Ultimate Guide to Laminate Flooring Installation
Thinking of installing hardwood flooring or natural stone floor but the cost is out of your budget? Or wishing to transform your home without hurting your wallet much? Here’s a great flooring option that is way more affordable in price, yet it comes with promising quality.
If you have never really know what laminate flooring is, our flooring expert has highlighted some important points to help you get familiarize with this wonderful flooring.
Why Choose Laminate Flooring?
Among all the different flooring options out there in the market, laminate flooring and vinyl flooring considered as one of the most popular choice. There are plenty of reasons why people like laminate flooring. Other than being cost effective, the best part of choosing laminate flooring is it offers advantages far greater than hardwood flooring without inheriting the drawbacks of hardwood flooring.
Professional Laminate Flooring Installation Vs DIY Laminate Flooring Installation
Do you know laminate flooring not only transform the look of your house but it also adds up to property value when installed correctly? Therefore, you should be thinking carefully before deciding on whether you should go for diy or hire a pro.
Professional Installation
Quick installation
Job complete on time
Outstanding technical skills to ensure professional outcome
Installation errors and mistakes can be avoided
Less wastage can save up more money from buying extra flooring
All installers are well-equipped with necessary tools
DIY Installation
Installation may take longer for first-timer
Difficult to estimate amount of time needed to complete
Lack of skill. Outcome may be unfavorable
Frequent installation errors and mistakes made
Higher amount of wastage is expected
Extra budget have to be allocate for installation tools
Is laminate flooring waterproof?
In short, the answer is NO, laminate flooring is NOT waterproof. There is a common misperception out there that laminate is waterproof, and I believe this is due to the fact that many customers mistakenly confuse vinyl and laminate flooring.
Many types of vinyl flooring are waterproof and/or highly water resistant. Laminate, on the other hand, is made out of recycled hardwood, so it is not waterproof. Due to its melamine wear layer, it has a tough finish which resists against scratches and may have minor protection against minor water (quick spills). But, like hardwood, laminate does not do well with standing water…regardless of whether this water is topical (on top) or seeping into the sub-floor from below. Laminate also does not do well in areas with high humidity.
There are some laminates that claim to be “splash proof” (which is not an industry term) and they do still warn you not to leave any standing water on your laminate floor). If laminate floors become really wet, they will get ruined and buckle. Unlike hardwood flooring, laminate floors can not be sanded or refinished. If they get wet, they can not be repaired. (Whereas if hardwood gets wet in a few spots, you can usually replace those planks and refinish the floors and they will look good as new.)
Laminate flooring looks like real hardwood. It is amazing how far laminates have come these last few years, and they come in a variety of colors and styles. They are made to mimic virtually every type of hardwood. They come in matte and shiny finishes and some even have micro beveled edges for a very impactful look.
Laminate flooring can be installed quickly. Often, if you subfloor is straight/even and secure, laminate flooring can be placed on top of the existing floor, so this reduces time and costs with rip up and floor prep. You can often install on top of vinyl, tile or hardwood floors. Do not install on top of carpet as germs/moisture can get caught in between, and this could create major issues later.
Things To Consider When Choosing Laminate Flooring At Home
The installation of laminate flooring has become an increasingly popular choice for home owners over the past ten or more years. Offering an appealing, durable yet cost-effective alternative to timber, it’s not too hard to understand why.
What Is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is a synthetic floor type that’s made up of multiple layers, designed to offer the effect of a natural material. Most typically this will be a timber effect, although some modern laminates are also designed to provide a bamboo or stone effect.
The appearance comes from a high definition photo image comprising the top visual layer of the floorboard, which is covered and protected by an invisible laminate coating; which provides the flooring its durability and protection from scratches and other damage.
Understand Your Budget
We fully appreciate that all home improvements are dependent on budget, and laying new flooring is no different. One of the reasons to choose laminate is that it tends to be a cheaper, more cost-effective alternative to materials such as timber or bamboo.
Yet being a cheaper option does NOT mean a compromise on quality. Modern laminates offer appearance and quality of finish that’s the equal of these other materials, while its scratch resistance is typically superior to many timbers, offering further benefits.
How To Remove Glue From Laminate Flooring?
Glue down laminate flooring is generally thought of as higher quality than the floating floor variety. Sure, it’s a bit more expensive and time-consuming to install than floating floors are, but once glued in place this type of flooring tends to hold up better than the floating floor variety over time. That’s why so many people are opting for glue down laminate flooring. The only issue is the glue that gets on the flooring during installation. There are always going to be some droplets that get scattered around while laying the floor, and this adhesive needs to be cleaned away as soon as possible to keep the floors from wearing prematurely. That’s why it’s vital for you to understand how to remove glue from laminate, and it’s really not that tough once you understand the process.
Preparation To Remove Glue From Laminate Is Simple
There’s no need to rush out to your local store to purchase specialized chemicals designed to remove glue from the laminate. You likely have all that you need right in your home or business already. Instead of rushing out to the store, just look in your cupboards for proper laminate flooring care. There are a few special formulas that use standard household materials to remove glue from laminate, and they are simple to use.
The Steps To Remove Glue From Laminate
So you’ve got some glue to deal with, and you’re probably freaking out. Stop, take in a deep breathe and relax. It’s not such a big deal. There are plenty of tips to clean laminate out there, and many of them involve specialized chemicals or processes, but you don’t need any of those fancy approaches when you tackle your flooring issue. Instead, you’ll be relying on some pretty simple steps to easily remove glue from laminate and get your floors looking the way you always dreamed they would after the installation is complete.
Gathering The Supplies
Before you can get to work cleaning and providing proper laminate flooring care, you need the supplies to do the job. If you’re going to successfully remove glue from laminate, you’ll need a few things, but many of them are likely to be around your home already. Don’t rush out to the store until you’ve gone through your own cupboards for some of the following supplies.
A Spray bottle
Vinegar
Clean cotton cloths
Acetone
Safety glasses
A plastic putty knife
Rubbing alcohol
Laminate Flooring
What’s Not to Like about Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is quite possibly the best all-encompassing package for your decorating dollar and perfect for busy families who want low maintenance flooring.
Laminate flooring is extremely durable
Protected by a tough external layer and resin coating, a laminate floor is much stronger, and more scratch-resistant, impact-resistant and longer lasting than any hardwood, vinyl, or carpet. It’s virtually resistant to dogs, cats, kids and even high heels.
Laminate flooring is stain, fade, and moisture resistant
Most laminate flooring manufacturers offer extensive warranty protection against stains, fading, and moisture damage. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, are subject to wood grain staining, fading in sunlight, and can scratch and dent easily.
Laminate flooring is easy to clean and maintain
Laminate’s superior stain and moisture-resistant surface coating makes spills and other messes easy to handle. This special surface doesn’t require waxes or varnishes to keep it looking great.
Laminate flooring is easy to install
The introduction of glueless laminate floors revolutionized ease of installation in the industry. Not only are the flooring sections smaller, designed to interlock, and easier to work with, but laminate floors can also be installed over most non-textile existing subfloors. In this “floating floor” method of installation, the laminate floor is laid or “floated” over the existing subfloor without being glued to the surface. This saves considerable time and installation cost. Moreover, laminate floors are easy to un-install and replace quickly and easily when it’s time for a style update.