At first you consider laminate wood floors as just the usual planks of wood effect flooring in a range of oak, maple or beech colours with a smooth finish.  That would have been true some years ago, but the laminate wood floor market is changing - for the better.

Whilst the pale wood effects are still popular they are now improved with single plank designs, aged effect, 2 or 4 grooves, textured moving through to the darker colours that imitate the more exotic species found around the the world such as merbau, oroko or teak. As with fashion the laminate wood floors industry is dictated to by trend both in the home and design world. Many people today are looking for an altogether different look from the pale woods and producing very stylised design led impacts of walnut or merbau against a clean background with minimal furniture. This is also true in the world of shop interior design - where shops try to create a feeling of richness with dark, unusual laminate wood floors.

Of course there is also a market for the more natural, traditional style floor and manufacturers have approached the need for the consumer to be able to create a bespoke or personalised effect in their home by integrating the mixing and matching options. One of these is Quickstep that has introduced a larger tile that is designed to replicate the glory and splendour of 18th century France in a block wood effect. These are available in either light or dark oak and can be combined with the homage plank to enable the consumer to have a pattern of laminate wood floor of their choice. Aged effect, and pitted or scraped effect still remain popular in laminate wood floors to and the choice is vast for today’s consumers.

As with all flooring care should be taken with installation and the appropriate underlay should be laid down, ensuring the sub-floor is level and dry before you start. Make sure an expansion gap is left around the perimeter, this can be finished off with Scotia or skirting. Laminate wood floors can be a great addition to your home and only needs to be maintained with a light mopping or brush, but be sure not to leave water spillages and remove them ASAP. If you need any help choosing your laminate wood floor please contact our helpful staff at iloveflooring.co.uk with your questions.