Laminate wood flooring has become extremely popular in the last few years. Some people call it "PERGO", but this is just a name brand of one of the first companies that produced and marketed the product. Laminate is a wood product that has a very thin layer or an image of wood on the surface. This allows the manufacturers to reproduce very exotic woods and bring them into our homes for a very reasonable price. Engineered flooring also has a wood base, but actually has a very thin layer of real wood or veneer on it's surface. Both of these products come pre-finished and ready to use. Both are also very durable and offer a significant savings over traditional hardwood applications. The installation process is the same for both types of wood. First the existing flooring must be removed. Then a moisture barrier and cushion of foam is layed down, this allows the floor to float and to have a softer feel under foot. Second, the wood is snapped together to form a large section of floating flooring. Third, the baseboards are reinstalled over the flooring or, quarter round can be attached to the existing baseboards to allow for expansion. These floors are easy to take care of and instantly add a level or richness and warmth to any room. |
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