FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

As of right now, 106 of you have cast your vote on the laminate flooring poll.

36% think it is cheap.

Some laminate floors can be cheap, but keep in mind that there are laminate floors available that are very high quality and can cost even more than regular hardwood. I think laminate got a bad reputation when it first came out, but through consumer awareness and new product introductions, laminate is proving itself to be a worthwhile flooring purchase.

11% think it is loud and clicky

Again, in the past this could be said about some laminate floors. Since the introduction of laminate, improvements have been made in the underlayment used for laminate floors. With some of the newer laminate floors it is almost impossible to tell whether you are walking on laminate or hardwood.

11% think it scratches easily and will not hold up to your family and traffic patterns.

Laminate floors have learned alot from the laminate countertop industry. Considerable amounts of resin have been added to the wear layer that allow some manufacturers to brag that their floors are no 10 to 20 times harder than laminate countertops. Since the resin filled wear layer is so dense, that makes it extremely difficult to scratch or stain.

42% think it is a great product that will give you the look of hardwood for less money and is more practical for your family and traffic patterns.

This happens to be the vote I cast. Laminate floors are designed to be less expensive than most hardwoods while giving you the same realistic look. These floors can be more practical for your family and traffic patterns.

If you are interested in learning more about laminate flooring, click here. If you are interested in purchasing laminate floors and need to find a retailer in your area, click here.

Question: I just moved into a condo that appears to have very good quality laminate floors. I noticed that there are a couple of marks on the floors that I want to get rid of. It actually looks like the previous owner had a piece of furniture in the room that left sorme sort of dye on the floor. I have no idea how to remove the stain. I have never had laminate flooring and do not know what to use to clean marks left on the floor.

Answer: Good for you for checking to see what to do before putting multiple cleaners on the floor! Multiple cleaners can leave build up and films that are difficult to remove. If you know who the manufacturer is, I would use the cleaner that they recommend. Otherwise, I would use a cleaner that is specifically made for laminate floors. The dye could be from water that found its way onto the base of the furniture. Follow the instructions provided on the bottle of laminate cleaner and some elbow grease should be all you need!

Question: We were hoping that you could help get us some information about how to remove residue (we think it is MOP & GLOW) from our laminate wood floors. Any information?
Anything you can tell us would be helpful.  Thank you.

Answer: From the Mop and Glo website:

Q:   What causes a build-up on my floor?

A:   As with any wax or polish, MOP & GLO® Triple Action™ Floor Shine Cleaner should be removed periodically to prevent a build-up of old polish. This can occur if the floor is polished too frequently, and/or if not cleaned thoroughly in-between polishing.

Q:   How do I remove this build-up?

A:   Use a solution of 1/4 cup all purpose cleaner (such as LYSOL® All
Purpose Cleaner with out Bleach) and 1 cup household ammonia in ½ gallon of
warm water. Wet the area with the solution and mop.

I would test this in an inconspicuous area first. I would also recommend cleaning the floor with an approved laminate cleaner first, just to be safe. This may require extra cleaning with some elbow grease! If that doesn’t remove the Mop and Glo, then I would try what the Mop and Glo website recommends.

Question: Do you recommend any products to clean laminated floors? Our home is located on sandy soil and no matter how much I sweep you can see dog and shoe prints. Help, please. There is no information available from the manufacturer.

Answer: Normally the product that is recommended is from the manufacturer, but if there is no information available from the manufacturer, I have only heard good things about Bona Floor Care Products.

For more information on other cleaning and maintenance practices that are equally as important as the cleaner itself, refer to an earlier post on Test Your Laminate Flooring Knowledge.

Often, the problem with foot and paw prints is that the dirt was not trapped outside and is being tracked inside. One solution to help with this problem is using walk off mats at each entrance to your home.

Daily maintenance like sweeping with a terry cloth head mop (also available from Bona) will help with this problem.

Many people wonder if laminate flooring is right for their lifestyle and if it is a quality product. Laminate flooring has gotten a bad reputation from products in the past, but it has come a long way since introduced to the US around a decade ago to be a durable, beautiful, quality product.

Laminate floors used to have a plastic look that made them easy to identify. Now, the technology of laminate flooring has come so far that it can be difficult to tell laminate flooring from the real thing.

Laminate flooring has the look and (now) the feel of real hardwood, tile or natural stone. Often laminate flooring provides advantages that “the real thing” cannot offer. For example, laminate can withstand water and moisture better than hardwood. It can also withstand pets and  scratches better than some species of hardwood. Laminate is not as hard as tile or natural stone and items that are dropped have a better chance of survival when dropped on a laminate floor rather than a tile or natural stone floor. The same goes for households with children. If a child falls on a laminate floor, they are less likely to get hurt on a laminate floor than a tile or natural stone floor. Laminate flooring also is resistant to sunlight fading and staining unlike hardwood flooring.

Another advantage to laminate flooring is the cost. Laminate flooring can be significantly less expensive than real hardwood, tile or natural stone.

There are many different styles of laminate for any design scheme or lifestlye.  Wood looks such as beech, oak, cherry, walnut, maple and others are available in laminate. Natural stone such as slate, travertine and marble looks are available in laminate flooring. Colors from the entire spectrum are represented so you should have no trouble finding a laminate floor that’s right for you.

If you are installing a laminate floor yourself, you will find that it is one of the most simple floors to install and maintain. For laminate maintenance tips, click here.

For more information on laminate and why it may be right for you, click here.