A guide to Laminate Flooring in Miami - By: jackauthors

Wood is rich-looking, warm, durable and easy to keep clean. It’s still the most seductive and charming type of floor in a home. But it’s also a big investment, one that you’ll live with for a long time. Most wood floors fall into two categories with unique characteristics: solid wood and laminate flooring (layered).

Lets first take a look at the limitations of Laminate flooring:

Expect slight cracks to open between strips during the dry season unless you control indoor humidity year-round. The cracks will be prominent in light-colored wood as laminate flooring expands and contracts with humidity changes.

Not ideal over concrete, since you must first add at least a 3/4-in. plywood layer as a nailing surface. Laminate flooring must be nailed to a wood subfloor.

Not suitable for damp areas.

Laminated floors consist of wood layers, much like plywood, with the “show” wood on the top. The top layer of wide boards usually consists of narrower strips to better mimic solid wood strip floors. The boards have precise tongues and grooves for tight-fitting joints. Laminated floors are prefinished in a wide range of stains.

Here are a few tips when you go shopping for Laminate floor Miami:

Since you buy a wood floor primarily for appearance, it’s important for you to be able to examine and touch them and even walk on them to get the feel underfoot. You can also ask about other, less common types of wood flooring, including parquet, cork and bamboo.
Ask the salesperson about the stability of the species you like. All wood floors expand and contract with humidity changes, and small gaps open between boards. If you live in an area with wide humidity swings (see map below), the gaps may be large enough to bother you. Either buy a more stable species, or a species and finish in which the gaps will be less prominent. Or plan to control your indoor humidity.

Consider the location. For example, the joints in light-colored wood will eventually show up as dark lines in high-wear areas like in an entry or kitchen. And avoid wood with beveled edges in kitchens and baths, where spilled water will collect and soak into joints.

Remember that wood floors are not maintenance free. Clean your wood floor regularly with wood floor cleaner and a towel. Left underfoot, grit will grind off the finish. Put pads under chair and table legs.

Installation and fitting techniques will vary depending upon your house and also no the material. Many different methods such as the floating method, glue down method, and nail down method are employed. Each of them has their own advantages and disadvantages. Choose one that best suits your material and flooring.

About the Author

Brianmel Hardwood Floor is the one-stop solution for hardwood floor Miami. They have a variety of flooring materials to choose from and is known to be the perfect solution for all your laminate flooring needs. They offer many customizations depending upon the quality, maintenance options, all with reasonable and affordable pricing.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/jackauthors/78424

Additional Articles From - Home | Home & family | Home improvement