The merits of laminate flooring

Rochyjp · Apr 23, 2008 8:16 pm

1. Wide range of colors.
The range of colors and finishes are too much bigger that of hardwood flooring(HF) and bamboo flooring(BF). All the designs from hardwood, bamboo, granite, marble, ceramic tile and carpet are available for laminate flooring.

2. Strong wear resistant

Laminate flooring(LF) is an extremely durable due to its top surface, wear resistant layer. The contents of wear resistant layer include much AL2O3 which is the main material of man made diamond. It is suitable for high traffic places such as supermarket and gymnasium.

3. Strong moisture resistant
Laminate flooring is strong moisture resistant. The bottom layer of it is moisture resistant layer. And green core is stronger moisture resistant than brown core because some waterproof content is added in green core.

4. Strong fade resistant
Unlike HF and BF, the colors of LF are on the second layer so it avoids direct sun light. What's more, the special treat of the design layer improves the fade resistance.

5. Strong stain resistant
LF provides better stain resistance compared with HF and BF as the first layer is strong stain resistant. It is very difficult for stain to penetrate the first layer of LF.

6. Cheap
LF is much cheaper than that of HF and BF. The price of HF and BF are at least 1 time higher than that of LF.

7. Ease installation
You even can install the flooring yourself with some special installation instructions.

8. Easy maintenance
All that you need to maintain LF is cleaner or rag. In case of damage, you can take apart the broken plank and replace it.

HF123 · Apr 24, 2008 7:15 pm

It's also very noisy and oversold as to it's real performance. The market is flooded with cheap product and initially, they all look the same to the untrained eye. There are some that perform extremely well but they are few and far between.

As far as just taking apart the broken plank and replacing it goes, there is a little more involved than that. Imaging a Lego wall - your task is to remove a Lego brick from the middle of the wall. You have to remove all of the other bricks to get to it. The floor is no different, you also will need to remove the skirting/quad and what ever is over the floor wall junction. Yes it can all be done, it's just not quite as easy as some would have you believe.

Michelle · Apr 24, 2008 7:23 pm

Rochyjp

3. Strong moisture resistant

Unless you put it in a hair salon!

I just came from my hairdressers; they….unfortunately put Laminate flooring down a few years ago. Not a flooring I would have suggested for a hair salon.

They have had leaks, and of course spills, and the floor looks shocking!
The wheels of the chairs have stripped the laminate off.

Yes I agree, Laminate is great for residential use……but not for any type of heavy duty commercial of retail use. :wink:

Zedman · Apr 30, 2008 3:39 pm

There is an alternative that not many people know about. A floor tile that looks like a plank of timber - a timber look floor tile. So all the benefits of a hard wearing tile with the warmth of timber. The finish is rather amazing.

www.users.bigpond.com/kalafrana

Simon · May 01, 2008 9:20 am

Quick question

"3. Strong moisture resistant
Laminate flooring is strong moisture resistant. The bottom layer of it is moisture resistant layer. And green core is stronger moisture resistant than brown core because some waterproof content is added in green core"

Can anyone point me in the direction of a company that does this green core.
I was always under the impression that laminate flooring is a nightmare in areas prone to contact with water. I've personally had a bad experience before where water got underneath the laminate. It swelled and curled up at the edges. The whole floor had to be replaced - granted this was a few years back.
We'd like to use wooden flooring in a kitchen / dining / living area and were reluctant on using laminate for this reason. However if a moisture resistant core is available i'd be very interested as it would save on cost over solid engineered wood.

Simon

ChrisL · May 01, 2008 10:27 pm

Simon,
Check out www.bigbrands.com.au - 'turbo lock' has a green core.
Chris

Simon · May 02, 2008 8:22 am

Thanks Chris - much appreciated

Simon

Rachelle · May 02, 2008 9:22 am

We put a floating floor in our current unit about three years ago. It looks pretty awful now. With two babies and a little doggy we often have spills and "accidents" and the joints are all swollen. I wouldn't use one again.

eimaj · May 02, 2008 12:28 pm

What type/make of floor was it Rachelle?

eimaj

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 2:14 pm

We have laminated timber flooring from IKEA, I think it's the "Tundra" brand, and it has been down since late 2000. We've have a four year old and a bub, we don't treat it especially carefully except regular cleaning and felts on everything.

It hasn't lifted, discolored, joints are tight or moved....but we did have it professionally laid.....and on the laying front we probably paid more than average.

I'm not sure whether the IKEA brand flooring is high end or low end we were and probably still are flooring ignoramuses, but the total pricewas what we could afford in our first new home and we are still happy with it.

There are some wide generalisations in the first post I wouldn't agree with. But using a good product, in the right areas, layed properly, and if it meets your needs, I think its a reasonably good product....although try as it might it doesn't look as good as real timber.

Strumer · May 02, 2008 2:41 pm

Spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam...

"7. Ease installation
You even can install LF yourself with some special installation instructions. "

Oh yeah...need me some of those SPECIAL instructions...

to_do_list · May 02, 2008 5:01 pm

Strumer

Spam spam spam spam, spam spam spam spam...

True.....but the discussion was interesting....

vanderlay · May 02, 2008 5:03 pm

Not sure what he was getting out of it - no company, website, contact or anything else mentioned...and yep, good discussion!

Rochyjp · May 03, 2008 1:25 am

So many people hate laminate flooring? Maybe I will write an article named: The disadantages of laminate flooring.

Helyn · May 03, 2008 9:58 am

I like laminate flooring, we have had a floating floor on current kitchen/meals area, high traffic flow area, since 2000 and no problems whatsoever, it was mid range in price and was professionally laid.
I am doing same again in parts of my new house.
But admittedly, I don't have any young children, which may make it a better choice for me than for other forummers?

to_do_list · May 03, 2008 10:57 am

Helyn

But admittedly, I don't have any young children, which may make it a better choice for me than for other forummers?

Teenagers....don't make mess....is that true...please give me hope....!

Helyn · May 03, 2008 11:23 am

Well, they are toilet trained and they can eat without spilling food on the floor and have mastered drinking out of a cup.........I suppose when you put it like that they do have a few good points.....not many, but a few....

BTW, is this your child, TDL??? :lol:

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to_do_list · May 03, 2008 1:18 pm

Helyn

Well, they are toilet trained and they can eat without spilling food on the floor and have mastered drinking out of a cup.........I suppose when you put it like that they do have a few good points.....not many, but a few....

BTW, is this your child, TDL??? :lol:

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Four year old if fortunately past that age....unfortunately 8 month old is starting to .....err....experiment....

Tellsth · May 11, 2008 9:42 pm

There also many disadantages of laminate flooring. It is of economical chice for floor covering.

to_do_list · May 11, 2008 10:40 pm

Tellsth

There also many disadantages of laminate flooring. It is of economical chice for floor covering.

Any many adantages....