| Laminate flooring differs in price for the type of | | | | know the proper ways to clean and maintain the |
| flooring that you decide to purchase but not so much | | | | floors. When you properly take care of your laminate |
| in the cost of the installation. Factors that weigh on | | | | flooring it will last for many years to come and you |
| the prices of laminate flooring may include warranties, | | | | will be surprised how long it maintains the new and |
| durability and many more. | | | | beautiful look. |
| The type of the laminate flooring that you decide to | | | | Laminate flooring is very low maintenance and |
| install in your home is 'what will be the major factor | | | | long-lasting. There are only a few simple things that |
| of your price range'. Laminate flooring can be | | | | you need to do to ensure your floors stay clean. You |
| commonly found for as little as £4.99p per square | | | | can dust mop and vacuum your laminate floors with |
| meter up to anything around £18.00 per square | | | | a soft brush to remove dust, dirt, or grit. A damp |
| meter. You might even pay more money if you | | | | cloth will not damage the laminate flooring panels. |
| wanted extra features. There are different types of | | | | However, when you use anything damp on the |
| laminate panels depending on the amount you expect | | | | laminate flooring, do not use too much water and be |
| to be 'walking over' the floors. Laminate flooring is | | | | sure to dry the floor thoroughly with a clean, soft |
| much cheaper for a home than it is for a place of | | | | cloth. If you do have a spill on your laminate floors |
| business. The main reason for this is because the | | | | then you should immediately blot them up with a |
| flooring designed for homes is not as durable, as | | | | clean, dry cloth, sponge, or paper towels. Excess |
| homes do not withstand the type of traffic that a | | | | liquid tracked in by feet or spills should not remain on |
| department store does. If you are purchasing the | | | | the flooring for long periods of time and be cleaned |
| flooring for a business there are several types of | | | | immediately. |
| flooring you might select which will also depend on | | | | To prevent damage to your laminate flooring while |
| the amount of traffic that you expect to have. | | | | you are cleaning you should not use soap-based |
| Businesses should expect to pay a much higher rate | | | | detergents, abrasive cleaners, or any other type of |
| for laminate flooring than if installed in a home. | | | | cleaners on laminate flooring. There is no need for it |
| Another factor that will impact the price of your | | | | and chemical products will only damage the flooring. |
| laminate flooring is if you are looking for a long | | | | You also should not use steel wool or scratchy |
| warranty. You can also find laminate flooring that | | | | scouring pads when you are cleaning because you will |
| includes a lifetime warranty. When you decide on | | | | damage the laminate panels. These panels do not |
| flooring that is guaranteed for life then you have to | | | | need wax or polish as these products will also cause |
| expect to pay more money for the panels. If you | | | | damage. You should also never steam clean laminate |
| don't care about the security of a warranty then you | | | | panels. |
| can pay a very small amount of money per square | | | | There are also other ways you can maintain your |
| meter. | | | | flooring to ensure a longer life, such as: |
| When you are considering laminate flooring, you are | | | | § Placing a doormat outside so any sand and grit |
| not only purchasing the panels for the floors, you | | | | picked up is not bought inside. |
| also have to consider that you must purchase | | | | § Using only colourfast carpeting and pads on your |
| underlay for the panels, which is very important | | | | floor surfaces. |
| when it comes to fitting the flooring. Laminate | | | | § If you wear high heels then you should avoid |
| flooring usually includes only the planks. It does not | | | | walking on the surface. High heels and other sharp |
| come in a package with the underlay and the panels. | | | | objects are the biggest problems for scratching the |
| When you are making a decision on laminate flooring | | | | laminate panels. |
| and looking at the prices you must also consider the | | | | § Furniture legs can also be damaging and you can |
| quality. You are saving a lot of money using laminate | | | | avoid this by putting pads underneath the legs of |
| flooring than you would with most other types of | | | | furniture to avoid scratching. |
| flooring. Therefore, it should be worth it to choose | | | | § When you move furniture you should also lift it |
| quality laminate panels, as these will last a lot longer. | | | | entirely and never drag it across the surface of the |
| They are easy to install and you don't have to hire | | | | floor. |
| someone to install them for you. However, the | | | | § The less you arrange the flooring in the home, |
| quality, value, and a warranty should be considered. | | | | the less you have to worry about scratching. |
| The cost of laminate flooring can vary greatly. Your | | | | However, you must rearrange the furniture |
| purchase and decision will depend on the amount of | | | | occasionally because furniture will cause indentations if |
| traffic that you expect and the durability of the | | | | sitting in the same place for too long. |
| panels needed for your flooring. You should also | | | | § There is no reason to treat your floors with a |
| consider warranties and any other issues that you | | | | sealant after you install them because the panels |
| might have. Be sure to shop around for your flooring | | | | already have sealant on them. You don't need to use |
| but don't forget about quality when you consider the | | | | lacquer or any type of refinishing product on your |
| cost. It is important to remember; by spending out a | | | | floors. These products will only cause damage. |
| little more in the first instance will save you money in | | | | § When you clean and maintain your laminate |
| the long run! | | | | flooring if you practice just a few simple things, then |
| Benefits of Engineered Flooring | | | | you can ensure a longer lifetime of your floors and |
| Engineered flooring is a modern flooring material that | | | | they will maintain the beautiful look for many years. |
| imitates traditional hardwood floor boards. This looks | | | | Tips on Fitting Wooden Flooring |
| exactly like its traditional counterpart but has many | | | | When you install wood flooring there are things that |
| advantages over the traditional flooring system. | | | | you should know prior to and during the installation to |
| Engineered flooring is a composite material made up | | | | be sure that you have the best fitted floor possible. |
| from several layers of medium or high density | | | | § To prepare your flooring you first must be sure |
| fibreboard or plywood with an upper layer of genuine | | | | that the sub-floor is dry, flat, and smooth. You should |
| hardwood. The core of this flooring (the fibreboard | | | | use an underlay or a barrier over the concrete first. |
| or plywood layers) are constructed by stacking the | | | | If you have radiant heating in the flooring then you |
| individual layers or ply's in the opposite direction of | | | | should be extremely careful and follow instructions |
| each other this provides strength to the flooring but | | | | per the radiant heating guides and by the flooring |
| also eliminates expansion or contraction. | | | | guide so nothing gets damaged. The flooring panels |
| It is available in a wide variety of natural timbers such | | | | should be left in the room that they will be installed |
| as the traditional red and white oaks, maple and ash | | | | for over 48 hours so they can acclimatise to the |
| and now exotic hardwoods from all over the world | | | | temperatures of the room. |
| are being used. With the wide variety of different | | | | § When you lay laminate planks you will stagger |
| timbers available home owners will be able to find an | | | | them. The first row of flooring will be full sized planks. |
| engineered flooring product to suit their individual | | | | The second row will include 2/3 planks and the third |
| tastes or to compliment their decorating scheme. | | | | row will include 1/3 planks. The joints of the planks |
| The main benefits of engineered flooring include: | | | | should remain greater than 8" from one another. You |
| § The ability to use engineered flooring in areas | | | | should also repeat the patterns of the wood grain |
| where traditional hardwood cannot be used such as | | | | every 20 planks. |
| damp areas or places where the floor would be | | | | § When you decide on the direction of your |
| exposed to radiant heat. When exposed to moisture | | | | laminate floors you need to think about the incoming |
| or radiant heat traditional boards warp or cup; the | | | | natural light from outside. The planks should run |
| core of the engineered flooring is constructed with | | | | parallel to the light coming in from the windows or |
| the individual ply's laid in opposite directions which | | | | any glass doors that are in the room. In any |
| ensures the flooring will not enlarge or shrink when | | | | installation, the starting wall that you begin the |
| exposed to changes in humidity. | | | | installation should be as long as possible. |
| § Most are fully finished (coated), this means that | | | | § When you are installing your laminate flooring be |
| you do not have to sand and coat before use. When | | | | sure that you have enough. You should expect to |
| you install engineered flooring you can literally move | | | | have at least 10% of the flooring go to waste. This |
| the furniture back in and be using the room again in a | | | | is because when you cut the planks you might |
| matter of hours. | | | | damage a few and some may already be damaged. |
| § It is generally easy to lay making it a perfect DIY | | | | Other pieces of planks may not be usable. So when |
| project and saving you money on installation. | | | | you purchase your laminate flooring, don't buy |
| § Engineered flooring can be nailed, stapled or glued | | | | exactly enough to cover the floor or you will |
| down or installed as a floating floor. A floating floor | | | | probably run out of planks. |
| only requires that a moisture barrier, usually a foam | | | | § It is recommended to leave a 10mm gap around |
| underlay is placed on the existing floor and the | | | | each of the planks. This is called an expansion gap |
| engineered flooring is laid directly onto it - no sticking | | | | because wood expands from temperature changes |
| down is required. This allows the option that the floor | | | | and humidity. When wood is exposed to warmer |
| can easily be removed and taken away if you move | | | | temperatures, humidity increases, and other issues, |
| home etc, and also makes replacement of any | | | | then there must be room for the wood to expand |
| damaged boards a relatively easy task. | | | | or when the planks do push outward they will buckle. |
| § It looks exactly the same and offers the same | | | | |
| rich warmth and ambiance to a room as traditional | | | | § You should also remember that the first line that |
| hardwood flooring, but is generally considerably | | | | you lay is the most important. The first line is the |
| cheaper than the traditional boards. | | | | longest and must be totally straight. If the first line |
| § Some are constructed with a thick upper layer or | | | | that you lay is not straight then you should not |
| wear layer that can be sanded and refinished in the | | | | continue. You should pull the line up and start over. |
| future to remove wear and renew the flooring. | | | | Poor alignment can cause problems with residue |
| § It is available in many different timber species, | | | | getting caught in the grooves of the planks. Mouldings |
| sizes, styles and grain patterns. There is an | | | | can be glued or nailed to the wall only and not to the |
| engineered flooring solution for every taste and | | | | floor. |
| decorating need. | | | | § You can install laminate flooring on stairs but |
| This flooring is growing in popularity for many reasons | | | | remember on stairs you must use regular wood glue |
| and is being used in preference to solid wood due to | | | | and the mouldings should be nailed. Laminate flooring |
| its durability - the fact it will not warp or cup, even | | | | should not be installed in areas that are controlled like |
| when laid in a basement or other high moisture area | | | | porches or patios. You should also never install |
| or when exposed to radiant heat. It is easy to lay | | | | laminate flooring over carpet. Be sure to remove |
| and when installed looks exactly like traditional | | | | carpeting prior to laying down the flooring. |
| hardwood floors. | | | | You should follow these few simple steps when you |
| What Is The Best Way To Clean Laminate Flooring? | | | | are installing laminate flooring to ensure the best |
| When you have laminate flooring it is important to | | | | installation possible. |