LAMINATE

2. SELECTING LAMINATE

Laminate flooring is made to look like natural products such as wood flooring or natural stone, yet is made up of either synthetic materials (usually melamine resin) or of synthetic materials combined with natural and recycled ingredients and covered with an attached decorative applique including an aluminum oxide finish.

Laminate is not a replacement for anything. It has come into its own as a separate and distinct flooring category. It possesses all its own features, stylings and performance benefits that are completely unique.

A popular alternative to other hard surface products, high-quality laminate flooring resists staining, wear, and fading much better than wood and natural stone while providing unique looks and appeal.

Installing Laminate Giving a room or your home a whole new look with laminate is very easy, extremely fast and not messy at all. Laminate is usually “floated” over the subfloor. That means it’s not glued, nailed, taped or stapled. After leaving a small fraction of an inch around the perimeter of the room, laminate clicks together in place. It locks tightly with virtually no gaps between pieces.

3. LAMINATE CARE

Daily Laminate Floor Care
Laminate flooring is very dense with no pores on the surface of the laminate planks. This prevents any accumulation of dust on the surface of laminate floors. Daily dry mopping or wiping of the floor can take care of any dust or grit that might be present on the surface of laminate flooring. Vacuuming is the best way to prevent accumulation of dust on the laminate floor. However, while vacuuming, make sure the head of the vacuum cleaner is either soft brush or felt.

Occasional Laminate Floor Care
If you are thorough with your daily laminate floor care routine, you will rarely need further care or maintenance. However, if you have heavy foot traffic in the room where you have laminate flooring, your daily dry mopping or vacuuming won't help much. In that case, you will need occasional maintenance activities to keep your laminate floor gleaming. This includes, a semi-wet mop or wiping the floor with a towel soaked and squeezed in warm water. This should get rid of any stray pet danders or shoe imprints. You can use a special laminate floor cleaning solution for this purpose. Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding cleaning procedure.

Laminate Floor Care: Damage Control
No matter how well you clean and protect your laminate flooring, you are inevitably going to get some accidents on your flooring. More so, if you have kids or pets in your house. Spilled milk or coffee, paint stains are some common damages that could happen to your flooring. Acting quick can save your flooring from getting a permanent blotch or stain. In case of liquid spills, immediately blot the liquid with paper napkins. Soak a towel in warm water and gently scrub the affected area on the flooring. You may also use laminate floor cleaner to rid off the stains.
• Avoid wet mopping or washing laminate floor with water. Water causes the wooden planks to swell, warp and wear off prematurely.
• Do not use soaps, detergents, bleaches or usual cleaning agents to clean your laminate floors.
• Avoid waxing or staining of the laminate flooring.Laminate flooring repair jobs should be done on time to avoid further problems with laminate flooring.
• Place door mats and foot brushes at the entrance to prevent mud or grit from getting onto your laminate flooring.
• Install rollers on the furniture or provide enough padding to avoid scratching the surface of the laminate floor while moving or relocating the furniture.
• Maintain ambient temperature and humidity levels inside the room. Humidity levels should be maintained at 35 - 65% throughout the year. This prevents contraction and expansion of wood in different seasons.
• Appropriate use of humidifier and dehumidifier may help you in maintaining the desired humidity levels.