Laminate Flooring
Benefits of laminate flooring
With exceptional durability and super stain and fade resistance, laminate flooring is very good for any area of the house that sees a lot of use. Laminate is a great choice for households with children or large pets. With an easy-to-clean surface and impact and dent resistance, laminate flooring can be installed over many different types of subfloors and on all grade levels, making it a versatile flooring choice.
Laminate flooring shouldn’t be confused with engineered wood flooring. Both are made of layers of material bonded (laminated) together for strength. Laminate floors use several materials compacted under pressure to create the final product. The flooring is made into planks. The surface of a laminate plank is actually an image, printed from film onto a thin decorative layer, which is then treated with a wear layer. The high resolution of the film allows an extremely authentic appearance. A wide variety of finishes are available from wood grain to colour.
Laminate floors are floating floors. The flooring is sold as tongue-and-groove planks where the planks simply lock together and are not attached to the subfloor. Laminate flooring can be installed on all grade levels. Your PC Flooring Professional can discuss installation options that may be possible over existing flooring.
Laminate floor maintenance
Laminate floor care is simple: dust or vacuum the floor regularly and do NOT use any harsh chemicals, abrasives, wax, or polish on your flooring. To prolong the life of your new laminate floor, it is recommended that you use felt pads for all chair and table legs and any heavy furniture. Follow these tips on cleaning laminate floors to minimize maintenance and maintain the beauty of your new floor:
How to clean your laminate floor
- Sweep, dust or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
- Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care. Check your manufacturer's website. Many manufacturers carry their own line of cleaning products.
- Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
- For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, and then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
- For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
How not to clean your laminate floor
- Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. Doing so could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and it would void the warranty.
- Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.
- Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
