- Laminate flooring comes in individual boards with
tongue-and-groove edges, roughly eight inches by four feet long.
Matching trim and moulding is available. Laminate flooring is
installed as a "floating floor." A layer of foam is placed under
the flooring and the individual "boards" are glued at the tongue
and groove joint, or have the "click" system to join them
together without glue. The individual pieces of laminate flooring are
not glued or nailed down to the sub-floor. With regard to
sub-flooring, there’s lots of flexibility. Laminate flooring can
be installed over concrete, plywood, or OSB sub-flooring. And
while other forms of flooring may not be suited for some types
of existing floor, laminate can be applied directly over ceramic
tile, vinyl, and parquet floors. Laminate’s 1/3-inch thickness
is also an asset when dealing with transitions (vs. a typical
3/4-inch, Swedish-finish wood floor). Remember, any time you
install a laminate floor, it should be at the same height as
adjoining floors.
Installing laminate is easy for some and difficult for others.
If you’re a skilled handy person, someone who can hang a door
and do simple carpentry, you can probably do the job. However,
professionals can install the majority of all laminate flooring
jobs in a day or less, while it can probably take you 2-3 days
of hard work. If you’re not sure if the job is for you, find
professional installers. If you decide to have the floor
installed professionally, make sure you hire a reputable company
that employs licensed, insured and skilled installers.
- Why Choose Laminate Flooring?
- Some manufacturers also offer moisture warranties, but look
closely at the warranty itself. Many are really just an
extension of your homeowner insurance. But if your insurance
company doesn’t cover the damage (but they usually will), the
flooring manufacturer may cover a portion of it. Either way,
make sure you know what you’re getting before you buy.
Limitations we don’t recommend installing laminates in wet areas
such as bathrooms and laundry rooms. Water on the top layer will
not damage it as it would hardwoods, but problems can develop
when moisture works its way along the edges or underneath.
With some installation modifications, laminate flooring can work
for a wet area. But do check with the installer. In general,
though, we recommend tile or vinyl for wet areas. Another issue,
which some people consider a limitation, is strictly a matter of
personal choice. Because laminate flooring is a floating floor,
they produce a slight tapping sound as you walk on it. Some
manufacturers have introduced acoustical padding to muffle the
sound with varying results. It’s a good idea to test it by
walking on a dealer display floor and imagining how it will
sound in your home. We recommend cork underlay for any floating
floor as the BEST method of reducing the echo effect or tapping
sound. There are more than 20 brands and hundreds of different
laminate flooring styles. Always follow the manufacturer’s
recommendations when installing or making other decisions
related to your project.
The laminate flooring surface layer is typically made of an
extremely tough-wearing aluminium oxide. The pattern that you see
as you look at the floor is actually that of a printed
photograph adhered to the clear surface. Many people consider
the pattern an additional layer, but for simplification, we
consider them as one. Many laminates look like wood floors, but
it’s merely a photograph of a wood floor applied to a melamine
laminate. Because you can photograph nearly anything for a
floor, there are few limitations. Most, though, are wood-,
stone-, brick- and tile-based.
Quick-step Laminate Flooring,
Wooden Flooring, Wood Flooring, Wooden Floors, Solid Wood
Flooring, Oak Flooring, Uniclic, Alloc Laminate Flooring,
Arden Heritage Flooring, Junckers Flooring, Laminate Floors,
Cheap Laminate Flooring, Engineered Flooring.
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