| Laminated wood flooring is the hottest floor-covering | | | | groove or tongue. All of these laminated flooring |
| product in America. Created in Europe, the product has | | | | brands give you the same results, with different |
| now been in use for over 20 years. Laminated wood | | | | installation methods - Alloc flooring has a patented |
| flooring is an interlocking system that is installed on top | | | | system that doesn't require any glue. |
| of an existing substrate. This type of laminated wood | | | | Laminate flooring has four main elements that are |
| flooring has been used in the renovation of older | | | | bonded together. First, a durable, decorative surface |
| buildings throughout Europe. | | | | made of resin-based melamine/aluminum oxide is |
| This floating laminate installation can be used on any | | | | affixed to a moisture-resistant wood core. A backing |
| hard, flat surface and is easy enough to be a | | | | is then added to the core's bottom side. On top is an |
| do-it-yourself application. "Floating" as used here means | | | | aluminum oxide layer, providing stain resistance. |
| that the new floor is not attached to the floor | | | | By using existing counter-top practices and adding |
| underneath and the joints are glued together. | | | | more protection to the top layer, laminates have |
| Choices of laminated flooring | | | | evolved into the perfect floor covering. Some |
| A water-resistant glue is recommended by most | | | | manufacturers say their laminate floors are as much |
| laminate flooring brands. The glue is used on every | | | | as 20 times harder than any laminate counter tops, |
| plank, between the tongue and grooves. The amount | | | | thanks to a dense, resin-filled wear layer that's |
| of glue used varies by brand. Pergo laminated wood | | | | resistant to stains, scratches and even cigarette burns. |
| flooring requires enough glue to completely fill the | | | | The most common styles of laminate wood flooring |
| groove; the excess is squeezed out when the tongue | | | | have a wood-grain appearance. But some |
| and groove are interlocked. This particular laminated | | | | manufacturers offer laminate flooring in realistic stone |
| brand has a unique PerCore base layer that soaks up | | | | and marble patterns. Laminate floors are produced as |
| the glue. | | | | long, rectangular planks, usually around four feet long |
| Pickering brand laminate flooring, meanwhile, requires | | | | and 8 inches wide. Some manufacturers offer square |
| only a 1/6-inch drop of glue on the groove. Formica | | | | tiles and double wide planks, as well. |
| flooring requires a 1/8-inch bead in two places on the | | | | |