Monday 3 November 2008

Laminate Floor Care and Maintenance

Laminate floor care and maintenance starts with proper installation. If you will be installing your laminate floor over a concrete sub floor then you will want to make sure that you install a vapor shield before you lay down the underlayment material. If you will be installing your laminate floor on top of existing flooring or plywood, you will want to make sure that the sub floor is level. If you try installing the laminate flooring over an uneven surface you can cause the planks to crack or break.

The next stage of laminate floor care and maintenance is to keep your floors clean. Cleaning your laminate floor will typically only involve sweeping the surface once a week. You can help extend the life of your floor by making sure that you remove course debris from the floor as soon as possible. If the floor becomes sticky or grimy then you can use a damp cloth or mild cleanser to clean the floor. You do not want to over-wet the surface of your laminate flooring as this can cause warping.

If your laminate flooring is scratched of gauged you can repair this damage by using a repair kit or wood putty. Start by cleaning the damaged area. Then follow the application instructions offered by the putty or repair kit. Fill in the gauge or scratch with the putty using the applicator or a toothpick. Smooth the putty at the surface of the plank so that it is level and wipe off the excess. Allow the putty to dry.

If your laminate floor has a damaged plank that is beyond repair you can replace it. If the plank is near the edge of the floor you can remove the baseboard and then snap out the damaged plank and fit in the replacement plank. If the plank is not in an easy to access area of your floor, or if you have a glued plank floor then you will need to cut the plank out and replace it with a modified new plank. To get your new plank to fit in the hole left by the old plank then you will need to cut off its tongue before you glue it into place.

Is laminate flooring right for you? Find out more at LaminateFloorsCheap.com - your source for information on caring for laminate floors, do it yourself floor installation information and professional flooring advice. For more home decor and remodeling options visit the search engine friendly directory.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Freeland

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