Installing Laminate Flooring.
Saturday, June 4th, 2011One of the most popular ways of adding appeal as well as value to your home is installing laminate flooring. The beauty of laminate floors is a combination of the elegance of hardwood/tile floors and vinyl/linoleum flooring. Laminate floors are made of high-density fiber (HDF) wood planks that have stone or wood patterns. This type of flooring is durable and easy to maintain. In addition, laminate floors are resistant to scuffing, burning, and scratching, which ensure durability. Laminate floors also adapt to the changing trends in interior design where easy installation is the primary characteristic.
If you are intending to install laminate flooring in your home or work place, there are several factors to consider in terms of the type of laminate floor you would choose. First, you have to consider the HDF core. You can be assured of the quality of the laminate floors if they have harder HDF core. Second, you have to check on the patterns as well as protective layers of the laminate floors. Laminate floors are available in 2 common types, direct pressure lamination and high pressure lamination. Direct pressure lamination involves a one-step process of binding flooring layers into a single unit. This type of laminate floors is treated with melamine resins, which can increase the solidity of the core. Direct pressure lamination also involves the process of cutting notches and grooves evenly into pieces to allow easy installation of the flooring.
On the other hand, high pressure lamination involves a process of binding flooring layers in multiple steps to ensure durability. The top layers of laminate floors are joined together and glued to the core. After which, the glued flooring and melamine resins undergo high pressure press to complete the high pressure lamination process.
If you have already chosen the type as well as the design of laminate floors you want to use, the next thing to consider is the type of installation you prefer. Laminate floors are available in different installation options. The installation options depend on the budget you have for your flooring. In addition, each type of installation caters to one’s ability to carry out the process. Every type of laminate floors has different technique requirements for proper installation.
For instance, standard laminate flooring can be installed by using any type of adhesive that can secure the flooring to the sub floor. This type of installation is less expensive yet dependable.
Snap and lock laminate floors, on the other hand, are the easiest to install. It does not need glue or any type of adhesive. The floor boards are linked through a locking system on the wood’s underside. However, this type of laminate floor is more expensive as compared to the types that require adhesives.
Finally, pre-glued laminate floors only require water to go through the installation process. This type of laminate floors has been treated with glue on the underside of the wood. The installation can be completed by applying water to the pre-glued underside of the wood. The glue will be activated instantly as water is spreads through it.