Laminate flooring is the ideal way to bring style and durability to the home or work space without spending a fortune. Laminate is designed to look like tile, wood, stone, vinyl and more. However, the way that laminate is made allows it to have the look of more expensive material without sacrificing strength and resiliency. Commercial grade laminate and residential grade laminate are made a little differently.
There are different aspects to creating residential grade laminate products and commercial grade laminate products. Both have a durable bottom layer that is somewhat flexible and waterproof. Both have a center layer that provides the strength of the piece. The next layer is the printed design that is created to look like any number of other products. The top layer, known as the wear layer, is clear so the design shows through. It is also the part that absorbs all the wear and tear, protecting the layers beneath it.
The difference between commercial grade and residential grade products is that the components in the different layers are often stronger or thicker than in residential products. This is understandable because there are so many times when a store or office is going to experience lots of foot traffic but a home will not have nearly as much. The melamine wear layer is especially important in making a difference in a commercial grade product.
When it comes to selecting laminate flooring for a commercial installation, it’s a good idea to look at durability and resistance offered in the melamine wear layer of the material. Commercial grade laminate will deliver years of excellent use.
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