Laminate

Laminate Flooring

Inform Yourself

As the leading retailer of Laminate Flooring in Co Clare we are well positioned to best advise on you on which floor will suit your house or premises. We deal with the majority of leading European manufacturers such as Quickstep, Krono Group, Balterio, Classen, Egger and Alsa.

With advancements in image capture over the past 2 decades manufacturers have now ensured that when you purchase a quality laminate floor you are getting the most realistic representation of real wood there is. There are even tile effect floors available now so you can get the look of tiles without the prohibitive cost.

Why European floors?

European manufacturers are bound by the EN (European Norms) Classification System which ensures consistency of product.

Basically, it does what it says on the box! This is not strictly true of other regions.

Is Laminate Flooring Scratch-Resistant?

Yes is the short answer. Laminate floors are highly scratch-resistant and they wear extremely well. But sharp objects will score virtually any floor so common sense plays a factor here too. The better the wear layer the better they wear so see the ratings section below for a brief education.

Is Laminate Flooring Water-Resistant?

If you buy a Water-Resistant Laminate Floor then yes (see our Water-resistant section). If not, then the better brands will have an element of water-resistance but there are no guarantees against moisture damage. A barely moist mop (or floor wipes) are recommended for maintenance and cleaning whilst spills should be attended to before it soaks into the floor. Remember that it is still a timber based product.

Understanding Flooring Ratings

The majority of floors now are 8mm, 10mm and 12mm thick but be aware that thickness of your board is no indicator of quality. The first thing to look for is your AC rating. You will see this rating on the label of your sample.

AC stands for Abrasion Class – it is basically the wear layer on the top of the floor. Not to labour the point but European manufacturers must show that their floors meet the criteria for each class through rigorous testing. You get what is says on the box!

AC1 / AC2 – Irrelevant, out-dated, if you see it please walk away!

AC3 – This is now your base domestic product most suitable for low wear areas such as bedrooms. It has mostly been phased out but some is still available

AC4 – This is a heavy domestic / light commercial wear layer and is more than good enough for the majority of homes

AC5 – This is a fully commercial wear layer and within the past two years it has become the most common layer on newer floors. An excellent floor for busy houses and retail spaces and very much affordable.

AC6 – Heavy commercial wear layer. Much less common than the above with a more limited range. Alsa, the French flooring manufacturer, is probably the most prominent exponent of such floors.

Water Resistant Laminate Floors

This is the latest technology to be applied to the flooring industry and it is just fantastic news. Every laminate floor has an element of water-resistance but heavy mopping is not recommended – until now!

The Belgian flooring giant Quickstep were the innovators in this regards with their Hydro Seal technology.

Water-resistant laminate floors | Quick-Step.co.uk (quick-step.co.uk)

Others have now followed suit, most notably Kronopol (part of the Swiss Krono Group) with their Aqua Zero system and their ever-expanding range. Others like Classen with their Aqua Protect iteration have followed suit ensuring quality European products at affordable prices.