Ceramic or Natural Stone tile can turn an otherwise
ordinary room into an elegant living space. Beyond its beauty, tile is also
durable; making it an excellent floor covering for high-traffic areas of your
home
LAMINATE FLOORING
BEFOREAFTER
Laminate flooring may be the perfect flooring material for
you. It's strong, durable, stain-proof, and comfortable to walk on. So,
what else should you know before you make a purchase? The list of commonly asked
questions below will provide the answers you need.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS...
"What is Laminate Flooring?"
Since laminate flooring resembles wood, many of our customers assume it is a
form of wood flooring. However, it is actually made up of a combination of
laminated layers that form a solid, long-lasting flooring material. It may be
helpful to think of it as a durable relative of the plastic counter surfaces you
find in kitchens.
"Is Laminate Flooring
Available in Different Styles and Colors?"
Yes! Laminate Flooring planks are available in many different styles and
colors to match your personal taste. Planks are constructed to mimic the
color and grain of various types of wood (oak, birch, walnut, mahogany,
driftwood) and can even resemble ceramic tile or stone -- complete with
imitation grout joints.
"Is Laminate Flooring
Installed Like Traditional Wood Flooring?"
Generally, no. Laminate flooring is often referred to as a
"floating" flooring system. It is called floating because it
is not fastened to the substrate. It is installed over a thin layer of
foam placed on the floor and held down by a moulding placed around the
perimeter of the room. It is easier and faster to install than
traditional wood flooring.
How Does Laminate Flooring Compare to Wood and Vinyl
Flooring?"
There are several key differences between Laminate flooring and other types of
hard flooring. The chart below compares laminate with wood and vinyl flooring:
Laminate Flooring
Wood Flooring
Durability: warp, rip and scratch resistant
Impact resistance: varies with quality, resists pressure of at
least 4,250 lbs./square inch
Color: uniform throughout
Stain resistance: high
UV resistance: high
Ease of installation: easy, adapts to some irregularity
Wear layer warranty: up to 20 years
Great for high traffic areas like hallways, dens, and playrooms
Available in mix and match color styles for unique custom effects
Cost (per 400 square feet: ~$1,800-2,900
Durability: can be refinished, lasts indefinitely
Impact resistance: varies a lot between species; oak is most
resistant
Color: varies from strip to strip
Stain resistance: low, absorbs water
UV resistance: low, may fade or darken
Ease of installation: moderate, with easy floor prep
Wear layer warranty: no warranty, can be refinished
HARDWOOD FLOORING
If you are looking for a classic, rich and elegant floor, then hardwood is
probably your best choice.
There are 3 key decisions to make in selecting hardwood
flooring:
1. Type of wood flooring (strip, plank, or parquet)
Strip Flooring is the most
common wood floor found in older homes. It has a tongue-and-groove edge
and end, can be pre-finished or unfinished, and comes in bundles of random
lengths and several widths, 3" wide or less
Plank Flooring is similar to
strip flooring, but the strips are wider (3" to 9"). It, too,
has a tongue-and-groove edge and end, can be pre-finished or unfinished,
and comes in bundles of random lengths.
Parquet Flooring is easier to
install than strip and plank flooring. It is usually sold in 12" x
12" square tiles which are laid in a variety of geometric designs.
2. Solid wood flooring vs. engineered wood flooring
Solid Wood Flooring:
is sold as unfinished or pre-finished. With unfinished boards, you get a wider
range of sizes, species, and finish options. With pre-finished boards, fewer
choices are available, but you get a floor you can walk on right away.
Engineered Wood Flooring:
looks like solid wood from the top, but is actually made up of several layers.
The top layer is hardwood; the other wood layers are less attractive and less
expensive, but are very stable. The layers are glued together with their grain
running in opposite directions to reduce the amount of expansion and
contraction.
3. Wood flooring species (hardwoods, softwoods, exotic woods)
Your choices in wood flooring species involve the wood's appearance,
stability, and cost. The common hardwoods listed below are all extremely
durable. Their colors/textures vary from coarse-grained ash and oak to the
lighter, finer-grained maple, birch and beech.
Oak: good stability rating, low cost
Hevea: good stability rating, low cost
Ash: good stability rating, moderate cost
Maple: poor stability rating, moderate cost
Birch: poor stability rating, moderate cost
Beech: poor stability rating, moderate cost
VINYL / LINOLEUM FLOORING
Today vinyl floor covering is available in a staggering array of colors and
patterns. Some vinyl tiles are almost indistinguishable from ceramic tiles, and
typically cost much less.
What to look for
The life of sheet vinyl is determined by the foot traffic it will bear, the wear
layer, proper maintenance, and proper installation. To make sure you choose a
high-quality sheet vinyl, pay close attention to the following features:
Wearability is an important feature of sheet vinyl if it is used in
high-traffic areas. The "wear layer" or finish on sheet vinyl
determines how well it will hold up. Wear layers are listed as being a
certain "mil" (1/1000") thickness . . . the thicker the wear
layer, the higher the quality of sheet vinyl.
No-wax Finishes are attractive to some consumers, although some
no-wax floors do require a floor finish to keep them shiny. Most no-wax
floors can be restored after extensive wear by using a floor finish.
Color and Pattern should always be considered since light colored
flooring makes a room look larger, and dark floors "shrink" rooms.
Large patterns can also overwhelm small rooms.
Dye Lots (as with carpeting) should always be checked. Rolls of
floor covering from different dye lots can have visible differences in color
and pattern.
