Floating Floors

A “Floating Floor” is a fairly new installation technique but one that is becoming increasingly common. It started in the late 1990s when “Pergo” was introduced in the US. (Pergo was one of the original brands of floating “laminate” flooring and some people still use the term to refer to any floating floor.) Floating floors come in planks: 12" x48" is a common size. The planks connect to each other but are not attached to the surface underneath. There is always a thin foam underlayment to cushion the planks and keep them from sticking to the subfloor. Initially the underlayment came on a roll and was spread out prior to putting down the flooring. Nowadays most floors come with the foam already attached to the bottom of each plank. Floating floors need some room to expand and contract, so they are always installed with an expansion gap where the flooring meets walls, cabinets, plumbing fixtures or other floorings. These gaps are covered with baseboard or trim pieces. Laminate flooring is the most common type of floating floor. It has a plastic surface on top of an engineered wood base. The image on the surface is actually a photograph of a flooring material. Since the surface is really just a picture there are endless possibilities. Hundreds of different wood looks are available, as well as stone and even ceramic tile (compete with recessed grout joints)

Advantages of Laminates

There are several advantages to installing laminate flooring in lieu of a ceramic tile or solid wood floor. Laminate flooring is considerably easier to install than solid wood flooring or ceramic tile. Not only are the labor costs less, but laminate flooring also requires no ancillary materials such as thinset or fasteners. Besides the savings in labor costs, this flooring material is also cheaper per square foot than most solid wood and ceramic tile floors. Today's discerning homeowner has a wealth of choices when selecting a laminate wood floor for your home. Companies can now produce this flooring in oak, maple, walnut, cherry, mahogany, and bamboo; all with a variety of color and design options. Whether you're installing laminate flooring in your kitchen, hallway, or bedroom, there is a type to suit your needs.

Some Interesting Laminates

Laminate flooring is fast becoming the flooring of choice among consumers to install in family rooms, basements, dens and even kitchens due to a number of factors. Given the expensive cost of both purchasing and installing ceramic an hardwood floors it's no wonder these floors have seen an explosive increase in their demand. This flooring is available in different species of wood with different stain options. There are even tile and slate laminate floors. A laminate floor is produced by combining layers of wood or other composite material joined together with an adhesive which forms a plank about 6" x 48". Since solid wood flooring strips are most commonly found in width's of 2 ½", a single laminate floor plank can contain several strips. Just like with solid wood flooring, laminate floor planks can also be made to resemble 4" x 6" hardwood flooring widths as well. Although wood laminate flooring is the most common type, tile and slate laminate flooring are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. Tile laminate flooring can be made to resemble traditional ceramic, porcelain or slate tile. The size of these planks generally average 12" X 48" so they more closely resemble the size of natural ceramic and slate tiles.