Manufacturers
Armstrong | Bruce | Cortec | Eastern | Floorte | Mannington | Mohawk | Shaw
Benefits of Laminate
From Appealing hardwood visuals to marvelous slate and stone looks, today’s laminate can do it all. It simply looks like the real thing. Plus, laminate flooring is great for busy families: it installs easily, wears incredibly well, and comes in breathtaking colors and styles. High-end and fashionable, laminate is the hot choice.
Today’s laminate looks so realistic, you’ll find yourself asking, “Is it laminate … or is it hardwood?”
It is laminate: the stylish result of continuing breakthroughs in modern technology and manufacturing methods. There are styles that convey the authentic look of wood or the classic appeal of ceramic tile.
Various shades and finishes allow you to select the wood look down to the species, and now laminates are mimicking hardwood even more convincingly. Some laminates offer beveled, distressed, or highly textured options, giving your laminate floor not only the look of hardwood, but the feel of it, too.
Laminates are inherently “green,” because they use fewer resources and far less wood in their manufacture than traditional flooring options. Because they are extremely durable, some styles even offer 25-year warranties!
Consider laminate for a distinctive look that’s beautifully affordable … and affordably beautiful. Call us today for a free quote or stop into our lovely Chantilly showroom!
Care & Maintenance of Laminate
Laminate’s construction makes it inherently long-lasting and resistant to wear and tear, but you will want to remember a few basics of routine care, protection, and repair. Depend on Carpet and Blinds Center to let you know all the facts for keeping your laminate floor at its best. Please be sure to reference your laminate floor warranty for specific care requirements!
- Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they occur. 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. Then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
- 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 dull or scuff the floor finish.
- Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care.
- Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This may cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, as well as 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.
- 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.
Installation of Laminate
BEFORE INSTALLATION
To help insure a trouble-free installation day, follow this checklist of things to do before the installer arrives:
Make sure you know who’s removing your existing flooring. If you wish, the installer will do it. If not, you should make arrangements to have it removed. Minimize dust by vacuuming your old carpet before it’s removed and, after it’s up, vacuum the floor thoroughly.
Who’s moving the furniture? Decide in advance if you want to take on the responsibility or if you want the installer to handle it. Either way, be sure to remove all fragile items from the room, and don’t leave anything—such as drapery or plants—hanging over the installation area.
Measure door clearances before you have your carpet installed. If the new floor is thicker than your existing floor, door bottoms may rub. Plan in advance to have someone shave or saw the correct amount off the bottom of each door so it does not drag.
Paint first. If you’re planning to paint, wallpaper, or do any other remodeling in the room, it’s best to do it before your carpet is installed. Keep extra paint to touch up any post-installation nicks.
DURING INSTALLATION
To be sure that your laminate will look great now and for many years to come, proper installation is critical. This is the procedure that an experienced installation professional will follow:
Current flooring: In some cases, laminate can be installed directly over existing floors, but in other cases the original flooring will have to be removed first. Your professional installer will know the proper procedure, as well as how to make the floor smooth and level.
Moisture testing: Your installer will check for moisture in the subfloor to prevent later problems with buckling or cupping.
Installation: Using the appropriate tools, the installer will cut and place the planks or tiles, maintaining a gap around the perimeter of the floor to allow for expansion.
Room shape: Your professional flooring installer will know how to handle any challenges caused by room irregularities and odd or tight spaces, like cabinetry or a kitchen island.
It is a great idea to check with us directly to find out if there are other actions we recommend before installation. Call us today for more information or for a free quote!