You might not give your floors much thought — until it comes time to replace them. Then you realize that there are many options out there. For busy families whose floors need to stand up to kids and pets, laminate flooring is a good option. And you won’t find a better selection of laminate, including Mowhawk flooring, in all of Grand Rapids, Hudsonville, or Cascade, MI than at DeGraaf Interiors. Laminate flooring has been a fashionable option in Europe for more than 20 years. The most common designs have a wood grain appearance; some are made to look like stone or marble. Laminates are designed to look good for many years with a minimum amount of maintenance. Laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded together. A wear-resistant decorative surface made of resin-based melamine/aluminum oxide is bonded to a moisture resistant wood composition-based core. A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of aluminum oxide, which provides the protection and stain resistance.

Since the resin-filled wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch, dent or fade. Ease of installation is one factor that contributes to the popularity of laminate flooring. It uses a tongue and groove interlocking system, which can be installed over the top of an existing substrate. Plywood, concrete slab, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any other basically flat hard surface is a suitable base for laminate. Because installation is so simple, and because you can walk on your new floor immediately (no waiting for glue to dry), beautifying your home with new laminate flooring is truly a project you can do in a weekend. Taking care of a laminate floor is even easier than installing it. To keep your floor looking like new and avoid scratches, simply vacuum or dust mop regularly to remove loose dirt or grit. Glides or cushioned bottom protectors under chairs and table legs also help prevent possible scratching, and floor mats at all outside doorways keep dirt from coming inside.

If you have more questions about installing or maintaining your laminate flooring, or would like to browse a wide array of laminate options for your home or business, stop in to DeGraaf Interiors in Grand Rapids, Hudsonville, or Cascade, MI today. We have knowledgeable staff ready to help. You can also explore our laminate flooring photo gallery for ideas and inspiration. Our Hudsonville location has earned the designation of Mohawk ColorCenter Elite dealer of the year for Mohawk flooring products. This designation allows us to offer a variety of exclusive benefits including enhanced warranties, special products, discount laminate flooring, and more. We offer a comprehensive selection of Mohawk flooring products including laminate, hardwood, ceramic tile, vinyl, and carpet.Make cleaning your hard floors look easy with the new Hoover® FloorMate® Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner. Designed to deliver the best clean while gently and safely scrubbing sealed hardwood, vinyl, ceramic tile, laminate and marble in a snap.

SpinScrub® Technology, dual tank system and specialty brushes for wood, tile & grout give a deluxe clean where you need it. Multi-Purpose SpinScrub® Technology exclusive Hoover® patented counter-rotating brushes gently wash and scrub hard floors from all angles. SpinScrub® Brushes deliver the best clean while gently and safely scrubbing sealed wood, vinyl, tile and grout. Interior Light Bulbs For RvBrush is removable for easy cleaning.Swift Car Seat Covers Prices Dual Tank Technology separate tanks for clean and dirty water, so you can easily fill, empty and rinse each tank individually. Blue Drapery Fabric SaleClean water tank capacity is 1.5 quarts. Wash/Dry Mode Selection wash mode uses brushes to clean while suctioning up excess water.

Dry mode stops brushes to suction up excess water and improve drying time. Solution Control squeeze to release cleaning solution. Clean Boost™ Control fingertip control applies extra detergent to stains and heavy traffic areas. Lightweight easy to lift and carry, even up and down stairs. Weighs less than 14 lbs. 11.5" Removable Nozzle provides a combined squeegee and suction to quickly dry. Removable for easy cleaning. 2 Year Limited Warranty (1) 16 oz. Cleaning Detergent (1) Wood Floor Brush (1) Tile & Grout BrushIf you've been planning to revamp the flooring in your house, you should probably sift through this story. We shall not only tell you about the flooring options on offer—from marble and granite to glass mosaic—but more importantly, their cost, so you can pick the one that suits your budget. If you're partial to the old-world charm and want wooden flooring, but can't afford it, go for the laminated version. The latter is synthetic but looks like real wood.

It's cheaper and durable as it is more resistant to moisture. The good part is that re-flooring doesn't take too much time. As most floors can be easily laid on the existing one, a 12'x12' room would, on an average, take 1-2 days to be renovated. However, heavier material like marble and granite would take longer. If you prefer to do it yourself, go for vinyl flooring. It's available in rolls and tiles and can be applied with an industrial adhesive. Besides enhancing the appearance, flooring also helps hike the resale value of your house. You can easily get back 60-70% more on your investment. Here's a ready reckoner to help you decide which floor suits your needs and budgets. Which Floor Suits You? Tiles Types : Ceramic, vitrified and glass mosaic. Finish : Glossy Durability : 10-15 years Usage : Tiles are mostly used for exteriors such as lobby and verandah and can be fitted with cement. Installation time *: 2 days Cost (per sq ft): Ceramic: Rs 15-40; glass mosaic: Rs 275-1,200 Labour cost : Rs 10-25 a sq ft Installation cost for a 12'x12' room : Rs 5,120# Keep in mind : The tiles need to be laid down smoothly.

If uneven, air pockets between the tiles will lead to cracks. Wooden Types : Laminated, grooves, rough, parquet and real wood. Finish : Satin Durability : 5-6 years Usage : Wooden flooring is mostly used in bedrooms or stairs. It helps keep the room cool in summers and warm during winters, and can be easily laid on the existing floor by using foam. Installation time *: 1 day Cost (per sq ft): Laminated: Rs 40-60; grooves (4"x8"): Rs 175-200; rough (4"x8"): Rs 200-350; real wood: Rs 300-1,200 Labour cost : Rs 10-15 a sq ft Installation cost for a 12'x12' room : Rs 7,560# Keep in mind : You can use a damp cloth or mop, but never drain it with water for cleaning it. PVC or Vinyl Types : Rolls and tiles Finish : Matt Durability : 4-5 years Usage : Vinyl flooring is not as hard as marble or tiles and is water-resistant. So, it's suitable for children's room and the kitchen. It can be easily applied with adhesive. Installation time*: 1-2 days Cost (per sq ft): Roll (6"x50"): Rs 22-25; tile (4"x8"): Rs 60-90 Labour cost : Rs 10-15 a sq ft Installation cost for a 12'x12' room : Rs 4,968# Keep in mind : The flooring can be easily dented or scratched if you use or drag heavy material.

Marble Types : Sandstone, composite, Kota stone and white marble. Finish : Satin, though you can opt for a glossy one by polishing it or a matt finish through a honed polish. Durability : 25 years Usage : Marble is fitted with cement and is suitable for both the exterior and interior of a house. Installation time *: 8-10 days Cost (per sq ft): Sandstone (2"x2"): Rs 22-25; Kota stone (2"x2"): Rs 25-28; white marble (9"x9"): Rs 60-80 Labour cost : Rs 10-50 a sq ft Installation cost for a 12'x12' room : Rs 7,488# Keep in mind : It needs regular maintenance and can be easily damaged by acidic chemicals or liquids. It's also slippery when wet. Granite Types : Crystal, honed, polished. It also comes in various colours. Finish : Glossy Durability : Lasts a lifetime with good care. Usage : It's handy for the kitchen as it is resistant to oil spills, sugary drinks and acid. Honed granite is good for the bathroom. Installation time *: 3-4 days Cost (per sq ft): Grey: Rs 70-120; pink or white: Rs 70-110;