Laminate flooring has been one of the most popular flooring solutions for homeowner since it was first introduced, and it is now available in a range of prices, and designs, to suit any conceivable budget and taste.
Styles of Laminate Flooring
Wood-replicating laminate flooring? You’ll not only find laminate flooring to resemble hardwoods of every species; you’ll find it colored to match any wood stain, and in more patterns than you thought possible. Single, double, or triple strip patterns; beveled or square edges; a wide variety of finished; and all of them ready, with their adhesive backings and snap together fit, are ready to be taken from their cartons and slapped on your floor.
If you are handy enough with math to know how to make templates for the cutouts and cut rounds necessary for fitting the laminate flooring squares to your floor, you can even do your own installation. For experienced DIYers who have some practice, completing two or three hundred square feet of laminate flooring installation in a day is not impossible.
Research Your Laminate Flooring Options
If you are considering laminate flooring for your home, you should begin by researching the reputations of the various laminate flooring manufacturers. Most of them have websites, as do the flooring retailers in your area who carry their products. You will learn a great amount simply by reading the customer reviews of those who have purchased the different laminates, both about their quality, and about the customer service they received from the retailers.
It’s human nature for you to want your laminate flooring dollars to get you the very best product you can find; but one thing to keep in mind is that the laminate flooring which costs the most maybe priced according to its popularity, not its quality. Laminate in a trendy color may be impossible for the retailers to keep on their shelves, and they will, naturally enough, price it to take advantage of the extra customer interest.
By doing your research, you will soon get a handle on which laminate flooring manufacturers are known for the quality of both their products and customer service, and you can then narrow down your list according to prices. And remember, if you are willing to practice with a few squares of your laminate flooring, you may find that you can actually do your own installation, eliminating the need for, and cost of, a contractor!
You can also find more info on Engineered Hardwood Flooring and Laminate Flooring. Homeflooringhelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Home Flooring.
Laminate Flooring - A DIYers Dream
Laminate Wood Flooring
Wood floorings have always been very fashionable, but they are gaining more and more popularity even for offices and other formal rooms. This rise in popularity is because of their warm look, affordability, variety, eco-friendliness, ease of maintenance and high value.
Having originated in Europe, laminate wood floors are becoming a good alternative for hardwood in North America. They are available in various styles, sizes, designs and colors, just like wood floors. They can also be very stylish in patterns like tile, realistic stones and hardwood visuals.
Laminate wood flooring is a kind of flooring that enhances the natural look of wood with greater durability and toughness. This flooring is easy to install, innovative, cost-effective and very durable. The floors are also scratch resistant and low-maintenance. Laminate wood floors are very tough, and are thus ideal for all kinds of rooms—even those with high traffic like kitchens and offices—since they are resistant to stains, scratches, spills and burns. They are also available in an extensive variety of styles, species, cuts and types. Laminate floors are available in planks or tiles.
Laminate wood flooring is done using sophisticated technology for the designs. They can be installed on previous floors like plywood, concrete slabs and OSB by simply floating the tiles over them. These planks have tongue-and-groove edges that allow them to lock into each other. Hence, they do not need any glue to keep them in place. They are just placed over the previous floor. A special polyurethane underlay is laid on the previous floor before installing, to enable the laminate wood floor to float freely. These floors are therefore very easy to install. Some kinds of laminate floors are pre-glued and just have to be wiped with a wet sponge to reactivate the glue. There are also some kinds of glued-laminate wood floors available.
Maintenance for laminate wood floors is relatively easy. They should not be waxed or polished. Using felt pads or casters under the legs of the furniture would prevent scratching. The floor should be vacuumed regularly using soft brushes, and it should be wiped with a wet cloth or mop when required. Do not use any harsh cleaners or steel wool for cleaning. Do not refinish or sand the floor. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully for other maintenance tips. These precautions will make the floor last for years.
Some of the most popular manufacturers of laminate wood flooring are Mannington, Pergo, Mohawk, Wilsonart, Quick-Step, Shaw, Witex, Armstrong and Alloc.
Wood Flooring provides detailed information about wood flooring, laminate wood flooring, hard wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and more. Wood Flooring is the sister site of How To Clean Marble.
