There are those people who love the soft
feel of a carpet underfoot and have grown up equating carpets with luxury.
However, these days there are many people who are eschewing the traditional
carpets in favour of laminate flooring
due to the easier maintenance and for health reasons. This is because a carpet
is bad news for those who suffer from allergies, especially dust allergies.
Laminate
flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring
product fused together with a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood stone with a photographic applique
layer under a clear protective layer. The inner core layer is usually composed
of melamine resin and fibre board materials. Many people think that it may be
easier to install and maintain than more traditional surfaces such as hardwood
flooring. It may also have the advantages of costing less and requiring less
skill to install than alternative flooring materials. It is reasonably durable,
hygienic and relatively easy to maintain. This last is why people use laminate flooring for bathrooms, since
a carpet would start to smell when wet.
Another reason for the rising popularity of
this flooring is the way that you can easily install it yourself and save a lot
of money. There are just a few things that you will need to remember if you
take on the task yourself, amongst which you need to keep in mind that:
·
Step 1: Stack the Laminate
Flooring before Installation
·
Step 2: Clean the Subfloor,
Remove Base Moulding
·
Step 3: Install the Vapour
Barrier
·
Step 4: Trim the Door Jambs
·
Step 5: Install the First Row
·
Step 6: Install the Flooring
·
Step 7: Install the Last Plank
·
Step 8: Install Thresholds and
Base moulding
Temperature and humidity can affect
flooring planks. Acclimate the flooring in the house for 48 hours before installation.
Stack the laminate flooring being used flat on the floor. Remove any plastic
wrapping from the boxes and leave air space around each box to allow air to
freely circulate around them. Have about 10 per cent more flooring than the
square feet of area of the room since you'll waste just a little when cutting
some pieces.
It is important to keep laminate clean, as
dust, dirt and sand particles may scratch the surface over time in high-traffic
areas. It is also important to keep laminate relatively dry, since sitting
water/moisture can cause the planks to swell, warp, etc., though some brands
are equipped with water-resistant coatings, and these are ideal for laminate flooring in bathroom areas.
Water spills aren't a problem if they're wiped up quickly, and not allowed to
sit for a prolonged period of time.Adhesive felt pads are often placed on the
feet of furniture on laminate floors to prevent scratching. When it comes to laminate flooring bathroom areas need
to be kept dry to prevent warping. This is why it will pay for you to invest in
good quality bathroom laminate flooring
which will last a long time and still look pleasing to the eye.
