Water Damage: A Matter of Concern but Overrated
Water is a bad thing for most floors. Even ceramic and porcelain tiles, as water resistant as they are, have water absorption limits. If water sits...
Laminate's Surface Must Remain Sealed
If the laminate has a weak area, it is the edges. While the top is sealed with the wear layer and the bottom is coated, edges are raw and thus pron...
Laminate's CORE Has Some Water Resistance
One frequent criticism about laminate is that it is pressed board, not "real wood." Yet the fact that it is "fake wood" can be a strength. These li...
Superior Scratch Resistance and AC Ratings
Laminate flooring is a sandwich composed of the core substrate, the image layer, and the wear layer. This clear melamine wear layer serves only one...
Laminate's Short Lifespan Is Both A Plus and Minus
One of the best things about laminate is its planned obsolescence. Should a section need to be replaced, it can be removed and replaced with little...
What is the best underlayment for laminate flooring?
The right underlayment for the location: A moisture barrier is important when installing laminate over concrete. A sound muffing under layment is advised when the floor is installed above living space. Foam underlayment helps to insulate the floor and retain its warmth. There are other options too, and each type is available in several grades.
How many grades of laminate are there?
Higher AC Rating: There are five grades of laminate based on the construction of the material, especially the thickness of the wear layer. The rating system is known as the Abrasion Class Rating or AC Rating. The rating of each product you view should be listed or the packaging or in the website description:
What is HPL laminate flooring?
HPL construction method: Better grades of laminate flooring typically undergo high-pressure lamination (HPL) which serves to compress and fuse the layers more effectively than older methods. HPL manufacturing results in a harder, more stable and more durable floor.
What are the different grades of laminate?
Higher AC Rating: There are five grades of laminate based on the construction of the material, especially the thickness of the wear layer. The rating system is known as the Abrasion Class Rating or AC Rating. The rating of each product you view should be listed or the packaging or in the website description: 1 AC1 – Moderate residential: Light traffic areas in the home, for example, bedrooms. 2 AC2 – General residential: Light and medium traffic areas, for example, living room, home office, dining room. 3 AC3 – Heavy residential / light commercial: All traffic areas in the home and light-traffic commercial areas. 4 AC4 – General commercial: All residential areas and moderate commercial traffic. 5 AC5 – Heavy commercial: All residential areas and high-traffic commercial floors.
What is the best AC rating for laminate?
Laminate with an AC rating of 3 or higher will give you added protection against dropped items, kids toys, sliding chair legs, the nails of large dogs and other causes of dents and scratches often found in the kitchen.
Is laminate flooring good for kitchens?
When considering flooring for the kitchen, laminate is a popular choice for those who want an aesthetic upgrade from vinyl sheet flooring but have a limited budget for the project. That’s a good place to start with the advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring.
Does laminate flooring have underlayment?
There are also laminate flooring products with underlayment already attached which saves a step in installation. Your installer is the best person to help you determine which one is the right choice for your laminate kitchen flooring project.
How long does laminate flooring last?
All you need to do is sweep and clean with a damp mop as necessary. It’s relatively long-lasting. Laminate can last between 15-25 years, with some high-quality options retaining their look for up to 30 years if maintained properly.
What is the wear layer on laminate flooring?
This layer protects the surface of the laminate from scratches and stains and ensures that the color does not fade. There is relatively little maintenance involved. Another advantage of the wear layer is that it makes clean-up easy.
What is the best laminate for a kitchen?
Laminate could be a good choice for the kitchen because: 1 Laminate is a great choice aesthetically. It’s available in a diverse range of different styles, colors, and patterns, so it’d be easy to find an option that meets the design style you’re aiming for. You also don’t have to stain the laminate to color match it to the rest of the house. 2 It’s affordable. Laminate is significantly cheaper than other kitchen flooring options, such as hardwood, vinyl, tile, and natural stone. Furthermore, installation is relatively simple, allowing you to handle it yourself and save on installation costs. If you hire a professional, they’ll likely charge you less than they would for other types of flooring. 3 Laminate is durable. All laminate floors include a thin, clear wear layer on top of every piece. This layer protects the surface of the laminate from scratches and stains and ensures that the color does not fade. 4 There is relatively little maintenance involved. Another advantage of the wear layer is that it makes clean-up easy. It serves as a smooth layer, protecting spills from sticking to the floor. All you need to do is sweep and clean with a damp mop as necessary. 5 It’s relatively long-lasting. Laminate can last between 15-25 years, with some high-quality options retaining their look for up to 30 years if maintained properly.
Is it okay to use AC3 or AC2?
Besides considering these pros and cons, you’ll also need to consider whether you can find the laminate you like that also has the AC rating you prefer. While AC2 or AC3 should be okay for home use, many people prefer to opt for AC4 when using laminate in their kitchens.
Is laminate flooring static?
Laminate is susceptible to static. This is a particular problem if you live in a dry environment. Static is made worse by the build-up of dust, so you can mitigate this issue by ensuring your laminate floors are clean. It’s not eco-friendly.
Can you refinish laminate flooring?
This is why immediate clean-up of spills, especially liquid spills, is essential. It cannot be refinished. Once laminate wears out, it’ll need to be replaced entirely.
Is laminate flooring cheaper than other flooring?
It’s affordable. Laminate is significantly cheaper than other kitchen flooring options, such as hardwood, vinyl, tile, and natural stone. Furthermore, installation is relatively simple, allowing you to handle it yourself and save on installation costs.
What is laminate flooring?
Laminate comes in a wide array of styles, colors and patterns. So, you could easily find laminate flooring that perfectly matches your kitchen décor. Laminate offers your kitchen the luxurious look of natural wood, and even stone, but without the high price point.
Is laminate flooring good for a kitchen?
If you’re committed to choosing environmentally friendly materials for your kitchen renovation, laminate may not be the best flooring option for you. It doesn’t degrade well in landfills, partially due to the wear layer which contains plastic.
Can laminate flooring match kitchen decor?
Laminate comes in a wide array of styles, colors and patterns. So, you could easily find laminate flooring that perfectly matches your kitchen décor.
Is laminate flooring waterproof?
Fortunately, today there are collections of both waterproof and water-resistant laminate flooring that are perfect for any room in your home, especially the kitchen. To see these collections, check out our laminate page here.
What is laminate flooring made of?
Choose laminate made from sustainably sourced and recycled materials. Some flooring types are approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This type of flooring uses wood from sustainably managed forests.
How much does laminate flooring cost?
For many homeowners, the most appealing feature of laminate is its affordable price. Laminate is often sold for as little as $3 per square foot. This price is much cheaper than many other flooring options. For example, when you do the hardwood vs laminate cost, comparison you will find hardwood to be up to five times more expensive.
What is the most versatile flooring?
Laminate is considered to be one of the most versatile flooring options for the home. Part of the appeal is that laminate comes in such a diverse range of styles, colors, and patterns. You can choose laminate wood colors that give you the authentic look of hardwood.
Is laminate flooring good for the environment?
If you’re committed to choosing environmentally friendly materials for your kitchen renovation, laminate may not be the best fit for you. Laminate flooring doesn’t degrade well in landfills, partially due to the wear layer which contains plastic. Some laminate flooring options are also made with chemicals such as formaldehyde which can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs are toxic gases that may have adverse health and environmental effects.
Is laminate good for a kitchen?
Many homeowners seem to gravitate toward laminate for its many benefits. Before deciding whether laminate is the right choice for you, delve into this complete list of the pros and cons of installing laminate in the kitchen. The Pros of Laminate in the Kitchen. Pro: It’s Aesthetically Pleasing. Laminate is considered to be one ...
Can you put laminate flooring on top of existing floor?
Instead, the laminate tiles or planks snap together to form a floating floor. In many cases, you don’t have to do anything to the existing floor; you can simply install your laminate on top.
Can you use damp mop on laminate floors?
Homeowners simply need to sweep the floors regularly to keep them clean. Occasionally, you can use a damp mop for a deeper clean. Shop All Laminate Flooring. The Cons of Laminate in the Kitchen .
Can you put cabinets on floating laminate floors?
Even though your home is acclimatized, your appliances hinder the natural expansion and contraction process. With a heavy cabinetry on top of your floating laminate floor, it’s harder for the wood to move naturally.
Can you install shelving after laminate flooring?
There are a few risks with installing your shelving and appliances after your laminate flooring. These include the expansion and contraction risk you referenced, and the length of the strips.
Can you use plywood to install flooring?
If you’re determined to install the flooring first, use a piece of plywood as a filler piece. Avoid installing the flooring in that area to account for the shelving unit. This is a more difficult way of doing it, but it’ll give you the best life out of your floors.
Can you put laminate down after re-doing?
We realize that putting down the laminate after the kitchen is re-done probably is recommended, however then there is the problem of the dishwasher getting trapped in (for removal/repair), stove & refrigerator being different heights, with all 3 appliances affecting cabinet & counter height to make everything even.
Can you replace laminate flooring without replacing all of the flooring?
Cutting the Strips. The good thing about laminate flooring is that it’s easy to repair. If it’s damaged, you can replace a small section without having to replace all of your flooring. When you place your laminate flooring strips underneath your cabinetry, you make the process more burdensome.
Can you put shelving on top of flooring?
This way, if you need to remove any of the planks due to water damage as you mentioned, you won’t be held back by having your shelving unit installed on top of the flooring.
