ABOUT LAMINATE FLOORS AND ACCESSORIES
Laminate floor and Accessories, a European import now gradually gaining grounds in Nigeria, is amazingly effective at imitating wood, tile, stone, and other materials. The surface of laminate flooring is a highly detailed photographic image that is overlaid with transparent, extremely durable plastic laminate (similar to the material used for counter-tops). It isn’t until you actually touch the grout joints or scan for natural imperfections that you realize the flooring is not what it appears to be..
How Laminate Flooring Is Made
The base material is a melamine/aluminum oxide/fiberboard composite product, often medium-density fiberboard (MDF). A backing layer is then added to prevent moisture seepage, which can damage the planks.
FLOORING ACCESSORIES
Once you have purchased your wooden floor, you may need some accessories that are designed to finish the overall look of the floor.
When you are installing laminate floors, you will need to use a floor underlay to apply your flooring to the subfloor. Some of these underlays are damp proof or sound proof to suit specific requirements.
After your underlay, you may need to look for matching profiles to hide away unsightly edges or pipe holes.
For laminate profiles, there are skirtings, doorends, concaveline, t-moulding, Stairnose moldings and door bars. Your choice of adhesive is also an important part of your installation tools.
From floor installation kits, sealants, and pullbars, there are many bargain flooring accessories on offer in terms of installing your flooring. Also, to help maintain your floor, it is also advisable to look at the relevant flooring maintenance kits. If you do your part in taking care of your flooring, it can last well beyond its expected lifespan.
Laminate Flooring Installation
Laminate flooring requires a reasonably flat, smooth base such as vinyl, plywood, tile, or hardwood flooring (but not carpeting); a flat, smooth concrete slab is acceptable, but it’s wise to apply a vapor barrier before putting laminate on a slab. Each manufacturer of laminate flooring products offers complete installation instructions.
How to Install
Follow the directions implicitly if you do the installation yourself :
Before installing the material, allow it to sit in the room for two or three days to acclimate to the room’s humidity and temperature. Cut the pieces using a power saw.Be advised that strong light glancing across the surface—such as from a large window or patio door—may illuminate seams; to minimize the visibility of seams between plank-style flooring, run the material perpendicular to such doors or windows.If you are installing a laminate floor in a bathroom, you must be particularly careful to join and seal the edges of the planks according to the manufacturer’s directions to prevent moisture from seeping between or below the planks. Also check the product’s warranty to be sure it covers this type of installation.Over time, ground-in dirt will cause small scratches, so it pays to keep laminate floors clean. Picking up dust or loose dirt is easily done with a dust mop or vacuum; for more in-depth cleaning, use a damp mop or damp towel, but don’t saturate or allow water to stand on the floor. Do not use abrasives or scouring powder, polishes, or waxes.Touch-up sticks are available from some manufacturers for deep scratches. Following installation, it pays to keep a few extra pieces in case damaged areas need replacement.
For more info, visit us at RUBY & JADE LTD (the Laminate Floor company in lagos) , No 13, Adeoyo Street off Isolo Road Mushin.
Or call 08053045426,0902543719.
We deals in laminate floors and accessories. (to be cont…)
