"Doug" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am considering putting laminate flooring in my basement. What are
> these floors made of anyway? It looks like some kind of hardboard or
> MDF base, but is the laminate a real wood veneer? To me it looks like
> some kind of iimitation faux wood. Anyone have any insights?
>
Various types. The real wood ones are generally referred to as engineered
wood. The better laminates, like Wilson Art, are a high pressure plastic
laminate very much like the countertops. I don't know for sure what the
cheap stuff is.
Check out a real floor covering or home decorating store for the best brands
and selections.
"Doug" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am considering putting laminate flooring in my basement. What are
> these floors made of anyway? It looks like some kind of hardboard or
> MDF base, but is the laminate a real wood veneer? To me it looks like
> some kind of iimitation faux wood. Anyone have any insights?
Edwin P was correct in pointing out that engineered wood floors have a thin
veneer of real wood as the top layer. Depending on brand/price point, the
veneer may be over a plywood base or an MDF base.
Laminate can also be over what is essentially MDF or plywood. I work for a
manufacturer of various flooring products, and though I am not in the wood
flooring segment of our business, I understand the laminate is built as
follows:
- Take a large sheet of MDF.
- Apply a sheet of adhesive to the top.
- Apply a "picture" of the wood.
- Apply a sheet of protective material.
Insert this assembly in a high pressure/temperature press which includes an
embossing feature.
Press.
Run large finished sheet through saws/routers to cut the material to size
and profile the edges.
On Sat, 04 Aug 2007 14:55:38 -0700, Doug <[email protected]> wrote:
>I am considering putting laminate flooring in my basement. What are
>these floors made of anyway? It looks like some kind of hardboard or
>MDF base, but is the laminate a real wood veneer? To me it looks like
>some kind of iimitation faux wood. Anyone have any insights?
Some have a wood veneer top layer. Others are a plastic substance
similar to Formica. Some are mdf base and others are plywood based.
You need to read the box of the product you want. google laminate
flooring.