Frequently asked questions-answers about laminate floors, which help those who visit our site find answers to common questions they may have about laminate floors.
What is laminate?
The laminate floor is chipboard with wood as a raw material that contains a high resin content, which makes it resistant to scratches. It also consists of a material considered to be plastic covered by a laminated glass pane. This can maintain the appearance of wood, concrete, etc. It is easy to repair and maintain well, it is also better quality and more resistant to collision than real wood and we provide the best laminate accessories
How many days should the laminate floor stay in my place before installation?
The laminate floor usually needs 2-3 days to acclimatize in areas within Attica, while in the countryside and in places with increased humidity, it must be acclimatized from 5-7 days before installation for safety reasons. It is good that the floor remains in the respective area with its packaging open /m1 με ΦΠΑ 24% ore proανά acclimatization. Finally, it is very important that the building is closed before installation, ie the external door and windows have been closed to prevent moisture or even rain from entering the space.
Do I have to remove my old floor to install a laminate floor?
If you want to install a new laminate floor you need to remove your old floor. First check if the existing floor is level before starting to install the new floor, in order to avoid inhomogeneities. Most floors are made of three layers: one is the one we step on, followed by a layer with the pattern printed on it (usually wood-look) and finally the core layer, which is made of particle board (HDF). The materials are very durable and scratch resistant. No matter how hideous your old floor is, whether it’s mosaic, tile, or wood, it will be completely covered by the new floor.
What are laminate classes and what are they used for?
The classes serve as a guide to inform the consumer and the manufacturer to classify their products. Materials are classified into usage categories according to their durability and impact resistance. The classes serve to help consumers decide which floor is suitable for their desired residential or commercial use. Laminate is classified in Europe, according to European standards EN13329. The laminate floor corresponds to one of the following strength categories:
- AC1 Moderate Residential: This type of laminate floor is suitable for residential areas with light use, such as bedrooms and closets.
- AC2 General Residential: AC2 floors are suitable for spaces such as living rooms with moderate levels of use.
- AC3 Heavy Residential/Moderate Commercial: These laminate floors are suitable for all areas in the home as well as for commercial areas with light use.
- AC4 General Commercial: Suitable for all areas in the home as well as for professional areas with heavier use.
- AC5 Extremely heavy Use: Suitable for all areas at home but also for extremely heavy professional use such as schools, hospitals, and shopping centers.
How can I know which laminate is suitable /m1 με ΦΠΑ 24% e?
First you should consider the floor installation area. Will it be a bedroom, living room, kitchen, etc.? Of course, the floor in a professional space, eg a dance school, has more mobility than a bedroom for example. In order to choose the right floor for your space, consult the so-called laminate classifications according to their ανάformance according to the EN 13329 standard. For example for domestic use class 3 used are the following: Class 21 is suitable /m1 με ΦΠΑ 24% oderate use (for example, in bedrooms) Class 22 is suitable for normal use (eg in a living room) and Class 23 is suitable for heavy use (eg in a cafeteria). These categories are provided on the packaging of each floor product with pictograms.
Why should I choose laminate and not tile?
There are several reasons why someone would choose to install a laminate floor instead of a tile:
- Costing: The laminate floor is of higher quality and more durable than tile, but it is also more economical, especially if you compare products of similar quality and diameter.
- Easy to repair: The laminate floor is easy to repair if there is any fault or problem. Because the pieces can be replaced at any time, while for the tile it is necessary to replace the whole tile.
- Quality and durability: Laminate flooring is more resistant to wear and tear than tile, and is easy to clean.
- Cost: Laminate flooring is usually more affordable than tile flooring, making it a more budget-friendly option.
- Installation: Laminate flooring is relatively easy to install and can often be done as a DIY project. Tile installation, on the other hand, requires more specialized tools and skills and is usually done by a professional.
- Maintenance: Laminate flooring is easy to clean and maintain, while tile flooring requires more frequent cleaning and can be more prone to staining and cracking.
- Durability: Laminate flooring is very durable and can withstand a lot of foot traffic, while tile flooring can crack or chip if heavy objects are dropped on it.
- Aesthetics: Laminate flooring is available in a wide variety of styles and finishes that can mimic the look of hardwood, stone or tile flooring.
- Thermal insulation heats up the house faster, you walk barefoot but also offers economy in heating.
Why does the laminate creak?
When there is a creak in the laminate it is always due to humidity, for this reason we ventilate the space where the laminate is placed, put a dehumidifier, always mop with a fresh mop.
Why does laminate swell?
Initially, everything starts with the installation, the floor should be installed correctly and the technician should have left the correct gaps. And then an important factor is the water and, by extension, the humidity of your space.
What do you recommend for uneven subfloor surfaces?
Subfloor surfaces with unevenness greater than 3 mm ανά running meter must be sanded from below (according to DIN 18202) to even out the differences. The unevenness of the subfloor is best determined with a ruler or a large spirit level.
Are laminates suitable for wheelchairs?
In general, they are suitable for wheelchairs. However, it would be good to use soft rubber wheels. The same goes for office chairs.
Do these materials emit formaldehyde? Is formaldehyde harmful to the environment or to our health?
In recent years there has been much debate about the content of pollutants and especially formaldehyde in flooring and other wood-based composites such as plywood. Manufacturers are now obliged to submit their products to third-party controls such as external testing institutes to comply with the regulations of the Hazardous Substances Act (GefStoffV § 9, para. 3).
What is the E1 classification?
E1 is the abbreviation for the lowest formaldehyde emission category in Europe. Emission classes E1, E2, E3 define wood-based materials according to the amount of formaldehyde they emit. Decisions to classify these materials are made in the constant temανάature test room. The formaldehyde content in the air is measured in ppm (parts ανά million). In these classification tests, the formaldehyde content cannot exceed the value of 0.1 ppm in order to be considered “practically free of impurities”.
Can laminate be carcinogenic?
A floor that has certifications of all European factories has no safety risk for health. Of course, the same applies to other building materials that we have at home, such as granite, marble, etc.
What kind of cleaner should I use for laminate flooring?
When choosing a laminate cleaner, we recommend that you choose a mild cleaner that does not contain wax or oil and that the mop is very well wringed. Oil and wax cannot penetrate the surface of the laminate so they remain on top of the surface creating an oily layer and stains during cleaning. It also leaves marks when you walk across the floor.
Is laminate suitable for underfloor heating?
Yes of course, Laminate floors are manufactured for use over water heating systems. They are also suitable for installation with electric floor heating. It is very important that the maximum temανάature of the surface of the heating element does not exceed 27 ° C. In addition, it should never completely cover a heated floor surface, as this causes a rapid rise in temανάature due to heat accumulation.
Is laminate suitable for people who suffer from allergies?
First of all, laminate floors are very easy to clean. Dirt and dust can be removed easily and immediately by choosing a suitable cleaner. Laminate floors especially among allergy sufferers and sensitive people. Natural floors – our laminate floors consist of 90% wood. This means that our floor does not emit harmful emissions. They are chlorine and PVC free and contain no wood preservatives.
Can I polish the laminate floor?
No, we recommend that you don’t! Please follow the instructions on the website www.laminat-installation.com regarding the maintenance and cleaning of the laminate.
Is laminate suitable for the bathroom?
No, it would be best to avoid placing it in places where there is increased humidity, such as the bathroom or sauna.
Is laminate suitable for installation in a kitchen?
Yes, laminate is suitable for kitchen installation as long as it is done according to the installation guide.
Can I leave the old tile skirting so as not to make a mess?
Of course it can be done, as the technician can glue the new skirting board on top of the old one. However, if the new baseboard is shorter than the old one, the technician can paint or putty after installing the laminate and baseboard.
If I install laminate over tile, what happens to the interior doors?
In this case, the technician of our company undertakes to cut the doors for a small fee of €10/door. As for the security door, we do not undertake it, but our external partner at a cost of around €80-100.
Because I’m going to paint the house, do I have to remove the old baseboard?
Yes, aesthetically it is nicer to remove the old baseboard but ask the painter to putty the place where he will make the marmite in order to install the new baseboard more correctly. In general, wooden skirting or tile skirting comes off very easily. The mosaic is difficult to come out.
If the laminate swells after installation, is it covered by the factory warranty?
As Laminate itself does not swell, does not exhibit moisture and of course, does not cover any moisture, please take serious consideration of any imανάfections in your space before installing the floor and check the moisture level with the appropriate hygrometer. Simply, laminate is a good conductor of water, which means that if there is moisture in the room and you have neglected it, then it will definitely come to the surface. Also, if there is a leak or flood and it is not dealt with in time then it is a natural consequence that the floor swells and this is not covered by the guarantee. It is recommended that the installation be done by a qualified technician with exανάience in installing floating-clip floors.
Should I install the interior doors first or the Laminate?
We recommend installing the doors first and then the Laminate. Attention : If you are going to install internal doors before installing the Laminate you should ask your doorman to raise the door frame a little with pads (the height of the frame lift depends on the thickness of the Laminate and the substrate) so that when put the laminate in such a way that the floor installer can install the laminate and the skirting board more easily and without problems .
This is recommended for 2 reasons:
- the result is technically and aesthetically more beautiful
- there is a chance that the door (if the door is installed afterwards) will fix the door on the Laminate with the risk of damaging the floor (possibly swelling or broken fasteners) if it does not leave a gap between the Laminate floors and the door.