Laminate Flooring: New Flooring Trends in Madison, WI

Need to replace your hardwood flooring in Madison? There are some great new designs and materials available in laminate flooring. Madison is a beautiful area with lots of things to do and see. It is also an area with four full seasons and enough snow and rain to destroy flooring in Madison homes in just a few years. Laminate flooring in Madison is becoming the new material of choice.

What is Laminate Flooring?

One of the cheapest and most durable flooring materials on the market today is laminate flooring. Unlike solid hardwood flooring, laminate flooring is a layered synthetic material that is bonded together under very high pressure. The bulk of the product is usually composed of fiberboard and melamine resin. The top layer is either a thin layer of real hardwood or a photographic surface. The entire material is then covered with a hard protective coating. The resulting product looks almost exactly like hardwood flooring but it is usually harder, less prone to warping and color changes and it is easier to install and maintain. Often the flooring comes with a self-adhesive surface for easy installation.

Advantages of Laminate Flooring Over Traditional Hardwood Flooring

Solid hardwood flooring in Madison generally needs to be installed by a professional. The wood must sit on site for some time to acclimatize and then it is installed using a professional flooring gun. Once installed it must be sanded and finished many times. The entire process is unbelievably dirty, time consuming and strenuous. The end result is a big bill and when the project is over, fabulously beautiful hardwood flooring. In contrast, laminate flooring comes pre-sanded and finished. No mess! The layered and pressurized construction means that the floor is resistant to warping. Moreover, there is no acclimatization waiting period to install laminate flooring. Madison homeowners with a little DIY experience are capable of installing the material so paying for professional installation isn't always necessary. However, it is advisable to consult a professional if you want to ensure the installation goes smoothly and that your floors are installed perfectly.

In addition, laminate is a green alte
ative to hardwood flooring. Madison is one of the greenest cities in the nation and this is another reason laminate flooring has become so popular. The bulk of the material used in all laminate flooring is recycled byproduct materials from wood processing. Moreover, many of the newest and most fashionable laminate flooring options incorporate sustainable materials like cork and bamboo into the top surface of the flooring. Madison citizens that religiously bike to work and haul out their recycling are some of the biggest advocates for laminate and other alte
ative flooring options.

Lastly, repairing damage to laminate flooring is extremely easy as long as you plan for a little bit of extra flooring. Attics are an ideal place to store this material in case you ever need it.

In summary, if you are looking to replace flooring in Madison, take a look at several of the new laminate flooring options available today before ruling out laminate flooring. Madison is full of many happy homeowners who love their new laminate floors!