Laminated floors have been around for a long time, but new improvements have added a much-needed feature: waterproofing.
This material is an ideal choice indoor use.
The material’s actual name is Direct pressure laminated.
It is manufactured by fusing four layers together at over 600 pounds of pressure per inch at temperatures of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. These four layers function as follows:
• The bottom layer is known as the stabilizing or the backing layer, this layer provides strength and stability to the board. To make this material waterproof they have applied a resin-based coat to prevent water from penetrating into the material.
• The 2nd layer is known as the core board and its serves as the structural element supporting the weight and stresses of foot traffic. This layer is typically made of high-density fiberboard (HDF), but sometimes is made from particle board or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
• The 3rd layer is decorative. It sits on top of the entire structure and its objective is to mimic the surface of a natural material, such as a hardwood veneer or lately any type of tile or other flooring materials that the manufacturer wants to resemble.
• The 4th layer is a resin-based coating designed to resist abrasion and typically made up of several coats of melamine or aluminum oxide (2nd only to diamonds in hardness) which protects the floor from stains, fading, wear and tear. This is the magical layer that makes laminated material resistant to scratches and stains.
Hopefully this information can help you by explaining how waterproof laminated floors are made and why they can be your low price, ideal solution, for your next flooring project.