About Laminate Flooring

The laminate flooring is normally finished with a backing primarily used as a balancing material. Laminate floorings performance values are set by the NALFA Standard.

Laminate floors, like hardwood utilize a tongue and groove locking mechanism which is used to attach the planks together resulting in a seamless floor. Unlike hardwood however, the tongue and groove on a laminate floor does not require any adhesive or other forms of fastening in order to keep the boards in place; instead the tongue and groove are designed to snap into place thus locking the floor together.

Laminate floors are designed to be installed using the floating floor method, thus the integrity of the locking mechanism is an important factor when evaluating the durability of the floor. Locking mechanisms are rated at pounds per square inch and are built to withstand the weight of ordinary household furniture. For items that are considered beyond the scope of ordinary due to their exceptional weight, one can consider a floor that comes with an aluminum locking mechanism that offers a higher level of joint integrity and is designed to withstand abnormally heavy furniture. Additionally, a good quality locking mechanism should be treated with some form of waterproofing such as Paraffin wax, which will prevent topical water spills from penetrating to the laminate core.

The laminate core must be constructed of good quality High Density Fiber(HDF) board, and should be treated with a water repellent chemical which prevents swelling and disintegration should the floor be compromised with water or excessive moisture. Thicker cores generally denote better quality products and offer a higher degree of dimensional stability as well as a reduction in noise levels when walked upon.