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About Laminate Flooring.
Do you like the look of wood but are concerned that your lifestyle might be too
hard for hardwood? Then laminate, might be just the right choice for you. Laminate
Flooring is the hottest flooring being sold today and laminate floors represent
the most significant flooring entry in the past 25 years. Three important attributes
- durability, design and installation ease continue to propel the popularity
of laminate floors. If you want flooring for active lifestyles, flooring which
is durable and easy to clean, then laminate floors may be exactly what you
are searching for. The laminate floor panels simply click together and rest
on top of a padding (floating installation).
There are wide variety of laminate flooring all capable of standing up to even
the liveliest of lifestyles. For instance, in addition to being very scratch
resistant, spills that would spell disaster for other flooring surfaces can be
wiped up, easy-as-pie, from laminate.
Laminate can also be used to reproduce distressed, rare and extinct woods for
a one of- a-kind look. Plus, this versatile material can go where other flooring
shouldn't--like in basements where moisture could wreak havoc on hardwood.
Buying Tips for Laminate
Flooring.
Laminate flooring is becoming a clear of choice for homeowners looking for rich
patterns, durability and affordability. Over the years. Laminate floors are extremely
durable and wear resistant. Easy quick and simple cleaning. Laminate is sold
in planks, Tile patterns that are glued or snapped together and can be laid over
most other existing floors (excluding carpet over pad). Laminate is one of the
only floors that can be installed over ceramic tile. Each board is constructed
with a core of high density fiber board which is very moisture resistant. As
with most hard surface flooring, laminate floors can scratch so floor protectors
are recommended. ( legs of sofas, chairs, table so on. ) A new laminate floor
can dramatically improve the look of any room. But keep in mind, your new flooring
isn't going into an empty room. The style of your home, the size of the room,
your existing furniture and even wallpaper can impact what kind of laminate you
end up selecting.
Room size.
If your room is small, choosing a lighter color laminate will actually make
the room appear to be larger. A larger pattern on the floor can also expand
the room visually. If you're working with a very large room, using rich,
darker tones will absorb available light--and create a warmer, more intimate
environment for you.
Existing furniture & cabinets. Depending upon the
look you're trying to achieve, there are two very differing schools of thought.
If you want a very cohesive, comforting feel, select flooring that coordinates
closely with your current furnishings and cabinetry. If you're looking for something
a little more dramatic, choose flooring that contrasts instead. If your furniture
or cabinets are mostly brown hues, we'd recommend staying with brown rather than
flooring with red or gray tones. White or almond cabinets look great with virtually
any floor. And painted cabinets can often pick up an accent color in your floor
pattern.
Color. Darker wood tones usually have a more formal or traditional look, while lighter
floors lend themselves to more casual or contemporary styles.
Light sources. How any floor will look in your home will be greatly influenced
by the amount and kind of light you get. The size of your windows, what direction
they face, and the kind of artificial light you have in your home will all play
an important role in how your new floor will look. It is always best to view
your flooring selection in the same lighting that will be used in your home.
Scale and pattern.
Coordinating your new floor with your existing wallpaper isn't as hard as it
might seem. If the wallpaper or fabric used in the room is large scale, select
a small-scale design or board on the floor, and vice versa. If you plan to use
several floor patterns in the room, our experience is that you'll get the best
results by using one small, one medium and one large pattern. That way your design
won't be too overwhelming or too busy.
Design. Again,
your flooring isn't going into a vacuum; it's going into a room with its
own style and flair. Consequently, the floor you select should complement
rather than dominate the other design elements in the room. If the design
of the room is simple, you might want to consider accenting it with a stronger-patterned
floor. If you've already created more of a distinctive style, though, a wise
choice would be to pick a floor that picks up on the existing colors and
patterns in the room.
laminated flooring AC Rating (Abrasion rating)
For those who look for durability as a way to decide on a laminate product, the
AC rating is an ideal guide. Use it to check your expected usage, or foot traffic,
against what the floor was built to withstand. AC stands for Abrasion Class
and an impartial 3rd party has set the standard for 5 different categories
of
use and durability.
AC1 Moderate Residential.
Built to withstand only light residential use. Suitable for closets or bedrooms.
AC2 General
Residential. Built for moderate foot traffic. Suitable in residential spaces
that don't see a tremendous amount of wear and tear like dining rooms or
living rooms.
AC3 Heavy
Residential/Moderate Commercial. Built for all kinds of residential use including
high–traffic rooms and even commercial spaces that have light traffic like offices
without off-street traffic and hotel rooms.
AC4 General
Commercial. Built to withstand every kind of residential use as well as more
heavily trafficked commercial spaces that have off-street traffic like offices,
cafes, and boutiques.
AC5 Heavy
Commercial. Built for the busiest commercial uses and high–traffic spaces like department stores and government buildings.
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the AC Rating, the higher the price.