Understand laminate flooring
Flooring Quotes
from local floorers
Here's a quick summary of what laminate flooring is and the pro's and con's of using it.
- Laminate flooring has a particle board core and is filled with melamine resins to make it scratch and scuff proof
- Laminate flooring is known as a 'floating' floor as it's not attached to the sub-floor with nails or glue. This allows the floor to contract and expand as designed, without affecting any other structures.
- Sheets of flooring are snapped together or glued to ensure no cracks or gaps.
- A good laminate floorer will arrange to leave the laminate flooring in the room it will be installed in, for at least 2-3 days before the installation actually happens. This ensures that the flooring acclimatises to the moisture/humidity levels in the room and expands before the installation is done.
- Laminate flooring is sensitive to moisture and it's not a good idea to install it in bathrooms or laundries, and you should wipe up any spills immediately.
Pros and cons of laminate flooring
- Pro: Laminate is easy to clean and is thinner than hardwood floors so can often be laid over existing floors
- Pro: You can hammer it and no marks - durable and can withstand lots of traffic
- Pro: Quick to install - have it done in a matter of hours
- Con: Sensitive to liquids, especially around the edges - the wood will swell
Flooring Quotes
from local floorers
