Laminate Floor Shopping Guide
Laminate floors offer the best of both words. You can get a rich looking floor without spending a small fortune. Cost is just one of the reasons to consider laminate flooring. It is also extremely easy to install, with a lot of home owners choosing to do the installation themselves. It is also highly durable, meaning that it won’t need to be replaced every few years.
Price
When shopping, most people are of one of two minds: they either go for the cheapest, thinking they are getting the best deal, or they go for the most expensive, assuming that they are buying the best. The truth is, the best deals are usually somewhere in the middle.
When shopping for laminate wood flooring, pay attention to price. You want to get the best quality for the best price. While discontinued high quality flooring may be going for an amazing price, what happens if part of the floor is damaged and you need to replace a section? If you can’t find the same kind, you will end up replacing the whole floor. And your amazing deal no longer seems so amazing.
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Warranty
The rule of thumb when it comes to flooring and warranties is the longer the warranty, the longer-lasting the floor. After all, a company isn’t going to offer a 10 year warranty if the floor is only going to last 3 years. Most warranties are for between 10 and 15 years. For residential use, a 15 year warranty is a solid choice. “How to Understand Laminate Flooring Warranties” is a great article to read with a bit more information about warranties.
Thickness and density
The thickness of the flooring dictates how sturdy the floor will be. The thicker the laminate flooring, the sturdier it will be. Generally laminate comes in three thicknesses: 6mm, 7mm, 8mm. You will also want to make sure that the flooring has a high density core. This helps to lessen sound and acts as a shock absorber. If you are putting the flooring in a second story room, you will definitely need this so the sound footsteps doesn’t echo and reverberate to the lower floor.
Wear rating-laminate
Wood flooringthat is manufactured in Europe will come with an AC wear rating. AC ratings indicate how durable the floor is, specifically what kind of foot traffic it’s made for. The ratings goes from AC1 (light traffic flow) to AC5 (highest traffic flow). For residential, a rating of AC3 is recommended.
Manufacturer
In some cases, it is better to purchase brand name, and this is the case with laminate flooring. But that doesn’t mean that you have to go with the biggest, best known name. Smaller manufacturers can have product that is the same quality as more known name brands. The key is to know the manufacturer, even if that means researching them online.
As with any large purchase, you want to make sure that you are buying not only the right laminate flooring for your house, but that you are getting the highest quality for the best price. By keeping this laminate floor guide, in mind shopping for your new flooring will be a breeze.
Author Bio:
Kaila Strong is a writer, and loves giving advice on do-it-yourself home repair, interior design and more. She’s been a guest blogger on several other sites, and is very active in social media.
