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Looking For Laminate Flooring

Where cost is concerned, professionally-installed laminate floors cost approximately the same as a Swedish-finished hardwood floor.
So why choose it in the first place? Depending on the sub-flooring, solid wood may not be a possibility.
Also, laminates are extremely durable and are great for homes with a high degree of foot traffic (children and pets add significantly to traffic in a home).
They are incredibly easy to maintain and will not fade, even in direct sunlight.
Most laminate flooring comes with a triple warrant against wear, staining and fading.

The Laminate Flooring Core.

The core board or "carrier board" is made up of a variety of materials, depending on the manufacturer. Most are MDF, or medium density fibreboard, which is a durable engineered wood product that resists moisture.

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.

Why Choose Laminate Flooring?

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.

 

Check the Guarantee

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.

If you cannot find what you need, visit the
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