How To Install Laminate Flooring

Underlay is the base of the floor and it is extremely important to choose and  install it properly. The better underlay is the longer the floor will serve you. Note that floors are affected from two directions, above and underneath, and it’s important to provide good conditions on both sides. So here are some useful tips which will help to prolong the life of your floor.

1. Before you go on to look for an underlay for your laminate floor, take your time and observe your sub-floor. Is it concrete slab or timber boards? Find out as much as possible about its structure, any damage that it has or may potentially develop, the moisture level beneath, at and above it.

2. In order for the underlayment to work properly, your sub-floor has to be as level and as clean as possible. If it’s a concrete one, fill in any gaps that exist using a compound mixture and scrape off any adherent carpet and other left-overs. If it’s a timber sub-floor, nail properly all boards and use plywood sheets if necessary to level out the surface.

3. If the level of moisture in your area is high or has the potential to reach high levels over an year, and you have a solid sub-floor (concrete slab, stone, brick), use a damp proof filler compound to fill in any gaps. Make sure to give it enough time to dry out before moving onward with the job. Read more…

What laminate likes
Laminate likes temperatures from +18 to+25°C and relative humidity from 40 to 70%. High humidity makes laminate and the other wooden materials expand. Too dry air (for example, from air conditioners and warm floors) makes laminate shrink. That’s why, when home heating is switched on, it is recommended to use humidifiers (small fountains).

Dirt is dangerous
Laminate has a solid water-resistant surface, which is durable and wear-resistant. Dust doesn’t adhere to it and dirt can be easily removed. The dirt brought to the house from the street is dangerous, as it is easily trampled into the floor. It damages floor; sand and grit act as an abrasive paper leaving scratches. Therefore, try not to bring dirt inside the house, wiping thoroughly your feet outside a threshold. Put a big carpet in front of the entrance door.

Without polish and varnish
It is strictly prohibited to polish laminated floors with beeswax and polishing agents as they do not adhere to water-resistant coating do not penetrate into it and make unattractive spots. It is also no need to cover laminate with varnish.
It’s enough to sweep or vacuum the floor regularly. At wet cleaning wring out floor cloth thoroughly. Laminate is afraid of moisture. If you spoilt any liquid, wipe it immediately.
Read more…

When you decide to install laminate into your house you start to look for an appropriate material. How to make a right choice and not to get screwed? Our simple tips will help you! Read more…

Classically produced laminate flooring is made up of three layers:

The decorative paper is what gives the laminate flooring its individual appearance. There is a wide range of highly authentic wood reproductions, but the large variety of interesting tile designs and creative décors should not be forgotten either. The wear layer is provided by the melamine resin, a highly wear resistant material that makes laminate flooring so hard wearing. Read more…

What qualitative properties, operational characteristics and drawbacks make the above mentioned floor coverings different? What kind of covering to choose? To find out the answer let’s compare some points considering installation process and further operation of laminate and parquet.

Laminated floors appeared in the construction market not long ago and in the mass sales just in the nineties. At the moment laminate is known to be one of the best floor coverings, having some considerable advantages over the other types of floor coverings. Laminate is produced out of environmentally friendly material, is load and impact resistant. It is easy to use and to install it. Laminate is almost maintenance free – its enough just to treat floor covering with a wet cloth made out of microfibers. Today laminated floors can be seen everywhere, either in dwellings or in public places. Laminate popularity and wide use is obvious due to its abrasion resistance, impact resistance and high temperatures durability. Read more…

Laminate flooring is still a young industry tied to its European roots. Although major manufacturers are now producing laminate flooring in North America, the industry still looks to Europe for design trends and product innovations.

That explains why the booming North American market doesn’t have its own set of industry standards designed to help consumers understand what they’re buying. Read more…

Earlier laminate panels were attached to each other according to “tongue-and-groove” principle with the help of special glue. The result - a solid floor covering. However this type has disadvantages: eventually gaps between panels appear as glue looses its quality. Replacement of one separate panel is near to impossible, as panels are firmly attached to each other, and having removed one, you can damage the whole construction.

Some years ago one of the leaders in laminate floor production, Belgian company Unilin Decor, issued the collection QUICK-STEP UNICLICK, based on a glueless installation of laminate. The collection acquired its name due to the original and unique system UNICLICK, based on a special tongue and groove connection. The system allows attaching panels by a single click without glue. The advantage of UNICLICK system over the other systems is evident. Laminate installation has become more quick and neat. Read more…

Installation of laminate to be done in accordance with a manufacturer`s instruction, provided together with the material. There are two types of laminate installation - glued and glueless locking.

Laminate to be stored in a heated premise, where there are no drafts, at not less than 1-meter distance from the nearest wall. Before the installation process packed panels are laid in a row in the middle of a room, where laminate will be installed, for about 2-3 days. Suitable temperature for this period of time to be not less than 18°С and average humidity – to 75 %. Each package is unpacked directly before installation. Laminate can be installed along windows, crosswise or cornerwise, which is the most difficult way of installation. Read more…

For the first time laminate appeared in Europe and gained a great popularity in many houses of a private and state sector. As laminate imitates wood, stone, cork and other patterns, it became a real alternative for parquet. It was discovered to be highly resistant and impact-proof. Today laminate cost turns out to be much cheaper than floor made out of natural materials. Note that its appearance reproduces pattern, colour and structure of natural materials. Read more…