Why Laminate Sheets for Home Decor?

One of the most affordable ways to refurbish your home is through the use of  laminate sheets. These are available in a variety of shades and patterns with wooden textures or designer prints that can be customized. High pressure laminates are considered to be one of the most durable decorative surface materials and help renovate living spaces into a plush, classy and modern urban space.

Following are some of the advantages of using laminate sheets to help you choose better.

Firstly, laminate sheets guarantee good quality products as finest quality logs are sent to companies that manufacture sheets.  Secondly, laminates add to the overall strength of the product. In modern day flush doors, which are not cut out of solid wood, but manufactured from a variety of materials ranging from cardboard to scrap-wood, laminates are the best products that can be used to ensure durability. Hence, laminate sheets raise the standard of the finished goods.  Another worth mentioning quality of laminates available today is that they are fire-retardant. Special chemical treatment is applied to these laminates which delays temperature rise, for them to be effectively used in kitchens & other high traffic areas like cinemas.

Now let us have a look at how laminates enhance interiors.

Laminates are commonly used to make furniture pieces such as beds, sofas, tables etc. They are a popular choice because of their aesthetic appeal, economical nature and easy availability. Like in bedrooms, laminates are used as wall highlights that serve the purpose of creating a partition which is functional and attractive at the same time. Other areas where laminates are applied are in wall shelves in bathrooms, kitchen, and bookshelves. Like it is seen in kitchen cabinets, where plywood is used with decorative laminates.

Hence, these are some qualities that make laminate sheets worth a buy.

Preparation for Installation of Laminates

Installing laminates for flooring is a big task. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a professional, it is better to know and understand common problems that may occur. You can avoid some problems if you know what to look for and how to properly handles the laminate sheets.

Always check the sub-floors as they are typically cement or concrete and develop weakness over time. If you place the laminate sheets on uneven and weak sub-floor, the new floor will be compromised, damage the laminate locking system, creak and create micro gaps in the new floor. Use a level to see how flat the floor is. If there are gaps larger than 1/8", then you may need self-levelling mortar to level the surface. Any areas that peak higher than 1/8" will need to be lowered to create an even surface. Wooden floors need to be sanded down and concrete floor will need grinding.

Cheap laminate flooring has a higher chance of being defective, so always choose a quality material. Purchase approximately 15% more laminates than you expect will be needed.

Install a proper underlayment of a thin, hard layer of cement board, foam or wood. It protects the floor from moisture and prevents warping and buckling. Plywood underlayment is easy to install and usually cheap.

Remember to monitor the temperature of the laminates. If the flooring has been left outside or in a cold atmosphere is fully contracted. If you install the laminate sheets while it is cold, it will later cause cracks and humps in the floor. Let the floor warm up overnight before installing.

Do not forget to inspect each piece of the laminate and follow the manufacturer's installation directions. Leave a small amount of space around edges of the room where you are installation the flooring, else the floor may warp.

Changing Trends in Laminates

The homes of new generation are being built with style and unique design. Nowadays people don’t like compromising in giving out money for their home interiors. It can be either a sofa set or the laminates, everything should be good.

This demand of style and design has created a demand for laminates in the global market.

Laminates can be used in different ways in home or office. It can be used on wall panelling, kitchens, study room, on the wall panelling etc.

Laminates are now being used widely in hotels, gyms, lounges, restaurants etc. Laminates give a very different kind of feeling to the owner and also the person who sees it.

Now people are usually purchasing thin laminates instead of plywood as the plywood has become too old fashioned and plywoods are too thick in comparison to laminates.

Colour core

The best and easy way to replicate the seamless look every one love can be done with Colour core with acrylic in laminate interior surfaces. Colour Core removes the dark line sometimes associated with laminate edges.

The Matt finish colour core can increase the levels of wearability and is able to reduce the visual impact of chips and scratches. Colour Core can be used perfectly for applications such as bench tops, countertops, point of sale units and work surfaces.

High Pressure Laminates

High pressure laminates are mostly wood fibre. The demand for high pressure laminates in India has increased over the years. High Pressure Laminates can be used for churning out a variety of building components such as cabinets, countertops, store fixtures and wall panels.

Cabinets, furniture, and store fixtures were the biggest markets for laminates in the year 2012, accounting for a combined 60 % of the total demand.

The three key features of laminates that drives the market are:

Design and style trends

Coordination

Global accessibility

Different Styles of Kitchen Laminate Countertops

When I hear the phrase "laminate countertop", I can remember all the images of my grandmother's outdated kitchen. But now there various styles available for kitchen laminate countertops. When you are renovating a kitchen, the choice in a countertop is often a major decision as it is a big focal point of the room. The designer laminates are very much appealing and diverse. Also, laminate is the most cost-effective option.

Organic and Natural: If you are looking for an earthy, outdoor ambiance then you can explore laminate designs with and organic or natural appearance. If you want to re-create the look of real wood, you can look for laminates created that mimic's dark walnut, rich mahogany, knotty pine etc. Add an organic touch to your kitchen with kitchen laminate that remind of you crane, bamboo or natural seeds.

Funky and Colourful: You can have a contemporary style white kitchen with lemon green countertop sprinkled with pristine white polka dots. Create happy kitchen vibes with sunny yellow laminate strewn with swirling lines in bright orange.

Simple and Modern: If you want minimal decor in your kitchen, choose countertops in a simple style with modern appeal. Laminates with glossy finish have an edgier design over lower luster finish. For a modern touch, add laminate counters with metallic look of stainless steel. or shiny copper.

Upscale and Luxurious: Faux granite laminates can look like and authentic granite slab counter and are available in a number of exotic stone colours. Give your kitchen countertops the rich character of gold coloured travertine or the elegance of classic marble.

Renovating Your Office On A Budget

Gone are the days when offices used to be plain, unimpressive spaces where employees spent eight hours every day in a quiet, unimaginative environment. Nowadays, immense importance is being given to office design so as to me sure that the place where every employee spends the largest part of his/ her week goes in an enjoyable, relaxed and mentally stimulating fashion. One of the ways of doing this is to use designer laminates. Office space designers are looking for materials that are tough, durable and easy to install, like laminate sheets. They offer easy maintenance and long lasting solutions to all your office design challenges.

Wood, tiles and other generic material offer distinct advantages but also have a couple of grave disadvantage- they take long to install and in case they get ruined, it needs significant time and investment to repair them. Compared to this, laminate sheets are much more pliable and cost friendly. Decorative laminates are usually chemically unreactive, which makes them perfect for usage on kitchen counter tops and dinner tables. They are water and scratch resistant, making them perfect for office usage as well. Designer laminates are available in a wide variety of colours, finishes, designs, and textures, making them the ideal answer to all office design issues. Laminate sheets are available at all home design and interiors stores, they can offer finishes unmatchable in quality and durability. What’s more, with an extensive amount of research in this area, decorative laminates are now produced in finishes as unheard of as suede and crayon.

Hence, should you start looking for a quick, lasting solution to your office design problems, laminate sheets might be a great option. Colour schemes have started playing a very crucial role in office interior design. Colours influence employee morale, build the atmosphere in tune with the nature of work being done in the workspace. If you are looking to renovate your workspace with designs that generate fresh ideas, for example, vibrant colours and schematics are recommended.  On the other hand, process driven companies prefer simple yet cheerful designs with straight and simplistic aesthetics. All these can be implemented effectively with laminate sheets. There is a plethora of options available for those looking for innovative laminate designs which compliment the purpose and mission of the company. 

How to Clean Laminate Floors?

Laminate flooring needs to be cleaned regularly in order to prevent them from getting warped or scratched. Using harsh cleaners can create streaks or damage the laminates. Cleaning with a dry mop should be done regularly. You can use warm water or mild cleaners for intense cleaning.  Here are some tips to clean laminate floors.

1. General Cleaning:

Regularly sweep the floor with a dry mop or use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. Even though laminate sheets used flooring is fairly scratch resistant, excess dirt, debris and hair can cause scratches, hence regular cleaning is required. Sweep in the direction that the laminate tiles were laid, as you can pick up any debris that falls between the grooves of laminate flooring pieces. Never allow any liquid to sit on the floor for prolonged period as it can damage the protective wear layer of the flooring.

2. Hot Water:

You can wash the entire floor laminates with hot water every few months. Hot water is one of the best ways to clean as it does not leave streaks and is least likely to damage the protective layer since water is the mildest cleanser possible. Let the floor air dry or use a dry cloth. Don't use an abrasive cloth.

3. Vinegar:

Vinegar is too abrasive to be used in its pure form, it must be combined with water. Add 60 ml of vinegar in a 30-32 oz spray bottle and fill the rest bottle with plain water.  Spray the solution onto the laminate sheets on the floor a little at a time and wipe off immediately with a dry cloth. Allow the floor to air dry.

4. Gentle Soap:

You can add a mild liquid dish detergent or baby shampoo in hot water. Do not use scented or dyed dish detergent as it can create streaks. Soak a sponge in the solution and clean. Wipe the floor and then let it dry.

5. Removing Stains:

•          To remove blood stains, spray window cleaner and wipe it with a warm damp cloth.

•          Scrap away chewing gum with a plastic knife. Do not use a metal knife as it is rough.

•          Soda, wine, crayon marks can be removed with a mildly damp cloth.

•          Apply ice pack to the greasy area on the laminates and leave it until the grease hardens. Scrape the frozen grease off with a plastic knife.

How to Paint Kitchen Laminate?

Step 1: Before you start painting, clean all the surfaces with a cloth and a laminate cleaner. Once the laminate dries, lightly sand the kitchen laminate to give the paint a better surface to stick to. Sweep away any dust on the surface and mask off the surfaces you don't want to paint.

Step: 2: Use a paint brush to paint close to the walls and along the edges. After you have painted in detailed areas, paint the larger areas with a roller. When you are painting doors and drawers of the kitchen laminate, keep them a little ajar so the paint doesn't dry them shut.

Step 3: Sand the primed laminate surface. Once the primer dries and cure properly, use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Sand gently by hand so you don't strip off the primer you just put on. Dust off the surface with the brush and wipe it down with a damp cloth.

Step 4: Apply topcoat to kitchen laminate surface. Stir the paint. Pour half into a paint try and other half in a working pot. Use paint brush to cut along your walls and edges and use the roller to paint the larger surfaces. If the surfaces have a few knocks and dints in them, consider choosing a satin finish rather than a full gloss paint to disguise any rough areas.

There are a variety of laminates for kitchen cabinets available in the market. Kitchen is a very important area in your home and it is important to design it properly. Laminates give a very different and elegant look.