Laminate Flooring: To Seal Or Not To Seal?
When you’re remodeling your home there are loads of questions. What color should this be? How much of that do I need? If you are installing laminate flooring, should you seal your new laminate floors?
Laminate flooring is relatively new—it was invented in Sweden in 1977. It only made its way to the U.S. in 1994. Laminate flooring is a multi-layered flooring product that is designed to simulate wood. The inside is usually made of melamine resin and fiberboard and this is bound together with a photographic layer and a clear layer in a lamination process.
How Is Laminate Flooring Installed?
One of the reasons people are drawn to laminate flooring is because of the ease of installation. To install laminate floors, make sure that the base floor is clean. This will avoid uneven flooring. A moisture barrier is then laid down before applying the floor that is designed to snap together. Finally, the baseboards are installed. Although this seems simple enough, it’s best left to the experts because laying flooring can become tricky when you have to measure, cut and install specially cut pieces.
Why Do People Choose Laminate Flooring?
There are endless reasons why more people are choosing to install laminate flooring in their homes and buildings.
Laminate floors are relatively quick and easy to install compared to hardwood floors. Additionally, they look great and there are an array of different colors and textures to choose from. And laminate wood flooring is suitable for most areas of the building. Most importantly perhaps, is that laminate flooring is a great value for the cost. They are much cheaper than alternative floor materials. Finally, laminate floors are extremely easy to clean. They don’t retain as much dust as carpets and liquids are easily wiped away when spilled.
When you add it all up, it’s easy to see why so many people are choosing laminate flooring.
But Should I Seal My Laminate Flooring?
When installing hardwood floors we stain it, seal it, or both. A sealant is essential for hardwood floors because it improves the lifespan of the materials. It’s usually made of polyurethane or something similar and is waterproof to prevent moisture from creeping into the crevices that cause the wood to swell and crack.
When you buy laminate flooring, it is already coated with a protective coating, there is no need for sealant. In other words, it is already ‘sealed’ and should be resistant to reasonable moisture exposure as long as the boards are installed correctly. This is another reason why it is important to hire professionals so that you know the job is being done correctly.
For more information and to talk to an expert about your options, contact Miller Construction and Design at (561) 988-2637 today!
