| What is laminate
flooring? Laminate is a recent development in the flooring
industry, introduced in the US in 1996. The surface of laminate is
typically made of an extremely tough-wearing aluminum oxide with a
printed photograph adhered to the surface which gives it that
hardwood look. The core of the laminate is usually made of high
density fiberboard. This construction allows laminate flooring to
look good while at the same time being both affordable and durable.
Laminates are a great addition for any high traffic area.
Though laminate flooring was introduced in the United States in
1996, it has been sold successfully in Europe for about 20 years.
Most people have never heard of laminate flooring and have no idea
what it is. But chances are, those same people know what Pergo
flooring is. Well, Pergo is laminate flooring. They were the company
that first created this type of flooring, and was the first brand of
laminate offered in the United States. For this reason, its name has
become synonymous with laminate flooring despite the presence of
about 40 other brands.
Essentially all laminates are composed of three layers.
The Surface Wear Layer.
The surface layer is typically made of an extremely tough-wearing
aluminum 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.
The Core.
The core board or “carrier board” is made up of a variety of
materials, depending on the manufacturer. Most manufactures use HDF,
or high density fiberboard, which is a durable engineered wood
product that resists moisture. Others can have a high-density wood
particle core. While the HDF may be slightly more structurally
sound, the particle core absorbs glue slightly better at the joints.
Both materials, if manufactured by dependable companies, provide a
durable, trustworthy core.
Backing.
The backing board varies depending on who makes the floor, but it
ranges from a paper layer to a full plastic laminate layer. Those
with a laminate or melamine backing may be better against potential
water damage than those with paper backings, and the laminate is
more stable.
All of these layers are fused by heat and pressure either by
direct-pressure or high-pressure construction. A direct-pressure
laminate (DPL) is assembled at once, then heated and pressed to form
a bond. High-pressure laminate (HPL), on the other hand, involves
treating the top and bottom layers separately and then fusing them
to the core layer under extreme pressure. HPL is a more recent
innovation and is often found in the more expensive premium brands
Installation Laminate flooring comes in individual boards with
tongue-and-groove edges, roughly eight inches by four feet long.
Matching trim and molding is available.
Laminate 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. The individual pieces of laminate
flooring are not glued or nailed down to the subfloor.
With regard to sub flooring, there’s lots of flexibility. Laminate
can be installed over concrete, plywood, or orient srand board (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 floor, it should be at the same height as adjoining
floors.
Why Choose Laminate?
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. 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
At Floor Coverings Installed, 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 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 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 Underlayment for any floating floor as the BEST
method of reducing the echo effect or tapping sound.
Waste Factor
Purchasing additional hardwood flooring is like insurance since the
last thing you want is to be 95% of the way through your hardwood
floor installation only to find that you’ve run out of floor. At
that point, you would need to order more flooring, wait for it to
arrive, and then get your contractor back and arrange another
appointment.
The additional square footage ordered is commonly referred to as a
“waste factor”. During installation, boards are cut to specifically
fit your floor. However, once the board is cut (particularly if it
is cut at an angle) you may not be able to use the rest of the board
less you have a short board that sticks out like a sore thumb.
In addition, hardwood floors often have a lot of character to them
as they’re a natural product. Particularly during the installation
of lighter hardwood floors, you may not always want that character.
So you may find yourself not wanting to use a board that is a little
darker than the rest.
Finally, you may want to repair a spot of the floor down the road or
you may discover that you really did want to put a floor in that
hallway closet after all. Since many manufactures discontinue
flooring lines now and then, you might find yourself in a situation
where you can’t buy the same flooring. By having it on hand, you
insure that you can use it in the future. For this reason, Floor
Coverings Installed automatically adds 10% to your order for you.
It’s always marked separately so if you’ve taken your waste factor
into account, you can always remove this from your order.
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