and rustic wood feel.
3. Beveled Edges
The edges of laminate flooring can be beveled to mimic the slight gaps found only in real wood boards. These beveled edges create the visuals of the separation between the wooden planks, which gives the flooring its authentic look. With the beveled edges, every plank feels distinct, just like the natural spacing in hardwood floorboards. These beveled edges of laminate flooring give them depth and dimension.
What Are the Benefits Of Laminate Flooring?
If you are interested in laminate flooring, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
1. Durability Rating
Laminate flooring has an AC (Abrasion Class) rating scale, which ranges from AC1 (light residential) to AC5 (commercial). Choose the AC rating according to your area’s needs.
2. Thickness
Laminate flooring comes in the range of 6 mm to 12 mm. Thicker are the laminate planks, and more solid and realistic will be the feel of real wood.
3. Moisture Levels
Laminate floors are much more moisture-resistant than hardwood but are not completely waterproof. Still, if you want them for moisture-prone areas, many manufacturers make them for a strengthened wear layer.
4. Maintenance
Laminate flooring is really easy to care for as it requires only daily sweeping or vacuuming to remain in pristine condition. For better maintenance, you can clean it with a wet mop. It goes best for kitchen flooring.
Some Tips To Maintain The Wood-Like Appearance Of Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors are durable and resilient, but this doesn’t mean they don’t suffer from the onslaught of daily foot traffic when used for outdoor flooring.
- Place area rugs in high-foot traffic areas like entryways, hallways, and other places.
- When cleaning, it’s better to use a slightly wet mop than hosing it down with a lot of water.
- Install felt pads under your furniture’s legs to avoid scratches when dragging around the room.
- Accumulated dirt and debris are the cause of the scratches, so vacuuming or sweeping them promptly is advised.
Why Is Laminate Flooring A Better Choice Than Hardwood Flooring?
Hardwood floors are the classical and timeless choice for flooring in residential and commercial spaces like hospital flooring. However, laminate flooring still offers plenty of advantages that make it a worthwhile choice.
- It’s cost-effective compared to hardwood, making it perfect for anyone who wishes for hardwood flooring but is on a tight budget.
- The durability of the laminate is nothing to scoff at—it’s resistant to most stains, dents, and scratches, which is perfect for high-foot-traffic areas.
- Hardwood floors usually warp when exposed to moisture, whereas laminate floors resist moisture damage.
- This resistance alone makes them an excellent option for bathroom and kitchen flooring.
- Laminate flooring uses wood, but compared to hardwood flooring, it’s really low. Most eco-friendly companies even use recycled wood to lower their carbon footprint.
Conclusion
The reason why does laminate flooring mimic real wood lies in its high-definition printing, embossed textures, and other design techniques. Despite this cutting-edge innovation, laminate flooring is still a much more affordable option than hardwood flooring. You can have these floors in various styles and budget ranges to get real wood-like luxury flooring for your home.
