 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
Laminate Flooring Information Directory UK |
|
|
|
|
|
Buy Laminate Flooring at Screwfix.com
Buy laminate flooring at one of the UK's largest online suppliers of trade tools, Diy, hardware and home improvement products. Secure ordering and low prices.
Find Laminated Flooring Online Here
Access liquidators.com and order from a wide range of flooring wood and accessories. See online specials, order samples and more for delivery world-wide.
Wood and Laminate Flooring
Quickstep Uniclic laminate flooring at discounted prices, next-day delivery. Buy now.
Great Laminate Flooring Deals at Wood2U
Wood2U provides Diy enthusiasts with quality wood and laminate floors at prices usually only available to the trade. We offer expert advice and if required we will assist with installations.
Cheap Laminate Flooring
Find your laminate flooring at Kelkoo the product search engine which brings you millions of products from hundreds of shops.
|
|
|
|
Laminate Flooring Information Directory UK |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Apex Car Rental |
| Car hire Australia is easy and affordable with Apex Car Rentals. |
| Car Hire Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Top Searches |
| laminate flooring |
| cheap flooring laminate |
| laying laminate flooring |
| flooring laminate lay |
| laminate flooring uk |
| laminate wood flooring |
| quick step laminate flooring |
| laminate flooring supplier |
| flooring laminate waterproof |
| quickstep laminate flooring |
| bathroom flooring laminate |
| flooring installation laminate |
| discount laminate flooring |
|
|
|
| ©2006 Business Directories UK |
Laminate flooring is the hottest new product in floor covering in the United States. Europeans have been using it for over 20 years. Laminate flooring is a tongue and groove interlocking flooring system. It is installed over the top of the existing substrate and simply lays there. This has made it a natural for Europe and its older buildings. Less new construction goes on in relation to home sales than the building in the United States and Canada. Plywood, concrete slab, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring, or virtually any other basically flat hard surface is suitable for a "floating" laminate installation. Indeed, this is a major reason why installation of laminated floors is so Do It Yourself friendly. (The word " floating " or "float-in" is a flooring term that means the new floor is not attached to the floor underneath. In a typical floating installation, only the joints are glued or attached. The body of the floor rests unattached to an appropriate underlayment.
Most people in the United States and Canada are familiar with laminate counter tops, such as Formica. Many never envisioned a laminate suitable for walking on. Over 40 companies are selling laminate flooring in or into the United States. Some have very little past experience to go on.
Most brands of laminate flooring suggest the joints be glued with a specially formulated, water-resistant glue. It is placed between the tongue and grooves of every plank. There are variances in how much glue is used. On one extreme, Pergo requires a lot of glue - enough to completely fill the entire groove and the excess squeezes out when the tongue and groove are interlocked. Pergo's unique Percore is designed to soak in the glue. On the other hand, some such as Pickering require only a 1/16" bead of glue on a specific location of the groove. Formica requires a 1/8" bead on 2 specific locations of the groove/tongue. They all accomplish the same thing, but in different ways. ALLOC has a patented glueless interlocking system.
Laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded together. A wear resistant decorative surface made of resin based melamine/aluminum oxide. This material is bonded to a moisture resistant wood composition based core. A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of Aluminum Oxide, which provides the protection and stain resistance.
By using the counter top technology and adding considerably more resin to the wear layer, laminates have become an ideal floor covering. In fact, some laminate floor manufacturers boast that their laminate floors are now 10 to 20 times harder than laminate counter tops. Since this resin filled wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch, or burn with a cigarette. It is possible however to scratch any floor.
Aesthetically, the most common designs have a wood grain visual appearance. Some manufacturers have released textures such as realistic stone and marble. Laminate floors are usually produced in long rectangular shaped planks typically about 47" by 8". There are some square tiles (usually about 15" by 15" or 24" by 24") and double wide planks as well.
The photography and number of photographs per color (termed "screens"), is an important factor of the aesthetic quality and visual realism. Hardwood flooring is easily and very authentically reproduced. Therefore, many hardwood floor species are reproduced. One brand or another represents all exotic, distressed and tropical hardwoods along with oak, maple, birch and cherry. The term "blocked" is used to describe a laminate flooring plank's design that consists of smaller plank widths, such as 2.25" strip hardwood. The term "planked" is used to describe a laminate flooring plank's design that represents one board of lumber.
Choosing laminate flooring
For sheer good looks laminates or wood-look overlay floors are hard to beat. They are great value, warm underfoot, resilient and look good for ages. The range of laminate flooring available, however, is to say the least confusing. We aim to demystify the subject of choosing laminate flooring so you can make the best choice for your needs.
What is laminate flooring?
A laminate floor is a composite floor with either a chipboard or HDF core that is bonded to a film of wood-effect veneer and covered with a laminated surface. It is not to be confused with wood veneer flooring, which has a real wood veneer bonded on top, this is a different type of flooring altogether. Most laminate floors are simply a photographic representation of wood grain. Unlike wood veneers laminates cannot be sanded or refurbished once any wear begins to show.
What can you lay it over?
Overlay laminate flooring, can be laid either over the existing structural floor or over a solid concrete floor. Most require an additional underlay, cork, foam, chipboard, plywood or hardboard can all be used depending on the type of floor you choose. Check the packaging carefully for instructions. Concrete floors will need to be covered with a polythene damp-proof membrane.
What's a 'floating' floor?
The term 'floating' floor means any floor where an additional layer or underlay is introduced between the structural floor and the new overlay floor.
Check the guarantee
The thickness of the flooring and the laminated coating affect durability and thus the length of the guarantee, for example flooring that is suitable for Light domestic use comes with a five year guarantee ?whilst heavy use may come with a ten or fifteen year guarantee. Some of the really high-pressure laminates can withstand heavy-duty traffic, heavy furniture, high heels and cigarette burns. Always make sure that the flooring you choose is suitable for the room that you plan to lay it in, and buy the best you can afford at the time.
Hidden extras
For all fitting you will need to buy a laminate laying kit, expansion strips and underlay. To finish the job off you will also need timber or wood-effect quadrant or beading plus wood or vinyl threshold strips.
Glueless laminate flooring
Look out for the laminate floating floors now available that simply snaps together, no glue is required at all. A little more expensive than standard laminate flooring it can even be lifted and taken with you when you move.
Which finish?
Laminate flooring comes in a wide range of authentic wood-looks finishes, and fashionable shades. Choose from blond wood-tones like beechy ash or maple that look terrific in contemporary interiors, to rich cherry and oaks, that are more in keeping with a traditional look. There are also some coloured laminates around.
Looking after laminate flooring
Aside from its good looks and resilience laminate flooring is also easy to maintain. Simply sweep or vacuum it regularly to stop grit scratching the surface. Wipe up spills immediately and remove stubborn marks with a mild cleaning agent and water. To protect your floor from damage you may want to place floor-savers under furniture legs.