Info about Furnishings
Take Care of Your Laminate Floor
One of the reasons for buying a laminated floor is the knowledge that you are getting a durable surface at a reasonably cheap price. While it’s true that laminated floors are hard-wearing you should also be aware that they are not impervious to damage if they are not well cared for.
For this reason there are a few points that should be kept in mind to avoid any serious laminate floor damage, or even just to keep your floors looking in reasonably good shape. The last thing you need is a new floor that has just been laid to be damaged while returning the furniture back into the room.
Caring for your floor means ensuring that heavy objects are not dragged across it. If you have to move heavy objects such as refrigerators or dining tables you should use a loading trolley or a dolly or, at the very least a couple of strong people capable of carrying the load without scraping it across the floor. Although laminated floor has a toughened surface so that it will stand up to constant traffic, it will mark or scratch.
Waterproofing is another aspect of laminate flooring that leads you to believe that it will be okay if water spills onto it. To a certain point this is true. The laminate is waterproof and will withstand small spillages without ruining the boards. However the cracks between the boards may not be 100% waterproof and if the water manages to get down between these cracks and into the underlying base problems can occur. Also, if the protective coating on top of the laminated boards is damaged the water repellent properties of the laminate will be compromised and water damage is a possibility.
The best course of action is to try to avoid liquid spillages as much as possible. It won’t always be possible to keep water or other liquids off the floor but if it is cleaned up quickly there should be no problems.
Cleaning the laminate floor should be done with a damp or dry cloth or mop and the use of a cleaning product that has been specifically made for laminate. Don’t wash the laminate with too much water or use an abrasive cleaning agent. In either case you will be doing more damage to your floor than good.
Basic care of your laminate floor will keep it looking fresh and new. You don’t necessarily have to be too precious with the care but it pays to be mindful of the floor’s weaknesses.