laminate floor repair – Factors that Constitute a Quality Laminate Floor
Laminate floors range in price from 0.89c s/f to as much as $7.99 s/f. So why should you spend the big bucks, when at the end of the day they all look the same?
First let us analyze the warranty factors. An entry level laminate floor which sells for in the region of 0.89c s/f to $1.39s/f probably comes with a warranty ranging from between 10 to 15 years, as opposed to a better quality laminate that sells for more and carries a warranty ranging from 25 years to lifetime. A comprehensive laminate warranty covers the following aspects of the floors performance: factory defect, normal wear and tear, fading, staining, denting and water resistance. A lower end warranty might not cover all of these aspects, and although the advertised warranty states ten years, this might refer to manufacturer’s defects only, whereas the performance aspect of the warranty might only cover a five year period. Also consider that although the wear and tear aspect of a laminate warranty covers a certain period, this does not reflect the fact that the floor might start to show wear and tear or loose its original luster after a few years of use.
Today, most laminate floor surfaces are treated with Aluminum Oxide, which makes these floors highly durable in terms of scratching and denting. However not all floors are created equal in that certain laminates receive up to nine coatings of aluminum oxide, whereas a lower quality floor might only be treated with a few layers of Aluminum Oxide. This translates into a scenario where these few layers of Aluminum Oxide will wear through in a short period of time, and conversely a floor with additional coatings will perform better when subjected to heavy foot traffic, and for a longer period of time.
Laminate floor cores range in thickness from 7mm to 12mm, with a thicker core offering more stability, making it less likely to buckle if subjected to high levels of moisture in the air, as well as offering a floor that is quieter to walk on. The other aspect of laminate floor cores is the ability of the floor to resist swelling when affected by water and sub-floor moisture. A good quality laminate floor core is treated with water repellent chemicals, which protect the floor from swelling when breached by water or excessive levels of sub-floor moisture. A good core should be coupled with a tongue and groove configuration that is also treated with water repellent chemicals, such as impregnated wax, which will prevent topical liquid spills from penetrating through to the laminate core.
Joint integrity refers to the ability of the tongue and groove locking mechanism to withstand the weight of heavy objects, as well as perform over the life of the floor. The locking mechanism of a good quality laminate floor is designed to withstand the weight of heavy household furniture and fit tightly together negating gapping or separation. Since the advent of glueless laminate floors, many manufacturers have invested large sums of money in research and development in search of a locking mechanism that will not fail even when subjected to abnormally high levels of impact force or weight. The most successful configurations, in terms of binding strength and durability are patented and sold to other manufacturers.
Lastly, when purchasing a name brand laminate floor, one is not paying merely for the name, but for the quality of the materials, precise levels of engineering, and many years of research and development invested in the design and manufacturing process.
This flooring article was written by Barry H. Get more tips and techniques at: Online Laminate Flooring Resources
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Laminate flooring is the latest invention in floorings which are going to be put to a tough use. Laminate floorings are artificially made and therefore good amount of thought needs to be given while selecting laminate flooring.
There are several companies which manufacture this flooring. Therefore the best laminate flooring for you would be the one which gives the look and the durability to your place where you have decided to put this flooring may it is a home or an office.
Best laminate flooring come cheaper than any other types of flooring therefore it should be very easy for you to decide that you will buy only the best and not anything else. Bes laminate floorings cost up to 50cents to 60cents per square foot. There are a lot of advantages if you decide to buy the best laminate floorings.
Firstly, the flooring is durable and can be cleaned fast and efficiently, secondly best laminate floors do not require any maintenance. Maintenance would only mean the regular cleaning that you do for your home or office. Thirdly, laminate flooring is very easy to install. With a little help and tips about installation you can easily do it over the weekend. And last but not the least, you will find laminate flooring in huge variety of colors and designs, therefore choosing one of your favorite design and favorite color should not be any problem.
There are a lot of companies which claim that they manufacture the best laminate flooring. However, since there does not happen to be much information about the laminate floor and how to choose it available you should try and trust the branded stuff. Most of the branded companies offer incomparable designs for sale. Companies like Pergo, etc. also offer good deals which are inclusive of installation as well as a guarantee on the product.
Almost all the well known companies, offer life-time guarantee on their products, if used normally. Not just that, these companies also give you a 20 year guarantee on installation on the product, if used normally. In case of any damage, these companies take responsibility to replace or repair the flooring.
You know good quality when you see it. It is the same way for laminate floorings. You can identify the finish, the look and the design of a best laminate flooring pretty well. Therefore, it does not become very difficult a thing for you. The professionalism and the hard work put behind making each laminate are conspicuous by its look.
You will need to go through many shops if you want to buy the best laminate flooring for your home. However, you will also find good companies doing quite a bit of advertising in magazines, newspapers etc. However, if you are interested in a company’s product and would like to know more then you will require to do more research about the company.
You can also try to log online. Most of the companies have their own website where they advertise their products and also give information regarding the laminated Flooring and their designs.
Best Laminate Flooring can be a wonderful solution to many home improvement needs, learn about Flooring Solutions at http://flooringdude.com
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Installing hardwood flooring can take place in several ways depending on the type of hardwood flooring that you have. If you have solid hardwood, you have to look at the type of wood you have. You can have parquet flooring, which usually comes in tiles of 6 inches by 6 inches or strips or planks that can be as much as 3 inches wide. If you have laminate wood flooring then you have to look at a different method of installing hardwood flooring.
Whether you choose laminate flooring or solid hardwood flooring, the directions for installing both of them are printed on the inside of the packaging. If you have previously installed hardwood floors and now you want to install glueless laminate flooring, you do need to read the directions for installing laminate flooring. When you are installing hardwood flooring made of solid wood, you have to open the packages and let the wood become acclimatized to the humidity and temperature of your home. With laminate flooring, you have to do the exact opposite. You should not take this flooring out of the package until you are ready to start installing.
Successful installation of hardwood or laminate flooring depends upon careful planning. Even if you are installing hardwood flooring over an existing concrete or vinyl floor, you do have to sweep and vacuum the floor to remove all the dust and dirt. If you are not sure of exactly how much laminate flooring you will need, the directions for installing laminate flooring also include directions for measuring the room to calculate the amount of flooring that you need. When you intend to install glueless laminate flooring, you can also bring your measurements into your local flooring store and have the experts do the calculations for you.
If you are wondering how to install glueless laminate flooring and be able to keep it on the floor, each of the planks lock together with the tongue and groove design. When installing hardwood flooring like this, you cannot glue, nail or staple it in any way. When you start installing always consider the way the light shines into the room. Begin laying the planks toward the light and in a hallway always install glueless laminate flooring lengthwise.
The directions for installing laminate flooring will tell you that you lay the first plank with the grooves against the wall. Place spacers where they are needed when installing hardwood flooring between the wall and the plank to maintain ½ inch extension gap. You will have to mark and cut the planks as you are installing the flooring because they are of random lengths. Always begin in a corner when installing hardwood flooring and the first board in the row should be a full plank.
To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter’s Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Hardwood Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring, Refinishing Hardwood Floors and Bruce Hardwood Flooring.
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