You have many choices in laminate flooring style, including wood, stone and tile patterns. Laminates also fall into categories based on the mode of installation, surface and AC rating. You need to take all of these factors into consideration before deciding on which type of laminate will work best for your project.
Laminates can be divided into the following installation categories:
- Glueless (click-lock): This category accounts for more than two-thirds of today’s laminates.
- Glued Laminate: The joints need to be glued together. Installation cost and time is higher than for glueless laminate.
- Pre-Glued: The joints have a glue already applied to them but may require moistening to activate the glue prior to joining.
If the laminate flooring you purchase does not have a pre-attached underpad, you may have to lay down an underpad prior to installation to provide cushioning and sound absorption. If the flooring will be installed in an area subject to moisture or on or below grade, you will also need to lay down a separate thin plastic underlayment before installation to provide a moisture barrier whether or not the flooring has a pre-attached underpad.
Laminates can also be categorized into surface types:
- Smooth: This refers to a plain finish just like a varnish layer. You may have a choice between low, medium and high gloss finishes.
- Distressed or Hand Scraped: Hand scraping adds an antiqued look to your floor. Previously reserved only for solid or engineered hardwood floors, it is now available for laminate flooring.
- Embossed and/or Textured: While regular embossing does not exactly match the grooves of the printed grain, it tricks the eye into seeing a surface grain.
- Embossed in Registration: This embossing method exactly matches the grain of the wood, providing the most authentic look.
Finally, laminates are also classified by AC rating. AC stands for Abrasion Class and is a useful guide for consumers who are looking for durability in laminate flooring. Generally, the higher the AC rating, the higher the cost. The five ratings are as follows:
- AC1 Moderate Residential: Suitable for light residential use (e.g. bedrooms, closets).
- AC2 General Residential: Suitable for rooms with minimal wear and tear and moderate foot traffic (e.g. living room, dining room).
- AC3 Heavy Residential/Moderate Commercial: Suitable for high-traffic rooms in homes and light-traffic commercial spaces with no off-street traffic.
- AC4 General Commercial: Suitable for any residential use and high-traffic commercial spaces with off-street traffic (e.g. offices, boutiques, cafes).
- AC5 Heavy Commercial: Suitable for busy high-traffic commercial space (e.g. government buildings, department stores).
Similar Posts:
- Ceramic Or Porcelain Tile – What Suits Your Home Best ?
- Laminate Flooring and What You Need to Know
- The Homeowner’s Guide to Wood Laminate Flooring
- Use Laminate Hardwood Flooring to Add a Beautiful Touch to Your Living Area
- What Are the Different Types of Laminate Flooring?
