Sealing a laminate floating floor
Now we all know that the hype on laminate floating floors is that they are hard wearing and waterproof if cared for correctly. This has not been my experience. After recently having to replace 11 damaged boards (a total of about 40 actually after all the damage to the boards pulling them up) i am wanting to know if there is any way i can seal the entire floor in a similar fashion to sealing hardwood floors. I am thinking this will seal the joins, chips and protect the flooring. Finding information regarding this has been impossible as the hype about this type of flooring seems to continue. I suspect that the quality of my laminate was not as good as i would have hoped. Any one having similar problems? Or more importantly anyone got any suggestions for a solution? Regards What brand? What quality level? What warranty? Is the flooring plastic laminate? What installation method? There are good, better, and best levels of quality, price, and warranty. There is also a difference in hardness of wear layer and water resistance among quality levels. Laminate is not a good choice in rooms where there is the potential for water damage. Each manufacturer has its own specific installation instructions. Some instruct installers to seal seams with glue or silicone sealant to provide greater water resistance. Laminate backing can be anything from paper to plastic. Where water is a concern, a product like Wilson Art's Performance ProFX, their best grade, has a core that is 100 percent plastic. A sealer can not be applied to the wear layer on plastic laminate. Higher quality laminates have additives like aluminum oxide in the finish to make them more scratch resistant. The wear layer is scratch resistant, but it is not scratchproof. The finish on hardwood floors is not scratchproof, and hardwood floors also fall victim to water damage and pet urine stains. Scratches can not be buffed or sanded out on plastic laminate as on hardwood floors. As with laminate, individual board replacement is required if damage is beyond repair. Many laminate manufacturers have touch-up kits for repairing small chips and dents. Larger repairs require board replacement. Grit is one of the worst enemies of floor finishes. Grit gets tracked in and gets ground into finish and scratches the floor like sandpaper and mars the surface. Placing mats at doors to catch grit and frequent vacuuming or dustmopping of high traffic areas is important. Runners and rugs in high traffic areas is also helpful. Wiping up spills immediately and damp mopping with a mop squeezed nearly dry to prevent moisture damage is important. Now we all know that the hype on laminate floating floors is that they are hard wearing and waterproof if cared for correctly. Following the manufacturer's care and maintenance instructions is very important. If you read the fine print on better moisture warranties, you find that they do not cover flooding, standing water, leaking pipes, household mechanical failures, appliance leaks or pet urine or damage caused by scuffs, scratches, cuts, impact, caster wheels or vacuum cleaner beater bars. Flooring choice should be made based on lifestyle, taking into consideration what rooms, how much traffic, pets, tracking in from graveled driveways, sandy yards, etc. Laminate or wood floors are not good for every household due to lifestyle differences. Higher quality laminates, however, are extremely durable and are great for homes with a high degree of foot traffic, especially where there are pets and children. Who told you laminates are water proof??? They lied!! Laminates are anything but water proof, or even water resistent for that matter. Humidity will play havoc on a laminate, so moisture resistene is hype, too. Now the finished wear layer, it can hold water, just keep it away from the edges of the plank!!! I guess you could just throw some clear plastic over the floor like some people do to their couches . In all seriousness though I think any type of extra protection is more than likely something you have to do when installing it. I would think you could have added a thin coat of water resistant glue on the tongue and groove so that you could help resist water getting in the planks but when you tap in the planks this may remove the coat you just put on due to friction. I guess it's possible to add a small bead of glue between the planks and smooth it out if you have beveled edges (sort of like caulking the seams) but not sure how well it would adhere if at all. This would probably create a glossy finish to the bevel which may seem weird when sun hits it. I have two dogs, so I will have to take precautions and add some type of absorbent underlayment for things such as rugs and dog beds just in case my female decides to mark while I'm away. Generally this is never an issue but I definately will be buying a few extra boxes just in case an area needs to be replaced. Edit: I just came across this product that someone mentioned on another forum which is basically what you're looking for, however it's supposed to be used during installation. http://www.cal-flor.com/html/core/pr/click_seal.htm
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