The laminate floor is a fantastic invention. It combines the timber character with the need for a minimal maintenance. What's more, the material is very cheap when compared with its timber counterparts. Also, the ease to install the laminate flooring provides further incentives to buy the product.
Laminate floors are very cheap when compared with the timber flooring.
You can buy the laminated boards for $14-$19 per meter square.
The laminate flooring usually have had a chose of thickness.
However, most companies use the thicker version which is slightly more expensive than its thinner counterpart.
Essentially, the laminate flooring uses a timber imprint which is pressed on the substrate.
All types of the laminate floor use groove-tongue options which does not require nails or a glue.
The trick to install laminate floors is patients and a bit of force.
The floorboards tongues must fit the grooves tightly.
The underlayer for the laminate floor is very simple to put.
It is a thin, non-condensation material with an imprintent foam.
The underlayer should be placed exactly from one edge of the room to another.
Next, is the actual laminate floor.
Most laminate floor packages contain stoppers and l-shaped metal bars.
You place a wooden block between the metal and the laminate.
By directing tongue of one board to the groove of another, you must use the hammer to hit the metal bar.
This will ensure that boards will fit precisely.
Leaving gaps will trap moisture which will damage the laminates in the future.
The orientation of laminate floor boards towards the hammer-blow is also important.
You must place the grove of the laminate floor-board towards the direction of the hammer (i.e. the hammer-metal-block setup).
The alternative orientation will damage the tongue of the laminate floor.
It is very important (same as for other timber floors) that there is a clear distance of 8mm between the laminate floor and the wall.
This will ensure that the boards will not bulge or crack if expanded under a high humidity. Skirting can cover the unsightly gap later.
The level of maintenance for the laminate floor is a real bonus for those who install the product.
There is virtually no polishing, sanding and varnishing required to keep the laminate floors "happy".
Simple vacuuming and mopping is all what you need for this material.
However, same as with other timber floors, you must be careful about the moisture.
Little paddles of spilled liquid can soak into the joints if not wiped quickly.
This will increase the moisture under the imprint, leading to bulging and even chipping.
The moisture issues are not uncommon for all timber products.
Thus, in all cases, excessive liquid spillages must be cleaned immediately.