O. REPAIRING GLUED LAMINATE

O. REPAIRING GLUED LAMINATE
Minor Repairs
Minor chips or scratches can easily be repaired using a color-matched
Laminate Flooring Touch-Up Kit or Filler Kit.
Major Repairs
1. Acclimate replacement boards.
2. Check replacement board for size and damage.
3. Mark damaged board 1-1/2″ from ends and sides. Drill 3/16″ holes in corners
and at relief cuts.
4. Set drill and saw depths to board thickness. Cut along lines and remove center
section. Make relief cuts using drilled holes as visible stop.
5. Using a pry bar, lift floor and place 1/2″ dowel or pipe under factory joint.
Using pliers or available laminate floor repair tools, remove middle piece of
long joint first, then work into the corners with end pieces removed last.
6. Use a piece of countertop laminate or similar material to protect underlayment.
Clean factory edges using a sharp chisel. Remove glue using a tongue
and groove cleaner tool or a small piece of laminate with a factory tongue
and groove.
Relief Cuts
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7. Clean factory groove using router and Armstrong router bit. Any damaged
factory tongue should be routed. Make sure router depth is set exactly.
Place Armstrong spline into grooved end joint and any areas of damaged
factory tongue.
8. Prepare replacement board by routing off factory tongue short end. Remove
bottom lip of groove on three sides, leaving long edge factory tongue. When
removing bottom of groove, cut the thickness of a saw blade into the board.
9. Thoroughly clean area and dry fit board. Check for right fit and make any
necessary adjustments.
10. Repair the existing underlayment with polyethylene tape, or remove and
replace it with new underlayment. Do not overlap onto existing underlayment.
11. Remove splines, and fill the newly milled grooves in the opening with
Armstrong Laminate Flooring Glue. Use a small piece of spline to force the
glue into the grooves. Insert the spline into position from left to right so as
not to trap glue in the groove.
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12. Apply glue under the notches of the replacement piece.
13. Carefully place the new piece into the opening. Press firmly.
14. Remove all residual glue on the surface with a clean, damp cloth.
15. Make sure all edges are even on either side of the joints. Apply heavy
pressure for at least 24 hours. Use heavy weights.
16. Make sure that the weight is evenly distributed across the new piece.
P. REPAIRING LOCKING LAMINATE
Minor Repairs
Minor chips or scratches can easily be repaired using the correct colormatched
Laminate Flooring Touch-Up Kit or Filler Kit.
Major Repairs - Close to a Parallel Wall
1. In case of a major problem with the locking system, it is possible to replace
an entire piece of the flooring. In most cases, just remove the moulding from
the walls nearest the damaged board.
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2. Remove the boards by unlocking them. You can work in either direction,
carefully working back to the damaged piece.
3. Replace the damaged board with a new one. Reassemble the floor.
Unlock and remove
damaged plank
Unlock Unlock
Unlock
Lift up and slide out
to unlock
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Major repairs - In Center of Room (Repair is Permanent)

Major repairs - In Center of Room (Repair is Permanent)
1. Check replacement board for damage, size and fit.
2. Mark damaged board 1-1/2″ from ends and sides. Drill 3/16″ holes in corners
and at relief cuts.
3. Set saw depth to board thickness. Cut along lines and remove center section.
Make relief cuts using drilled holes as visible stop.
4. Carefully lift and pull center length cut first, then work into corners to
remove end pieces last.
5. If the floor was installed with Armstrong Laminate Glue, clean factory edges
using a sharp chisel. Remove glue from top of groove using a tongue and
groove cleaner tool or a small piece of laminate with tongue edge.
6. Prepare replacement board by removing bottom of groove on end and side.
7. Carefully remove tongue from end of board with sharp utility knife.
8. Clean area thoroughly and test fit. Check for high edges and adjust fit using
120-grit sandpaper.
9. Apply Armstrong Laminate Glue to top of tongue and bottom of groove.
10. Carefully place the new piece into the opening. Press firmly.
11. Remove all residual glue on the surface with a clean, damp cloth.
12. Make sure all edges are even on either side of the joints. Apply heavy
pressure for at least 24 hours. Use heavy weights.
13. Make sure that the weight is evenly distributed across the new piece.

Laminate Flooring V's Wood Flooring

is it a fair contest ?

There are many advantages of laminate flooring over wood flooring. Can you really tell the difference between a laminate floor and a real wood floor?

When you look at a laminate floor you will see the pattern repeat itself such as the knots, grain, etc., whereas on a real wood floor these marks would be totally random. The frequency of the pattern that is printed onto laminate flooring can be repeated every 3rd or 4th board, but in some cases all of the boards can be identical in appearance. The other sign of a real wood floor is the fact that they dent more easily and generally don’t stand up to heavy traffic, unlike laminate flooring. Have a look at laminate flooring ratings for further information on traffic durability.

If you don’t mind paying the extra, and prefer the character of real wood that develops with time, then a real wood floor is probably your best choice. A real wood floor generally costs 20% to 25% more than an identical floor that is laid using laminate flooring. However due to the public’s perception of a real wood floor, this initial extra money will probably be recouped on the increased resale value of your home.

The term “laminate flooring” refer’s to the European type of laminate flooring, which many people in America refer to as “Pergo” flooring. Pergo was one of the first to introduce laminate flooring into the US and is simply a brand name.

When talking about real wood floors, this can either mean "solid" or "engineered" wood flooring. Before the introduction of the European type of laminate flooring into the American market, the engineered type of wood flooring was referred to as laminate flooring by a lot of the flooring dealers in the US. A solid wood floor is normally 18mm thick, and once installed can then have the final finish applied afterwards. Pre-finished solid floor boards can also be installed, with just a final amount of finishing required at the end.

In the American market it is the engineered type of flooring that is most commonly confused with the European type of laminate flooring. With engineered flooring the boards are made up from various layers called “ply’s”. The top layer, called the “wearing layer”, is approximately 3mm thick and is commonly made from oak, cherry, or maple. Engineered flooring tends to be more stable than solid wood flooring in a lot of situations, and a significant cost saving can also be gained over solid floor boards. Engineered flooring can be free floating, glued down or stapled, and refinished just the same as a solid floor. For a detailed description of the construction of laminate flooring, take a look at our laminate flooring makeup page.

Laminate flooring is a highly durable product, but if it gets scratched or worn, then it cannot be refinished unlike real wood flooring. Real wood floors can simply be sanded down and re-finished like new. However, if you would like a floor that withstands heavy-traffic from normal family life, and is easy to install and care for, then laminate flooring is an ideal solution.

The choice between laminate flooring and real wood flooring can depend on a few different situations and the following may help in making your decision:

    The location of the property and its current style can determine your choice. Does the current value of your property warrant the expense of good quality real wood flooring ?

    If you are looking to increase the resale value of your property, then you need to consider the investment value of your new floor, and the amount by which it may increase the value of your property.

    Do you plan on staying in your current property for a while to make full use of a new floor, or are you looking to sell the property in the near future.

    If you have set a budget, then get the best product for your money. It may be better to install good quality laminate flooring than to choose cheaper quality real wood flooring.

    The durability of laminate flooring is better than real wood flooring. What sort of traffic and abuse will the new floor have to deal with ?

    Laminate flooring is available in water resistant and waterproof ranges and can therefore be installed into kitchens and bathrooms. Real wood flooring would be a lot more unstable in this kind of environment because of the humidity levels.

    Laminate flooring usually comes with a 10 to 15 year warranty against staining and fading from the sunlight.

    Most laminate flooring can withstand household accidents such as cigarette burns, spilling bleach, etc.

    Laminate flooring is resistant to scratches and furniture marks, and it is also 15 times stronger than a hardwood floor.

    A laminate floor doesn’t need resanding or refinishing unlike a real wood floor. However this can be to its disadvantage over a period of a few years as the laminate flooring would eventually need replacing, whereas the real wood flooring could be sanded down and refinished like new once again.

   

laminate flooring has some of the best warranties in the industry

laminate flooring has some of the best warranties in the industry

When buying anything in life, an important consideration should be its warranty. Laminate flooring warranties are no different, and because of its durability, laminate flooring has some of the best warranties available in the flooring industry.

Warranty periods can cover 10, 15, 25, 30 years and above. The majority of laminate flooring brands come with a minimum of 15 years replacement warranty for residential use, and some of the premium brands come with a lifetime laminate flooring warranty.

Once you have purchased your laminate flooring, you must comply with the manufacturer’s installation, care and maintenance instructions for
the warranty to be valid. The installation instructions typically include using their own range of installation products and adhesives, leaving the correct expansion gaps where required, and use of a vapor barrier as necessary. Ignoring these instructions would invalidate the laminate flooring warranty and any claim would be void, thus making the point of choosing the particular brand of flooring because of its warranty, pointless.

Most laminate flooring warranties will not cover scratches to the laminate surface, but do typically cover stains, fading, premature wearing, and possibly accidental moisture damage. The warranties provided only apply if the laminate flooring is installed into the area’s intended for that particular type. This means a laminate flooring warranty on flooring rated for light residential traffic, would not be valid if the laminate flooring was installed into a room classed as being a heavy traffic area.

If you need to make a claim within the warranty period, most manufacturer’s will, at their option, either provide material to repair the defective area or replace the floor. Some manufacturer’s will also pay reasonable labour costs to repair the defective area if it was professionally installed. It is also worth noting that the majority of laminate flooring warranties are issued to the original retail consumer, and are not transferable.

Most laminate flooring warranties only apply when the defective area is visible and covers an area greater than one square inch, or one square cm with some manufacturer’s. When requesting warranty service, you will need to show proof of purchase. This can be in the form of a sales receipt or possibly a contractors invoice, etc. It must also be possible to provide proof that only the recommended laminate flooring accessories were used to install the laminate floor (identifiable from the product labels).
Typical Exclusions from laminate flooring warranties

Many laminate flooring warranties do not cover wear or damage due to improper installation, cleaning, care or maintenance. This can include :

    Accidents, abuse or misuse,
    Extremes of hot or cold,
    Scratches, impacts, or cutting,
    Installations not carried out as per the manufacturer’s installation instructions,
    Improper workmanship,
    Improper maintenance,
    Improper fabrication,
    Damages through acts of god,
    Material damaged in transit. This is the responsibility of the shipping company,
    Seams of glueless planks moving apart because they have been engaged/disengaged more than three times,

    Water damaged due to excessive moisture within a concrete slab, hydrostatic pressure, flooding caused by ice makers, refrigerators, sinks, dishwashers, leaking pipes, flooding, standing water, household mechanical failures, damage caused by water underneath the laminate flooring, including damage from sub-floor hydrostatic pressure or other conditions that result in water being below the laminate flooring or natural disasters,
    Installation of laminate flooring that contains any manufacturing defect is not covered by a laminate flooring warranty. Manufacturing defects should be reported to the manufacturer before installation, soon after the date of purchase, and the defective items will be replaced ready for installation.

laminate flooring benefits

There are three main laminate flooring benefits : cost, ease of installation, and durability.

Probably the greatest laminate flooring benefit is its ability to add a smart and sophisticated look to a room, with the cost being considerably less than what it would be if real wood flooring was used. The other main benefit of laminate flooring is the natural look of a genuine wood floor that most good quality laminate flooring products have.

A further laminate flooring benefit is the installation can be relatively simple if a few guide lines are followed, see our laminate flooring installation section. A considerable number of laminate flooring manufacture’s now supply glueless laminate flooring systems which simply slot together, making these systems ideal for both the DIY market are professional contractors.

The durability of laminate flooring is another benefit that is far superior to real wood flooring. Laminate flooring is approximately fifteen times stronger than hardwood flooring, and most come with a 10 or 15 year warranty. This is a considerable benefit over real wood flooring.

Apart from the three main benefits shown above, laminate flooring also has other smaller benefits that can get overlooked :

Unlike real wood flooring, laminate flooring has a high UV resistance which blocks the harmful rays of the sun and protects the design from fading. This benefit can save alot of future maintenance that would be requied to keep a real wood floor looking as good as laminate flooring.

Due to the visual design's of laminate flooring being simply an image printed onto paper (see laminate flooring makeup), the various design options are endless and provide further laminate flooring benefits.

Laminate floor boards tend to be wider than real wood floor boards, which reduces installation time for laminate flooring. This laminate flooring benefit could be a significant one, if the area that the laminate flooring is being installed into was high traffic area.

With the glueless systems of laminate flooring, there is no excess glue to clear up, and the floor can be used immediately after installation, again, another great benefit of laminate flooring if its a high traffic area..

Most laminate flooring brands come with either a 10 or 15 year warranty. Real wood floors cannot normally offer this benefit.

Other laminate flooring benefits include its low maintenance, requiring just a quick wipe over with a brush. Any spills can simply be cleaned up using a mop or sponge.

mannington laminate flooring

an overview of mannington laminate flooring
Exibition room with laminate flooring  
      

For over 90 years, flooring has been the only business of Mannington.

No one knows more about making floors that will perform beautifully in your home or office than Mannington. In fact, Mannington pioneered crucial advancements, such as those that make many new floors a breeze to clean. And their experience keeps on building. Because they are a leading manufacturer of resilient flooring, Mannington know all about making floors that are easy to live with. Because they offer wood flooring, they know exactly how to create handsome wood grains in their laminate floors

 

Mannington's knowledge is always working to bring you floors that work. Mannington Commercial is the only company to offer the contract market a comprehensive range of complementary hard and soft surface flooring products from a single source, with many products designed to address the specific needs of the commercial markets.
      

Mannington laminate flooring products are currently only available in the US and Canada.

Visit the Mannington website by following the link below, and enter your US Zip code or Canadian postal code to find your nearest store.

How to Install Laminate Flooring

The process to install a new laminate floor is as follows:

1. Remove the old flooring. For carpet, remove the carpet and all tacks holding the pad to the subfloor. For hardwood, remove all hardwood and underlayment.
2. Remove all baseboards and heating vents over register boots.
3. Prepare the subfloor by ensuring the floor is level and void of debris, tacks, and nails. Consult the flooring manufacturer's instructions for subfloor preparation. Most require the subfloor to have no deviations greater than 1/8 inch for every six feet of flooring. If your floor has dips, this will need to be repaired. Proper floor preparation may require consultation with a professional.
4. Acclimate the new laminate flooring to the installation environment for at least 48 hours before beginning the installation.
5. Place a quality underlayment over the subfloor. If over concrete, ensure the underlayment includes a vapor barrier. Make sure all seams are taped so there is a sealed barrier between the laminate floor and the subfloor.
Measure the width of the room and divide this by the actual surface width of the laminate board. If the end piece is less than 1/3 the width of a new piece, rip all the boards in your first row to match the last row.
6. Begin laying the new laminate in one row across the entire length of the room. Make sure to leave at least a 1/4-inch gap between the floor and the wall. Not doing so can lead to creaking and buckling of boards over time. When cutting the last piece of the row, if the remaining board is longer than eight inches, use that piece to begin the next row.
7. Continue this installation process and following the manufacturer's instructions for proper board installation.
8. Reinstall your baseboards and replace the vent covers over all register boots.

Your new laminate floor is installed and ready to use.

Read more: http://www.answers.com/guides/how-to-install-laminate-flooring#ixzz1wfSSRXfo