Laminate Flooring

If you are considering installing laminate flooring in your home, the first thing you should do is head out to the stores in search of samples from various brands and price ranges. Examine and ask to take home as many samples as you find appealing and affordable. You will need to take two pieces of each sample so you can test how well they lock together. Obviously your first concern will be the color and appearance of the laminate, but don't stop there.

Examine the surface texture of the various laminate samples. A flat, plastic, unnatural look on a sample piece will look all the more pronounced when installed on a floor surface, and even an untrained eye will know that the floor is not real wood. An attractive laminate floor will look like it is made of real wood unless the viewer takes a really close look. It should have a color that is similar to one that is available in real wood, and should have a wood grain pattern that is not too obviously repeated from piece to piece. In high quality laminates, the texture will also feel like real wood, and you will be able to see and feel the wood grain pattern on the surface of the laminate.

In addition to the look of the surface of the laminate samples, consider how durable the surface is and how it will stand up to wear and tear. This is important as you don't want heavy traffic areas to loose their luster before their time. There is a rating system for the wear layer of laminates, based on their hardness. AC-3 is for heavy residential and light commercial use. AC-4 is 60% heavier than AC-3 and is designed for heavier commercial use or use in areas of the home where heavy use is probable. In addition to the rating system, or for laminates which have not been rated, you can test the samples yourself by scratching the samples with your nail or a hard object. Make sure you scratch each sample in the same way, using the same amount of pressure, and you will be able to see which samples have the best wear layer.

In addition to the above, you can also test the various samples you bring home by subjecting them to various levels of abuse, anticipating disasters that could happen at home. For example, you could spill some bleach, vinegar or cola on the samples to see whether or to what degree they warp and fade. You can also try rubbing sticky substances on the samples, like grease, ketchup, chewing gum, to see how easy it is to clean up these sorts of messes. Water spills are infamously damaging to laminates, and you should try to install a floor with the best possible seams, to give yourself a maximum of time to clean up any spilt liquid. To test the seams, ask for two samples of each type of laminate. Lock each pair together and spill water on each sample. After a few hours, wipe off the surface, unlock the pieces and see how far down the water has seeped. And a final test you could run on your samples is to test for burns. To do this, put a burning match or cigarette on the surface of your samples, and wait a few minutes. Remove the burning object and dispose of it carefully. Wipe the burnt area clean with acetone or nail polish remover and see how much damage was done.

Now that you have examined the surface of each of your samples, you need to go deeper. A key component of laminate floors is the locking mechanism which connects each board to its neighbor. The locking mechanism should at least be strong enough to not break off if you apply pressure with you thumb and forefinger. The thicker the locking mechanism, the stronger the joint will be, and this will prevent the pieces of laminate from separating over time. Next, connect the two pieces of each of the samples. A good locking mechanism will lock without too much difficulty and will not require you to apply a lot of pressure. Also, examine how well the pieces go together: The seam should be as minimal as possible and should lie flat.

The core material of the laminate flooring is also an important sub-surface concern. A dense core provides strength, stability and greater water resistance. You can test the core material of your samples by picking at the core with your fingernail or a sharp object to see which ones are soft and which are harder. Similarly you can soak the samples in water to see which samples warp.

Finally, you should dig deeper on your samples and examine the backing. Some brands will use a thin layer of melamine to seal the back of the laminate while others will use a thicker layer of melamine. The thicker the melamine the more stability your laminate floor will have.

Your choice of laminate product will be based on getting the highest quality possible for your dollar. Ask about warrantees and read any "fine print". Also consider any special features of your household, (such as large dogs who could damage the laminate with their nails, or lots of kids who may cause numerous spills) which may effect your decision.

When making your decision, don't forget to consider the level of service offered by the vendor. Take into account the treatment, service and advice you received from the minute you stepped in the store. Also ask about what help will be available once you complete your purchase. Some vendors may offer installation services, which may be worth your while. If you are installing the laminates yourself, you may have questions which only arise in the process of installing your laminate floor and your vendor should be willing to offer advice. Last but not least don't attempt to install laminate flooring if your home improvement skills are not up to par.