How to check Laminate flooring’s quality? —Part 1

First, let’s understand their structure and specification.

1. Wear Layer

The wear layer, also known as the overlay or top layer, is crucial for determining the lifespan of laminate flooring. There is AC1,AC2,AC3, AC4, AC5.Made primarily of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), it provides exceptional hardness and resistance to wear. The durability of this layer is measured in abrasion cycles. For Europe standard(EN13329), AC1 withstands 900 cycles, while AC5 endures over 6,000 cycles. For commercial application. AC3 and above are good choices. For home, AC1 is OK.

2. Decorative Layer

The decorative layer consists of melamine-impregnated paper printed with wood grain designs or other patterns, mimicking natural materials such as oak, walnut, or stone. It can also feature unique designs like parquet patterns. Sometimes they embossed the surface to make the look more natural. There is small embossed,medium embossed,middle embossed, crystal, handscraped, real wood, EIR.

3. Core Layer (HDF)

The core layer, made of High-Density Fiberboard (HDF), is the backbone of laminate flooring and significantly impacts its quality. The higher density, the longer lifespan. Some business men love to use MDF to sell as HDF. How to check the quality? To measure the weight.HDF is categorized by density: high density (>800 kg/m³), medium-high density (~750 kg/m³), and medium density (~680–700 kg/m³).

That’s all for today. Let’s continue tomorrow.