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Laminate floors range in price from 0.89c s/f to as much as $7.99 s/f. So why should you spend the big bucks, when at the end of the day they all look the same?

First let us analyze the warranty factors. An entry level laminate floor which sells for in the region of 0.89c s/f to $1.39s/f probably comes with a warranty ranging from between 10 to 15 years, as opposed to a better quality laminate that sells for more and carries a warranty ranging from 25 years to lifetime. A comprehensive laminate warranty covers the following aspects of the floors performance: factory defect, normal wear and tear, fading, staining, denting and water resistance. A lower end warranty might not cover all of these aspects, and although the advertised warranty states ten years, this might refer to manufacturer’s defects only, whereas the performance aspect of the warranty might only cover a five year period. Also consider that although the wear and tear aspect of a laminate warranty covers a certain period, this does not reflect the fact that the floor might start to show wear and tear or loose its original luster after a few years of use.

Today, most laminate floor surfaces are treated with Aluminum Oxide, which makes these floors highly durable in terms of scratching and denting. However not all floors are created equal in that certain laminates receive up to nine coatings of aluminum oxide, whereas a lower quality floor might only be treated with a few layers of Aluminum Oxide. This translates into a scenario where these few layers of Aluminum Oxide will wear through in a short period of time, and conversely a floor with additional coatings will perform better when subjected to heavy foot traffic, and for a longer period of time.

Laminate floor cores range in thickness from 7mm to 12mm, with a thicker core offering more stability, making it less likely to buckle if subjected to high levels of moisture in the air, as well as offering a floor that is quieter to walk on. The other aspect of laminate floor cores is the ability of the floor to resist swelling when affected by water and sub-floor moisture. A good quality laminate floor core is treated with water repellent chemicals, which protect the floor from swelling when breached by water or excessive levels of sub-floor moisture. A good core should be coupled with a tongue and groove configuration that is also treated with water repellent chemicals, such as impregnated wax, which will prevent topical liquid spills from penetrating through to the laminate core.

Joint integrity refers to the ability of the tongue and groove locking mechanism to withstand the weight of heavy objects, as well as perform over the life of the floor. The locking mechanism of a good quality laminate floor is designed to withstand the weight of heavy household furniture and fit tightly together negating gapping or separation. Since the advent of glueless laminate floors, many manufacturers have invested large sums of money in research and development in search of a locking mechanism that will not fail even when subjected to abnormally high levels of impact force or weight. The most successful configurations, in terms of binding strength and durability are patented and sold to other manufacturers.

Lastly, when purchasing a name brand laminate floor, one is not paying merely for the name, but for the quality of the materials, precise levels of engineering, and many years of research and development invested in the design and manufacturing process.

This flooring article was written by Barry H. Get more tips and techniques at: Online Laminate Flooring Resources

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If you are going to be installing Pergo flooring yourself, the following are some brief tips from a do-it-yourself home owner just like you!

Installing Pergo flooring in your home can be a great, low cost, home improvement decision. It is fairly durable, extremely easy to clean, and installing Pergo flooring is easy. The look is welcoming, providing any area in your home with a warm look and feel of wood. You have a wide array of colors and styles to choose from, so you will certainly find something to suit your home’s needs.

To begin, you will need specific tools and supplies begin installing Pergo flooring in your home. There are two types of flooring offered, glue and glueless. No matter what type of flooring you choose to install, you will need a plastic vapor barrier, a saw, and padding. If you choose the glue model, you will need other supplies, such as tightening straps and tapping block.

Before you begin installing Pergo flooring, there are numerous home improvement classes offered at a regular basis for no charge at home improvement stores. Its highly recommended that you take a class to familiarize yourself with the common problems and issues you will encounter. You will be able to learn firsthand how to install the floor, and you will be able to ask an installation expert any questions you may have regarding installing Pergo flooring. Plus, all the supplies you will need when installing Pergo flooring are there in the class.

You can plan on installing Pergo flooring over cement, tile, vinyl, or in place of carpet. The planks should be installed over special, specific padding to help with noise as well as a vapor barrier (especially if you install over concrete) to keep moisture out. These are all things you need to discuss with your home improvement supplier.

Measure the rooms and get your square footage before you go to a class or to pick out the material. You will be able to bring home samples to help you decide on the color of your new floors if needed. At this time, plan the direction that the wood planks should lay. When installing Pergo flooring in a narrow or long room, lay it down lengthwise; or, if you are installing the flooring in a room with a large window, lay it feeding towards the window.

One of the first steps you take after you have brought home the materials is to let the boxes sit open in the room you plan on installing Pergo flooring in for at least 48 hours. If you live in or will be installing Pergo flooring in an area of extremely high or low humidity, you should let the open box sit for up to 96 hours exposing the wood materials to the room’s environment. Allowing the box to sit allows the material to get acclimated, and will decrease the chances for swelling and/or shrinking once you complete the job.

When you install Pergo flooring, you are creating a floating floor. The planks should not be glued or secured to the subfloor in anyway to allow for movement with humidity and temperature. (The expansion distance is 1/4 inch in normal climates). This is important to note in areas you are installing like at corners, angles and openings such as doorways.

Two essential installation supplies when using a glue system are the tapping block and the tightening straps. These are used to make sure the pieces of flooring are connected tightly and smoothly with less gapping. Before adding glue, lay the first three rows down to see what the floor will look like and if the pieces will fit. If you have a board close (less than 2″) to the wall (or end of spatial area), rearrange the first pieces to make them all fit.

Installing laminate floor in your home is a big task, but a very rewarding one. Upkeep of the surface is easy and there are specific details and instructions on maintenance and damage repair to these types of floors once you have them installed. For more reading, check out the information below.

Margarette Tustle writes on home improvement topics for http://www.buypergo.com Read more about installing laminate flooring at Installing Pergo Flooring

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If you find yourself at the cross-roads of laminate flooring and hardwood flooring when it comes to your flooring choices, you are going to have to do a fair bit of soul-searching before making your best decision. In that entire process, know that information is power; it’s the catalyst to doing the right thing faster. Laminate flooring or otherwise, the choice is yours but what you must definitely do before taking the plunge is to understand the advantages that laminate flooring brings to the table as compared to hardwood flooring and the differences thereof.

Laminate flooring for starters, is customizable to a large extent as compared to hardwood. Whether you want a genuine wood-like look or a classic stone-finish look, plastic laminates can hold the key. So fundamentally, the variety on offer is typically higher for laminates. Secondly, the laminates by themselves in the flooring are synthetically strengthened by the use of resins and are almost one and half times as strong as comparable hardwood flooring. When it comes to installation, laminate floorings are significantly easier to install, with option such as gluing, free floating or stapling all available to the user. And a critical benefit that this type of flooring yields over hardwood flooring is its ability to withstand spillage, hot and cold liquids, staining chemicals, dents and scratches.

Hardwood flooring on the other hand does not offer you all of the benefits stated above. Where real wood is concerned, exposure to moisture or excessive sunlight is a concern that could mitigate the aesthetic appeal of the wooden flooring. With the passage of time and regular use, wooden floors also tend to lose some of their shine and color a bit. But having said that, these hardwood floorings can be brought back to their original lustre with a good coat of paint and polish. That is not to say laminate floorings are beyond help in this regard, there are enough of repair and improvement kits available at inexpensive rates which makes maintaining the laminate floorings easy.

Beyond this, there are other facets to laminate flooring. For instance, it offers noise reduction like no other due to its superior ability to absorb the sound waves through the ’soft’ layer or the padding. In areas close to the coast, where moisture content is likely to be higher, laminate flooring stands a lesser chance to bend as compared to hardwood.

As you can see such sterling advantages of using laminates make it a strong candidate for any flooring decision. So, NOW, what is it going to be for you?

Visit our articles section at superFlooring Wonders for more such practical advice on flooring and how to get the best flooring solution suited for your needs. For awesome flooring tips and tricks, visit Flooring Wonders and bring the world beneath your feet!!

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