The core is sandwiched between a hardwood finish layer on the top and soft wood ply below. In view of these facts, enough space should be left for expansion and wood should be acclimated. The wood planks may buckle or cup because of excessive moisture.

Make sure that sander follows wood grain direction instead of across the grain. Neutral pH cleansers developed for wood floors should be used for best results. The hardwood flooring can be stapled down over wood subfloor.

Laminate

According to Webster’s, laminate flooring is simply a hard surface covering utilizing a fiberboard core and melamine wear layer, which is available in blocks, planks, and squares. The greatest enemy of laminate floors is dust. Cleaning or getting rid of such dust from laminate floors is, however, a simple and easy task.

Laminate flooring can provide the hardwood effect but at a cheaper price. Recent trends indicate that laminate floors are fast becoming popular not only in Europe but also in the US. When you are trying to choose between laminate floors or wooden floors, you must learn a bit about how each one is installed and how to keep them looking their best so you will be able to decide which one will fit into your lifestyle easier.

Products

It is also difficult to have carpet in nice colours, as light colours are much more prone to being stained by dropped food or drink, necessitating the use of expensive cleaning products that may not even work. Such specialty products ensure that the etching and cleaning of the subfloor results in a strongly bonded epoxy layer. During the last decade the advances in plastics, paints, epoxies, polymers and many other related products has led to the introduction of a whole new arena of products that may be used to coat, cover and enhance your garage floors.

Many companies have been in the decorative concrete and remodeling business for decades and have seen and used numerous products for the home and in commercial and industrial settings. Within these basic types, there are many variations, so it is worth getting information about many products before determining which one is right for you.

Install

A cost comparison between replacing the old worn out wall to wall carpeting and installing parquet flooring will show that the parquet choice is less expensive if you install it yourself. You will be able to learn firsthand how to install the floor, and you will be able to ask an installation expert any questions you may have regarding installing flooring.

Color

Think of this as the same as doing your nails, first you remove the old finish, then base coat, color and topcoat. The aesthetic appeal of hardwood is also influenced to a large extent by mineral streaking, the presence of knots and shade and color variation. The other great thing about hardwood floors is that there is a huge selection of hardwood in the market, this means that you can choose the exact color you want for each room or for the whole house, there is no need to compromise on the looks of the hardwood floors simply because there is such a verity of color and textures that almost anyone can find what is best for him or her house.

It is easy to add texture, color and contrast to a room by varying your floor covering.

Vinyl

Vinyl kitchen flooring offers many benefits to the homeowner who has children, pets, or lives an active lifestyle. In fact Vinyl kitchen flooring is the best choice for many homeowners due to the fact of its extreme durability and strength. These porous surfaces will allow moisture to loosen your vinyl tiles or ruin your carpet.

When the cost of vinyl flooring and carpeting got low enough, wooden floors were reserved for high-end applications. If you take the time and make the effort, you can remove the vinyl and totally change the feel and appearance of the area with wood flooring.

One particular choice that is increasing in popularity in North America is laminate flooring. Floating laminate installation can be used on any hard, flat surface and is easy enough to be a do-it-yourself application. A water-resistant glue is recommended by most laminate flooring brands. Laminate floors are fantastic they have many qualities which make them better than real wood, one of the qualities is that they are scratch resistance they are more durable and much more water resistant, but the laminate floors today emulate wood floors and many people have a tough time distinguishing between them. Laminate wood flooring is very easy to install, you do not need to higher a contractor, most floors are floating floors and do not need glue. Laminate flooring is great because it is resistant to stains, sunlight and many time scratches and they are very easy to maintain. Laminate wood flooring is environment-friendly as it makes use of more fiber material than wood.

There are many different categories that hardwood flooring fits into, pre-finished, unfinished, engineered, solid and unfinished. Laminate wood floors originated in Europe and are becoming very popular for substitute for hardwood floors in the USA. Wooden floors date back hundreds of years, the hardwood floors first came into the publics eye around the seventeenth century and have been popular ever since.

Wood flooring has also become very easy to obtain, install and maintain with advancements in technology. You could install one of the many different kinds of natural wood flooring, cork flooring, bamboo flooring, or Pergo or other laminates.

Bamboo forests are mostly found in the Hunan province of China. Bamboo is very similar to wood in color and form. Europeans have been using bamboo flooring for many years now, but it is just becoming more popular in the United States. If you are looking at getting wood floors for your home, you should take a look at bamboo flooring.

For hardwood flooring of course, high levels of humidity or moisture of any kind can really work against their natural beauty.

Laminate flooring is the hottest trend to hit the residential flooring industry since the early days of linoleum! As the younger generation of homeowners look to modernize the look and feel of their decor, laminate flooring has slowly become one of the hottest consumer products on the house and home market.

Laminate flooring is an ultra-durable product that looks like a real wood or stone floor. But it’s less costly than the ‘real thing’, easier to install and can last a lot longer.

The benefits of laminate flooring can be summed up in two words – cost and durability.

Laminate flooring offers the appearance of real hardwood floors or stone tile, but for about two-thirds the cost.

Installing laminate flooring is one of the easiest home remodeling projects that the average homeowner can do themselves. In most cases, you should be able to complete a room within a single day – or less depending on the type of product you’re using.

All laminate flooring is installed as a ‘floating’ floor – meaning it is laid on top of your existing surface without being glued down or attached in any way. When you fit together your planks, you must remember not to make a perfect wall-to-wall floor – leave a small gap along all walls to allow for any expansion caused by humidity and heat, and cover the gap with baseboard moulding.

These floors have three layers, the backing layer, the core layer, and the wear layer. The first layer, that is, the backing layer allows the other layers to have strength and durability. The core layer has high density fiber board and the last layer, that is, the wear layer provides surface protection with aluminum oxide. This ingredient provides the protection to the outer layer.

Nowadays, most of the designs are computer generated, and some of the most stylish, modern designs have come in the market this way. Laminate floors are available in different plank widths. Various square tile sizes are available too.

As mentioned earlier laminate floors are ideal for those who want the style and look of hard wood floors but cannot afford the price. Real wood floors are expensive and most will not be able to afford it. These floors are very durable, and they have a hard surface that is resistant to scratch or other types of damage. The laminated designs do not fade with usage and are resistant to burns as well.

Laminated floors are quite easy to install in the house. It does not take too much time either. These floors can simply be glued over the concrete or vinyl floor. Some laminate floors require very little or no glue. Most laminate floorings use the tongue and groove edges. This allows the installation to be a very easy process. The owner can do it himself, if he is handy with tools and measurements.

The planks have to be cut according to the size of the room, or according to the size required. A couple of tools like clamp straps, cut saw, tapping blocks, measuring tape is required. Measurement has to be accurate, other the laminated strip will be ruined apart from ending up with a very uneven and uncouth floor. Patience comes in handy when installing laminate floorings, as small details can test ones patience.

Cleaning and maintenance of the laminated floors are not at all difficult. It can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth or mop. Vinegar and water solution is very effective for cleaning, one can also use the solution recommended by the manufacturer. Detergents are not recommended. Vacuum cleaning on a regular basis keeps the floors in a spick and span condition all round the year.

Regular sweeping will prevent dirt build up. This dirt build up can not only make your floor look dull, but it can also damage your floor. A quick pass over with a broom two to three times a week will prevent this allowing your floor to shine.

If the job is too big to be accomplished with a broom, a gentle cleaning solution made of vinegar and water will most likely do the trick. Be sure that when applying the cleaning solution you use a damp but not wet mop. This will help to collect the dirt without damaging the floor. Sometimes even this gentle cleansing does not work an you must use a harsher cleaning solution.

By choosing the right cleanser you can easily remove stubborn grime. Many cleansers of this type are available. Several call for application by hand with a sponge, this allows for concentrate cleansing in the areas that need the most help. Others are available that are done by mop. By applying with a mop you cover the entire floor giving an even clean shine. Be sure that the cleaning product use choose is approved for laminate flooring. As always be sure to leave the floor dry.

Liquids of any type can damage laminate flooring. Never allow puddles to stand on the floor. Avoid steam cleaning altogether. If you are face with a challenging job that can not be dealt with by gentle solutions and cleansers move on to a stronger cleanser. You may also have luck with alcohol or acetone. The fumes from these products can be dangerous. If you do attempt these methods wear a mask and be sure your area is well ventilated. These methods will probably require some scrubbing, be sure to use only soft scrubbers and brushes.

Laminate floors can be easily scratched by abrasive scrubbers and cleansers. A good rule of thumb for choosing a cleaning tool is to remember that if it can scratch your skin it can scratch your floor. A laminate floor should not be sanded either. There is no way to refinish the laminate once it is sanded and attempting this will mean replacing your floor. Wax is equally dangerous. There is no safe way to strip the wax from your floor once it is applied. The wax will yellow and the appearance of the floor will be seriously diminished.

Following these tips for cleaning laminate floors can help you in many ways. Your floor will stay beautiful and you will save hours of scrubbing. Begin using these tips. You will never regret it.

Why is it important to laminate floors? The basic difference between laminate floors and wood floors is that laminate floors are protected from accidental liquid and food spilled onto their surface. They may look like hardwood floors but laminate floors are actually made up of different flooring substances bonded together into a hard surface that is covered with a final resin-covered cellulose finish that will prevent substances like liquids from permeating into the underlying layers. Wood floors may have a protective covering applied to them but are not made of the same substances as laminate floors. Laminate floors are also less expensive than hardwood flooring materials and may last longer under daily wear and tear.

The different types of laminate floors can be differentiated based on what material they simulate in appearance. This means you can buy laminate floors that mimic the great look of hardwood, granite, and even marble floors. But basically laminate floors are all made under the same principle of different flooring substances bonded together and covered with a durable protective coating.

When getting rid of old carpet and replacing with laminate floors, you have to remember that your carpet may be attached to the old flooring with staples, tack strips, and even glue. So removing the carpet will require patience, perseverance and time – as well as knowing how to get rid of all that dried glue. You will need special carpet knives to remove the carpet in segments (rather than attempt to pull off the whole shebang at one go – that’s simply not possible.) The person cutting must be able to cut through the whole width of the carpet without damaging the underlying flooring (if that is to be retained.) Your biggest enemies here will be fatigue, boredom maybe, and lack of skill on the part of the people removing the old carpet. This is why experienced contractors can command a better price for their services – they simply know better how to do the job compared to novices offering their services at cheap rates.

You will know where to put laminate floors by the condition of the underlying flooring (also called sub-floors or sub-flooring.) If you find that there are parts of the house where the flooring has been warped or deteriorated due to water damage or severe wear and tear, those may be ideal places to install laminate floors. Basically, the function of the room will also help you decide where to put laminate floors and where to install other types of flooring. In flooring decisions, functionality should take precedence over image.

Welcome to the world of laminate floors.

Laminates are an affordable alternative to hardwood, stone or tiled floors. Laminate floors are made by embedding a high quality photograph of wood, stone or another pattern between a subsurface and a transparent layer of melamine or cellulose. The subsurface is generally several layers thick, and gives the flooring strength, body and stability. The top surface is usually buffed to a high, hard gloss that resists scratching and marring, and stands up to years of wear and tear in a way that wood or stone can’t. It’s the middle layer – the actual image – that makes these floors wear like iron. Unlike most other floors that only have the image on the surface, the image layer of a good quality laminate floor is several millimeters thick – and the image goes clear through it. You can find laminate floors in a wide variety of styles and patterns that mimic nearly any other surface you can imagine.

A well-made laminate floor can be practically indistinguishable from marble, teak, oak or other far more expensive surfaces – but they offer advantages that non-laminated floors can’t give you.

Versatility
Want a wood floor in your bathroom, or your high traffic family room, but the experts have told you it’s a no-no? A wood laminate floor can give you the look that you want without the worry. Because wood laminates have a moisture resistant finish, they won’t be damaged by those steamy showers that you love. They also won’t expand and contract the way that wood does, so you don’t have to worry about giving your floors ‘ease’ room. As for that family room? A laminate floor will stand up to the punishment that your kids can give it – even those skateboard races that you don’t allow.

Easy Care
Have you read the care instructions for real hardwood floors? Buffing, oiling, waxing, polishing and finishing – you could spend half your life keeping your wood floor looking good. Stone floors are almost as bad – ask any janitor in a public building about the daily polishing that marble floors require. Not your laminate floor. Just sweep them regularly to keep dirty grit off of them, damp mop them to pick up any spills and their beautiful shine will last for years.

Allergen and Odor Resistant
One of the most often quoted reasons for replacing your wall to wall carpets with wood or stone floors is to get rid of allergens and odors that cling to the fibers. Laminate floors are odor resistant, and don’t give dust mites a place to breed. And unlike wood and stone, they don’t require hours and hours of buffing and polishing to keep them looking good.

Easy Repair
Accidents do happen. If something damages your wood or stone floor, replacing one section can be a major undertaking. Repairing a laminate floor is usually as easy as removing and replacing the damaged plank or tile.

Easy to Install
Installing a new stone or hardwood floor is not a do-it-yourself project. It requires expertise and know-how that most homeowners don’t have. Laminate floors, on the other hand, are nearly as easy to install as place and press tiles – and they look a whole lot better.

Durable
Wood laminate veneers stand up to the kind of wear that would leave wood floors covered with nicks and scratches. The high impact finish will tolerate the worst that your family can dish out without showing the wear. Your new laminate floor will still have a beautiful gloss years after wood floors need refinishing.

Design Tips and Tricks
If you specifically want a floor with the look and feel of natural wood, you also have a third option that falls between hardwood floors and one of laminated wood – engineered wood floors. Strictly speaking, engineered wood floors are a sub-type of laminate floors. Engineered wood is made of several wafer thin layers of wood set at cross grain and compressed under high pressure. It may also be impregnated with acrylic to make it more durable. Engineered wood floors are more expensive than other laminates, but less expensive than solid wood flooring. They’re an excellent choice if the look that you want includes parquet borders and insets.

The following factors will help you evaluate different brands and styles of laminate flooring in order to determine which laminate floor best suites your application.

Laminate floors are constructed using two different methods of manufacture: Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) and High Pressure Laminate (HPL). Direct pressure laminate is made up of three layers, while a High Pressure Laminate is made up of a minimum of five layers. Is one better than the other? Yes. HPL is a far superior product. The addition of Phenolic Treated Kraft Sheets make the HPL a far stronger, more dent resistant and stable product. The catch is that they come with a higher price tag. Do you need HPL in your home? No. Most laminate floors sold in the US are (DPL) and are built for today’s active households. However if you are looking for a floor that will withstand the vigour of small children and large pets and still look good in 15 years time, then High Pressure Laminate is a good alternative.

Laminate cores range in thickness from 6mm to 12mm, with a thicker core usually denoting a more stable product. The only exception to this rule is High Pressure Laminate (HPL), which although has a much thinner core compared to (DPL), is stronger and more durable. Composition of core material is also an important factor. A good laminate floor is constructed using High density Fiberboard (HDF) as the core material, which has been treated with water repellent chemicals, offering stability and a high level of water resistance.

Joint integrity can be an important factor, especially when placing heavy items on your laminate floors. Laminate floors are engineered to withstand normal day to day wear and tear and are designed to withstand the weight of normal household furniture. If you wish to place an extra heavy item of furniture on you floors, such as a very large fish tank, you might want to consider purchasing a floor that has an aluminum locking system. Laminate floor joints should also be treated with water repellent chemicals, such as paraffin wax, which is impregnated into the tongue and groove of the floor boards.

A good laminate warranty should cover the following aspects: Fading, Denting, Wear and Tear, Staining and should have some kind of water warranty, although keep in mind that no laminate warranty covers flooding. Always be sure to scrutinize the duration of the different aspects of a laminate warranty, as a 25 year warranty might refer to manufacturers defects only, while the wear and tear aspect of the warranty only covers a 15 year period.

North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA): NALFA is the organization that sets the standards for laminate flooring in the USA. NALFA is a non profit organization, and its members are unpaid volunteers. Laminates submitted o NALFA undergo a range of stringent tests. If the laminate floor meets or exceeds NALFA standards, it will earn the right to display the NALFA seal of approval. Note that submission of laminate flooring to NALFA is voluntary. The following laminates carry the NALFA seal of approval: Pergo, Mannington, Wilsonart. A more complete list can be found at the NALFA website.