Laminate Flooring: The ABC's of VOCs

Volatile organic compounds, VOCs, are a chemical compound that can be found in many manufactured products.  Consumers and the home improvement industry have become increasingly aware of these hazardous compounds and have made great efforts to reduce or eliminate VOCs in home improvement and flooring materials.  VOCs have an extremely low boiling point, which means that they readily evaporate at room temperature and may release harmful chemicals in the air.

Most VOCs are harmless, although some may be extremely hazardous to your health such as formaldehyde.  This is particularly true for people with respiratory and breathing issues or even severe allergies.  Laminate flooring has been known to contain harmful VOCs although with increased awareness and improvements in flooring technology, this has been significantly reduced or eliminated. 

Components of Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring has been a popular choice of flooring for many years as it offers the desirable look of hardwood floors at a much more affordable price.  Laminate floors typically come in planks to resemble hardwood, with each plank constructed of high density fiberboard with a printed layer on top with realistic images of oak, cherry, maple or other wood grains.

While laminate flooring has offered many benefits with realistic wood looks at a fraction of the cost, easy maintenance and long lasting beauty, flooring manufacturers have recently responded to consumer demand for a more eco-friendly and safe manufacturing process.  The chemical components contained in the ink, adhesive used during installation or the fiberboard itself has tended to release harmful VOCs in the past. 

New flooring manufacturing technology is focused on changing that, with low- or no- VOC containing laminate flooring now available.  To learn more about the ABCs of VOCs in laminate flooring, contact your flooring specialist at Great Western Flooring.

Great Western Flooring offers quality flooring and tile products with professional installation.  We provide free design consultations from our convenient design center locations in Naperville, Oswego or St. Charles.  Contact us to learn more about laminate flooring with low or no VOCs.

This article was originally published at  https://www.greatwesternflooring.com/flooring-blog/laminate-flooring-the-abcs-of-vocs/

Laminate Flooring Trends in 2019

Updating your floor is a great way to keep your entire home up to date and stylish.  Laminate flooring is trending in 2019 as a popular choice with more options than ever before. Laminate is the flooring for a wood look alternative, with tremendous advancements in flooring technology providing such a realistic hardwood look it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference.  Laminate flooring has always been a go-to staple for flooring and is booming in 2019.

Homeowners are realizing that laminate flooring provides an affordable way to have the hardwood looking floor they’ve dreamed about.  When laminate first arrived on the scene and started becoming popular in the 1980’s, the planks were not very realistic to real wood and sounded hollow, with few designs to choose from.  Modern laminate flooring now provides a realistic wood look even compared to reclaimed or scraped wood. 

Unlike hardwood floors, however, laminate is easy to install, easy to care for and will last for many years.  Some popular laminate flooring trends for 2019 are:

●       Lighter colors

●       Styles that mimic a rustic wood texture

●       Wider planks

 

Lighter Colors of Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is now available in lighter colors that still convincingly replicate the look of real hardwood.  Brighten up your room with hardwood in grays and light neutral colors for a modern, classy look.

Rustic Wood Looks

Rustic looking laminate planks that mimic textured hardwood are very popular.  Not only do they look like textured wood they have grooves and depth which make it difficult to tell the difference.  Wire brushed and hand scraped are a couple of the more popular textured laminate options which lend a realistic wood look.

Wider Planks

The most popular choice in laminate flooring planks are 6” to 8” wide and 24” to 48” long.  Depending on the pattern of installation, wide planks are trending and easy to install.

Patterns and Designs

Installing your laminate flooring in a pattern such as diagonal, Herringbone or a Chevron pattern is becoming quite popular.  It’s a great way to add flair and style to your floor which accents the entire room.  To learn more about the most recent laminate flooring trends for 2019, speak with an experienced flooring specialist. 

Great Western Flooring offers more than 35 years of experience pleasing customers with quality laminate flooring, carpet and tile.  We offer complimentary design consultations from one of our convenient locations in Naperville, Oswego or St. Charles.  Contact us today for the latest in 2019 laminate flooring trends.

This article was originally published at https://www.greatwesternflooring.com/flooring-blog/laminate-flooring-trends-in-2019/

What’s the Difference Between Luxury Vinyl and Laminate Flooring?

When considering a new floor installation and researching popular flooring products and properties, you might be wondering what the difference is between luxury vinyl flooring covering and laminate flooring products.  It can be difficult to know which flooring is the best choice for your installation that will provide all the characteristics you desire and result in the best value for your investment.  There are many things to consider when deciding on the best flooring product for your room, knowing the difference between materials and their properties will help guide you in the right direction.

It can be difficult to know the difference between luxury vinyl and laminate flooring as advancements in manufacturing technology have closed the gap with significant improvements in both materials.  Both laminate and luxury vinyl are promoted as DIY friendly, budget friendly and durable with similarities in appearance with both materials coming in convincing replicas of natural wood planks or stone tiles.  While both materials have many similarities, they are quite different in composition and provide varying levels of protection against moisture.

Composition of Luxury Vinyl and Laminate Flooring

There are significant differences in the composition of the luxury vinyl compared to laminate flooring, with vinyl flooring made with 100% synthetic material.  Sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles may have a fiberglass base coated with PVC vinyl and a plasticizer, a printed surface layer on top covered with a protective polyurethane for a no-wax coating.  A closed foam lower layer provides some cushion for resilience.

Luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile is also manufactured with synthetic material although the core is a multi-layer PVC vinyl in thicker LVP planks or LVT tiles.  These luxury vinyl flooring products can be thinner than laminates with sheet vinyl as thin as 1.5 mm and LVP or LVT close to 5 mm.  Laminate flooring ranges in thickness from 6mm to 12mm, providing added durability in high traffic areas. 

Laminate flooring is similar to luxury vinyl with simple installation and appearance, although the difference in core composition is a critical consideration.  Laminate contains a core layer composed of rigid fiberboard made with wood byproducts and resins, and a hard plastic surface layer with the printed design.

Water Resistance of Luxury Vinyl and Laminate Flooring

Due to the fiberboard core of laminate flooring, nearly all laminate products are not waterproof therefore are not recommended for rooms exposed to moisture such as damp basements or bathrooms.  Flooring manufacturers offer some laminate products with a water resistance feature, although no laminate should be installed in rooms with exposure to standing water such as family bathrooms or basements.  Luxury vinyl may be the best choice for these flooring installations.

In addition to water resistance properties, other characteristics worth comparing include:

• Appearance  - Both luxury vinyl and laminate flooring manufacturing offer modern technology which produces remarkably realistic replicas of wood planks or stone tiles.
• Cost – Both products are comparable in cost with sheet vinyl typically offering the least expensive option of all materials.  Both luxury vinyl and laminate will come in less expensive than real hardwood or ceramic stone tile. 
• Installation – There is not much difference in the ease of installation with either product, both coming in glue down, floating or interlocking styles.

For more information on the differences in flooring materials, work with a reputable flooring company with experience and quality materials.  Consulting with a flooring specialist will ensure the best material is installed in your room to provide maximum value with your investment.

Great Western Flooring is an experienced flooring and tile specialist, pleasing customers with over 35 years of providing quality materials with professional installation.  We offer free design consultations at any one of our conveniently located design centers is Naperville, Oswego or St. Charles.  Contact us today to learn more about how to choose the best flooring product for your installation and the difference between luxury vinyl and laminate flooring. 

This article originally published at 
https://www.greatwesternflooring.com/flooring-blog/whats-the-difference-between-luxury-vinyl-and-laminate-flooring/