Old World Floors, LLC
Bickford Home Improvement
Germantown Wood Flooring
Mr. Sandless Memphis
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is gaining ground as the most popular flooring choice in the country. After enjoying years of popularity in Europe, laminate floors are making a mark in the American market. These floors are inexpensive, easy to install and offer the good looks of a hard wood floor with none of the high maintenance features. Laminate floors don't use any solid wood in construction, but instead are made of a number of materials that are joined together strongly, and finished to give a wood-like appearance.
Before installing your laminate floor, make sure that your sub floor is flat and smoothly laid out. Underlayment should be used under your floor for sound proofing purposes. Inspect flooring panels, and look for damage before installation, or else you could have uneven planks that can't be locked together. Choose a High Pressure Laminate that is more expensive, but offers a greater variety of designs, higher durability and enhanced inter locking mechanisms. Prices vary from the lowest end to high end ranges, and quality is usually determined by price.
Look for AC ratings to guide you in your choice of laminate floors. For high pressure areas like foyers and kitchens, laminate floors should have an AC 3 rating. Low pressure areas like bedrooms can get by with a lower rating. These ratings ensure that your laminate has passed all tests relating to staining, swelling, abrasion etc. Even so, a little maintenance will go a long way in keeping your laminate floor good looking for years to come. Protect your floor using rugs and mats, and make sure that all carpets used are made of color fast materials. Use furniture protectors to prevent your furniture legs from scratching your floors. Don't leave water standing on your laminate floor.
Recent Requests
I would like to get a quote on installing hard wood floors in both my master bedroom and guest bedroom. The rest of the house has hardwood floors and I would like to match those two rooms to the wood in the entire house.
Janis G
want to find out options to repair or replace current laminate flooring, including radiant heating elements beneath
Ken K