High Gloss Laminate Flooring
There are a lot of great laminate flooring finishes that you can select from. If you are trying for a rustic look in your home, or a country look, then you will probably want to select a low gloss finish. If you want a rich and elegant look to your flooring then you will probably want to select a high gloss finish.
While high gloss finishes are one characteristic that is often associated with a high quality flooring product, it is not the only characteristic that you should look for. In addition to having a beautiful finish, you will also want to look for a laminate floor plank that is at least 7mm. You will also want to look for planks that are backed with a good warranty.
Once you have determined what high gloss finish you are interested in your next step will be to find a brand that offers a plank that meets all of your selection criteria. Next you will need to find an online merchant that offers you the plank brand and style that you want to buy. Finally you will need to learn about how to order your flooring.
If you are going to buy online you will need to know how much laminate flooring you will need, as well as what underlayment your climate requires. If you live in a humid climate, or if you will be installing your high quality laminate wood floors in your basement, then you will want to install a moisture barrier in addition to the typical underlayment. To make sure that you buy enough underlayment and laminate flooring planks make sure that you add 10% to both your plank order and your underlayment order.
Evaluating Harmonics Laminate Flooring
Among many manufacturers, the Harmonics brand of laminate flooring is worth considering for those who are looking for a floor cover that’s easy to install and maintain. Many homeowners want to have a floor covering that looks as good as real wood or stone but costs only half the price.
Since its first appearance on the market, Harmonics laminate flooring has steadily grown in popularity. This is primarily due to the ease of installing the laminates and of caring for the flooring as well.
Laminate flooring has four layers – the base and top layers are coated with a synthetic moisture-repelling sealant. One middle layer accounts for the stability of the laminate. The other middle layer is a photograph of hardwood, tile, or stone surface – this creates a faux-material effect on the laminate.
Harmonics laminate flooring does not only offer unique and beautiful designs; they are durable and last much longer than most other kinds of flooring available today. The laminates can be purchased in a wide variety of patterns and colors.
Harmonics has also made it simple for customers to install the flooring by themselves. Laminate flooring can be directly installed over the original floor. If you have carpets though, you need to take them out before starting to lay out the new flooring. However, if you are not sure about installing your new laminate flooring, you can hire a flooring contractor to install the laminate for you.
You can browse the Internet to search for online stores that sell Harmonics laminate flooring. Many websites allow you to compare prices with other brands of laminate floors. However, if you want to know the real look and feel of the material, it’s best to visit your local floor covering supplier. You can ask for advice from them, or get a sample of different laminate flooring brands. This will help you compare the different brands with each other before you decide to purchase.
Sealing Hardwood Flooring- Do’s and Don’ts For New Floors
After you’ve installed your new hardwood floor, you’ll no doubt be wondering how to protect it and keep it new looking. Should you apply a sealant? Should you wax it, leave it alone or what? Here are some tips on what to do.
Did you have pre-finished flooring installed? This type of hardwood flooring typically uses a process called acrylic impregnation. Prefinished flooring companies recommend that no additional finish be applied. Compatibility and durability of the finish can be a problem. Waxes and oils should be avoided- they may contaminate the wood and cause problems with adhesiveness when refinishing.
If you absolutely must coat the prefinished wood make certain to prepare it well, with either sanding or a deglosser. The finish will not stick otherwise. Additionally, when you refinish prefinished flooring, you can throw any finish warranty provided by the manufacturer out the window, since you just voided it.
For laminate floors, there is also no need to put any sealant on. Actually, do not put anything on top. It’s perfect as is. That’s the great thing about laminate flooring; it is already protected from scuffs and spills. Read the warranty and installation guide, and maintain them according to the manufacturers instructions.
Unfinished hardwood flooring is a whole different story. Preparation of the floor prior to finishing is critical here. The wood is sanded first, to smooth the surface and to open the wood pores up for better absorption of the finish. If at all possible, it is recommended you have a trained and experienced professional do the sanding; hardwood floors are easily ruined beyond repair by gouges and warpage due to uneven sanding. Thorough vacuuming follows sanding and sweeping to rid the floor of wood chips, saw dust and debris. Finer dust and oily residues are then removed with cloth soaked in special spirit-based cleaners.
Two types of sealers are available: water-based and solvent-based.
Water Based Wood Flooring Sealants- becoming more widely used because of the interest in healthier and more environmentally friendly construction. Some of the solvents used in the polyurethane and epoxy finishes face disposal issues, as well as health concerns over exposure to volatile organic compounds. Another benefit to the water based sealants is they are less flammable and some are even completely non-flammable. The downside is their greater cost, as they are not as widely available yet as the solvent-based types.
Solvent Based Wood Flooring Sealants- include polyurethane, moisture-curing urethane, and solvent-based epoxy finishes. The moisture-curing urethane type finishes are currently no as widely used, due to their high flammability and strong odor, which necessitates the use of respiration equipment during application. In their favour, these flooring sealants are very durable and tough, although on the other hand, this makes removing them for refinishing difficult. The solvent-based epoxies have much the same properties, although they do have a more preferable appearance to some.
The polyurethane finishes are probably the most commonly used hardwood flooring sealant. The balance between durability, cost and appearance finds a sweet spot here. Relative to other finishes, they are simple to apply and dry within 6 hours. However, they do have a moderately “solventy” smell and must be disposed of according to environmental protection laws in a safe manner.