Laminate Floor
Capital Carpet currently uses the following supplier of fine laminate floors:
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What is Laminate Floor? Laminate floor has swept the nation! It is by far the fastest-growing section of our industry. It has been popular in Europe for several years and now that popularity is catching on here in Canada. Laminate floors are extremely durable and can be used in a wide array of applications from a simple bedroom in your home, to the showroom of an automobile dealership. They are the simplest floor types to maintain. In most cases a simple sweeping or a light mopping is all that's required. Laminate floor is a plank type floor, constructed of different layers. Usually, the top layer or "wear layer" is clear. It is a low or high density laminate, depending on the manufacturer and style. The second layer is usually the design or decorative layer which gives it the unique look of wood, or in some cases, tile floor. Some laminate floor manufacturers add a third or "base" layer for greater stability. All of these layers are fused by heat and pressure to a high-density core. Some cores are constructed of high density fibre, and some are constructed of wood particles. Sizes Most laminate floors come in approximately the same size -- roughly 8" wide by 48" long. Installation Method One of the unique benefits of laminate floor is the way they are installed. All laminate floors we carry are installed by what's referred to as a "floating floor" or "free floating" method. None of them are glued directly to the floor. Sometimes a sheet of plastic is laid down, which acts as a moisture barrier and also helps the floor move more easily when it expands and contracts under different temperature conditions. On top of the plastic, a foam layer usually 2-3 mm thick acts as sound absorption and also helps even out minor irregularities of the sub-floor. This makes it an ideal product if you have an existing floor such as vinyl or ceramic tile and you don't want to go to the trouble of ripping it up.
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