Today’s Do-It-Yourselfers are Floored by Laminates


Defined Tag: Laminate Wood Flooring.
Imagine a beautiful
wood-look floor that can be quickly installed, is durable enough to
stand up to everyday life, and can be maintained with just a damp
cloth. It may sound too good to be true, but today’s laminate flooring
offers all of this and more, and is fast becoming one of the hottest
home improvement projects among do-it-yourselfers.



“For homeowners who want the look of wood without the maintenance
headaches, laminate flooring is ideal,” said Don Cybalski, U.S. design
manager for Pergo, the leading brand of laminate flooring. “It won't
wear through, stain or fade, and won't ever need waxing, polishing or
refinishing. And the designs are so realistic that many people mistake
it for the real thing."



Introduced by Pergo to the United States in 1994, laminate flooring
is made of wood byproducts compressed under extreme pressure to form
super-hard layers that are sandwiched together and finished with a
surface second only to diamonds in hardness. The resulting product
offers durability and ease of maintenance far superior to any other
flooring option.



Substance and Style



The beauty of laminate flooring doesn’t just lie beneath its
surface. The variety of designs available today is virtually limitless
with colors and textures that are more realistic than ever. In fact,
consumers routinely mistake laminates for higher priced wood, ceramic
or stone alternatives. Beyond the popular oak, maple and pine
varieties, laminates are available in exotic wood looks like mahogany,
walnut and cherry, as well as in classic tile designs including
granite, marble and ivory.



Quick and Easy Installation



Ease and speed of installation add to the appeal of laminate
flooring. Where installation of real wood is typically left to
professionals because of the time-consuming process to glue or nail
planks, laminates can often be installed over a weekend and put
directly on top of any existing floor (except carpet).



Most laminates simply click together, making them ideal for
do-it-yourselfers. “Click” laminate floors feature tongue-and-groove
edges that snap-together easily and tightly without the need for glue.
Durable and hassle-free, click floors can be used confidently in any
room of the home – even moisture-prone areas like kitchens and
bathrooms, thanks to new dual-locking joint technologies.



Top-grade laminates, like those from Pergo, are attractively priced
around $2 to $4 per square foot (uninstalled), compared with $4 to $6
for solid wood. But the real savings is in the installation. Because
laminate floors are so easy to install, many consumers can do it
themselves saving both money and time.



Pergo laminate flooring is available through specialty retailers as
well as at The Home Depot and Lowe’s. For more information, visit
www.pergo.com or call (800) 33-PERGO.



Courtesy of ARA Content