|
Laminate Floors Offer Beauty, Durability
(ARA) - You might not give your floors much thought -- until it comes time to
replace them. Then you realize that there are many options out there. For busy
families whose floors need to stand up to kids and pets, laminate flooring is an
excellent choice.
Laminate flooring has been a fashionable option in Europe for more than 20
years, and it's rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. The most common
designs have a wood grain appearance; some are made to look like stone or
marble. Laminates are designed to look good for many years with a minimum amount
of maintenance.
Laminate flooring consists of four main components that are bonded together. A
wear resistant decorative surface made of resin-based melamine/aluminium oxide
is bonded to a moisture resistant wood composition-based core. A balancing
backing is bonded to the underside of the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet
of aluminium oxide, which provides the protection and stain resistance. Since
the resin-filled wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to
stain, scratch or burn.
Ease of installation is one factor that contributes to the popularity of
laminate flooring. It uses a tongue and groove interlocking system, which can be
installed over the top of an existing substrate. Plywood, concrete slab, sheet
vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any other basically flat hard
surface is a suitable base for laminate.
Most brands of laminate flooring require that the joints be glued with specially
formulated, water-resistant glue placed between the tongue and grooves of every
plank. However, Alloc, Inc., located in Racine, Wis., has a patented glueless
interlocking system that provides strong, tight joints without messy glue or
special tools.
Because installation is so simple, and because you can walk on your new floor
immediately (no waiting for glue to dry), beautifying your home with new
laminate flooring is truly a project you can do in a weekend. "Installing a
laminate floor, especially with our glueless system, is a lot easier than people
think," says company president Claes Wennerth.
No matter what your décor or your lifestyle, you can find a laminate floor to
fit your needs. Alloc's Home Flooring can be used in virtually any area of your
home, such as kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms and bathrooms.
Taking care of a laminate floor is even easier than installing it. To keep your
floor looking like new and avoid scratches, simply vacuum or dust mop regularly
to remove loose dirt or grit. Glides or cushioned bottom protectors under chairs
and table legs also help prevent possible scratching, and floor mats at all
outside doorways keep dirt from coming inside.
Alloc Home Flooring is backed by a 25-year, five star plus warranty which covers
five areas: joint integrity, stain resistance, fade resistance, wear resistance
and water resistance.
To find an Alloc dealer in your area, or to get more information on available
patterns and installation procedures, call (877) DO-ALLOC or visit the company's
Web site, www.alloc.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content |
