Installation & Maintenance of White Laminate Flooring

Bring a change of style and light into your home with the installation of white laminate flooring. Create a sleek modern or a French country feel with the bright look that a bleached wood will bring to the room of your choice. The neutral color of the floor will allow you free reign to decorate and bring many bright colors into the room. Your new white laminate floors can also be enhanced with area rugs chosen for their rich designs.

1. The Manufacturing Process:

Laminate floors are compacted under pressure. Wood fibers, Kraft-paper and resins are the materials used. The look of wood is replicated by creating an image on film of the surface of the floor. This image is then transferred onto a thin decorative layer and treated with a special wear layer, which will produce the final authentic look of wood. This process replicates the finishes of various woods, with white oak laminate being a popular choice. The planks are then finished in a tongue and groove pattern that fit together like puzzle pieces when installed.

White laminate flooring is installed like any other flooring product you may choose. It can be done as a do it yourself home improvement project or by a professional crew. Measure the area size, allowing for any waste that may occur. Make sure you order more material than you need. Any materials in unopened boxes at the completion of the installation can usually be returned.

Either a concrete slab or plywood sub flooring form the basis for the flooring in your home. A cushion must be installed between the sub floor and the new laminate floor you are installing. This underlay is usually made of either foam, cork, or rubber and is needed to even out the bumps and dips of the sub floor. This layer also adds a sound barrier between the levels in your house. This cushion reduces pressure on the interlocking pieces so they fit together correctly and also prevents the finished floor from shifting. It also aids in making the floor more comfortable to walk and stand on. A laminate floor installed in this manner is called a floating floor. If completing this installation project on your own it is essential to understand the process for doing so. A kit designed for installing floating floors should be purchased. These kits contain detailed instructions and the tools needed to complete the project. Plan the layout and work from left to right. Vacuum as you go starting with the sub flooring. Remove any quarter round from the baseboard molding and when the time comes to secure it back into place, nail it to the baseboard and not the newly finished floor. Again, if completing this project on your own it is essential to have the correct instructions. A little research can save many costly mistakes.

After completion of the floor you should wait at least 24 hours to walk on it. This will give the glue adequate time to dry and for the floor to settle in. Each manufacturer has a specific cleaning product they sell and recommend for daily maintenance. The warranty also will have a cleaning schedule you should follow to protect yourself should a problem arise. These floors do not dent or fade and are scratch resistant. If needed touch up kits are available and can be a cost effective method of repair. The use of felt floor pads under chairs and furniture can also help to keep the floor in great condition. Never use soap and water. With the proper care your new white laminate floor will look it is best for years to come.