Choosing the right flooring in terms of budget and appearance is simple, but deciding on what will work best for you, your home or your office long-term requires a bit more thought. It makes sense to think practically about the demands you are putting on your floor, the quality of the finish, and the maintenance required to keep it looking as good as new.
Vinyl laminate and timber veneer laminate are, on the face of it, similar products. Both options are affordable, moisture-resistant and easy-to-install alternatives to a solid timber floor. There are differences between them, however, and those differences may affect your choice.
Vinyl Timber-Style Flooring
Vinyl laminate flooring is a tile or plank made up of layers of fibreboard bonded with solvents and then topped with a photographic image and sealed with a clear protective layer. Companies like Karndean aim to replicate the appearance of natural wood flooring in their vinyl flooring products, but without splitting, warping and rotting that solid timber floors are sometimes prone to.
Timber Veneer Laminate
Timber veneer laminate is similar to vinyl laminate, but rather than a top layer made up of a sealed image of wood, the top layer is solid timber, usually topped with a durable sealing coat. As well as feeling more natural and sturdy underfoot, good quality timber veneer laminate can be sanded and resealed if it becomes damaged.
This refinishing option means your timber veneer floor could last for decades, and it still offers the flexibility of laminate, in that these floors can usually be installed in humid environments such as kitchens, bathrooms and basements, where a solid wood floor might warp or rot over time.
The key to durability lies in both the depth of the top veneer layer (ranging from 0.5mm to 6mm) and the materials used to create the core and bottom layers. Often these are laid with the grain of alternating layers running at right angles to provide extra strength and stability. The thicker the top veneer layer, the more times the floor can be sanded. The thickest veneer floors should last a lifetime and can be sanded and refinished up to ten times.
Advantages of Laminate Flooring
Both flooring types can be installed quickly and easily, with most laminate floors now installed using a click-lock method: no nails, no glues, no fuss. If your style, décor or needs are likely to change over the next 10 to 20 years, a traditional vinyl laminate floor is a practical and affordable choice. For a floor that will last as long as you, a good quality timber veneer floor could be the best investment you’ll ever make.
Whatever your choice, CCC stocks the best choice of laminate flooring in Melbourne, so call in to our Blackburn or Bayswater store today to see what laminate flooring can offer you.
