We’ve taken the most frequently asked questions from our chat feature and will be posting them weekly here on our Blog. Check back every week for new questions or go to our website and submit your own!

Q: Does the thickness of flooring matter with a concrete subfloor?
A: No it does not. You will not notice the difference between a 6mm or 15mm floor. The thickness has no effect on the durability.

Q: I am interested in laminate flooring for my home in Florida to replace carpeted areas. I want to install myself, but not sure of durability in humid weather, so I am trying to find a product more moisture resistant.
A: We would recommend using a laminate with a moisture resistant core like Kronopol, Alloc Original, Southern Lakes and Diamond Living.

Q: I’m looking for a laminate that will withstand high traffic and 2 large dogs. Any suggestions?
A: We would recommend a commercially rated laminate like Quick Step.

Q: How much extra flooring should I order for cuts made during installation?
A: It is recommended to have 5-10% extra on hand during your install.

Q: How long are your sale prices good for?
A: Sales prices are usually good through the end of the month unless stated otherwise.

Q: I live in Vermont. Am I charged sales tax if I buy from you online?
A: Our storefront is located in Ohio, so if you live in Ohio or if you come into our store to buy it directly then you WILL be charged sales tax. If you are out of state and buying online and the flooring is being shipped to you then you will NOT be charged tax.

Q: How can I be sure that the molding I purchased with my flooring will match?
A: When an order is placed for flooring and molding we will check to make sure that they match. If they don’t or if there is a better match, we will call you to see how you would like to proceed with your order. We want you to be happy with your flooring.

Q: Does all laminate flooring need padding under it?
A: Because it is a floating floor there has to be cushion between the flooring and the subfloor.

Q: Why can I only use the flush mount stairnose moldings on the actual steps and not on the top step where it touches the rest of the floor?
A: Because the flush mount stairnosing pins the floor down and it cannot be pinned because it won’t float like it needs to. A flush mount stairnose is the equivalent of nailing the laminate to the subfloor. You may use it on there if you would like, but after time the
pinning of the floor, even in that small area, will cause buckling in other parts of the floor. It has to have an expansion gap all the way around. You can use an overlap stairnose on the top step.

Q: How can I save on shipping?
A: Shipping costs are based on weight and delivery location and are given to us by the major freight carriers we use. I would recommend making the most of your shipping dollars! Make sure you have ordered enough flooring for your installation and left yourself a few pieces to keep in the event of any damage. Also, order your moldings and underlayment at the same time as your floor and you won’t pay separate shipping charges.

KRAUS Salerno Touraine Hickory Laminate Flooring

“New” does not always mean “better,” especially when it comes to interior design. Antique furnishings, fixtures, and accessories are highly sought after, and many people happily pay a premium to obtain vintage items for their homes. This principle applies to flooring as well, which is why handscraped laminate products are so popular today.

In the days before power sanders, handscraping was the primary technique used to level off or even out hardwood floor planks. The unique contours, delicate scrapes, and fine grooves that resulted from handscraping combined to yield a beautiful patina normally achieved only after many years of use.

The technique was largely abandoned when power tools and heavy machinery entered the picture, but has been revived as a means of instantly producing the well-worn look that many folks desire for their interiors. Handscraping has carried over to laminate floors as well, so homeowners now have a very affordable way of adding rustic charm to any room.

At BestLaminate.net, we offer numerous products that perfectly replicate old-world handscraping, such as:

• Kronopol Scraped Oak
• Cascade Time Worn Hickory
• Kronoswiss Wild Mahogany
• Kronoswiss Old Rustic Cherry
• Quick-Step Earthen Maple
• Quick-Step Country Walnut

The laminate floors listed here all come with a long-term manufacturer’s warranty that guarantees top performance, so you can rest assured that your investment will bring you years of pleasure.

If you have an older or historical home, collect antiques, or use vintage furniture, then you’ll love the distressed look that handscraped laminate planks give you right out of the box. Check out these and other quality flooring options at our website today.

KRONOPOL APPLEWOOD 8mm Laminate Flooring

Do you crave the luxurious look of an expensive hardwood floor, but balk at the potential toll on your bank account? If so, then we invite you to explore all the exotic laminate flooring options we have for your home.

Thanks to modern technology, exotic laminates are able to accurately reproduce the rich look of some of the finest hardwoods in the world. These products feature high-quality digital images that capture the texture and color of real woods in dramatic detail. When combined with the best composite materials available, including fiberglass, wood pulp, and resins, the result is a beautiful yet durable floor that looks like genuine hardwood but costs much less.

Some top-selling laminate floors for you to consider are:

• Kronoswiss Wild Mahogany, featuring a hand-sculpted finish
• Kronopol Mountain Apple, offering click-together installation
• Quick-Step Home Sound Dark Acacia Laminate Flooring, with premium underlayment attached to each plank
• Quick-Step Veresque Burnished Walnut, boasting a smooth finish with a “roll over” bevel edge
• Kraus Salerno Turino Oak, featuring a wire-brushed surface and micro bevel on all four edges
• Pergo Elegant Expressions Nantucket Pine, offering easy installation and maintenance
• Armstrong Grand Illusions Cabreuva, providing extra durability for high-traffic areas

Laminate floors are the number one alternative to authentic hardwoods because of their exceptional beauty and amazing price. If you want to give your formal living room, sitting room, or any other interior space a more elegant and refined look, choose one of these exotic options from BestLaminate.net.

We’ve taken the most frequently asked questions from our chat feature and will be posting them weekly here on our Blog. Check back every week for new questions or go to our website and submit your own!

Q: Would I be able to install laminate flooring on top of a tile floor?

A: Yes. You will still need to use underlayment.

Q:  What would I need to use if the kitchen floor and living room floor which meet up are not the same height?

A:  A reducer molding should do the trick if the difference is slight.

Q:  Do you send out free samples?

A:  Yes we do! You can request up to 3 free samples right from our website. Simply click “free sample” box located in the upper right corner, fill in your info and the names of the samples you want us to ship.

Q: I live in the state of Vermont. Will you have to charge Vermont state sales tax on my purchase?

A: We are shipping from Ohio and since we do not have a physical presence in your state we are not required to charge tax.

Q:  I will be installing the laminate on concrete and using the heavy duty underlayment. What moisture barrier do you suggest?

A: I would suggest Harmony 3 in 1. It is vapor barrier and padding in one and is designed for below grade areas.

Q:  I’m on your website looking at flooring.  How do I know if the laminate has the insulation on the back?

A:  It will say in the product description if the padding is attached.

Q:  Is there a number I can call to talk to someone about the laminate I want to purchase?

A:  1-800-520-0961

Q: Do you have installation instructions for a Reducer Molding?

A:  Typically they come with a track that you will fasten to the subfloor and then snap the molding into the track.

Q:  When installing a Reducer Molding, how much space would I leave between the floor planks and the carpet/threshold I am butting up to?

A:  The flooring should stop about 1/4″ away from the track

Q:  What is the best thing to use to keep these floors dog print proof?  What is the best way to clean them?

A:   There isn’t anything that can be done to prevent the prints. The best way to clean them will be spot cleaning with Alloc Free N Clean or vinegar and water.

When you step into a house on the beach, you immediately know you’re in a whole different world. The rooms are open and airy, the furniture is casual and functional, and the colors are light and whimsical. Everything from the ceiling fans to the laminate flooring is designed to match this single theme.

Now it’s possible to bring a beach-inspired look to your home even if you live in an urban center hundreds of miles from the ocean. The transformation begins not with new furniture or accessories, but with new floors. The floor goes a long way towards influencing the overall atmosphere of a room, which is why anyone interested in coastal decors should start with one of these products:

• Inhaus Urban Loft Whitewashed Oak
• Kronopol Oak Narvik
• Armstrong White Wash Walnut
• Revolutions Plank Tasmanian Blackwood
• Restoration Black Forest Weathered Oak

Whitewashed or weathered styles with textured designs tend to work best for coastal decors because they are evocative of pieces of driftwood scattered along the shore. These lighter or more neutral colors also tend to pair well with wicker or woven furniture to yield a highly coordinated look in every room.

You don’t have to own a million-dollar beachfront home in order to surround yourself with the sights and sounds of the sand and waves. You can get nearly the same effect by installing new laminate flooring and making a few other minor tweaks to your decorating scheme. Visit BestLaminate.net now to view our full line of beach-inspired products.

We’ve taken the most frequently asked questions from our chat feature and will be posting them weekly here on our Blog. Check back every week for new questions or go to our website and submit your own!

Quality moldings are essential for a final touch and professional finish of your new floor.  So my question is:

Q:  What are End Caps, T-Moldings, Reducers, Stair Noses, Quarter Rounds and Wall Base Moldings?

A:  1. END CAP- This is a transition molding that is used primarily for laminate-to-carpet transition. The carpet butts up next to the rounded edge, while the lip covers the end of the laminate. This piece can also be used in front of the doorways leading outside, effectively capping-off the floor in front of the door-sill. These moldings are secured to the subfloor using track. They are 94” long.

2. T-MOLDING-  is used in situations where you have two floor surface that are even with each other height- such as laminate-to-laminate, laminate-to-tile, laminate-to-wood, etc. It can be also used for laminate-carpet transitions. These moldings are secured to the sub-floor using track. They are 94” long.

3. REDUCER – is similar to the End Cap; this transition molding is sloped on one side, essentially tapering off the floor as opposed to capping. This piece is used for any transition where the two floors are not even with each other – laminate-to-vinyl, cement, tile/wood/laminate/etc, where the floor sits higher than the other. These moldings are secured to the subfloor using track. They are 94” long.

4. STAIR NOSE-This durable step moldings trim is used to end the laminate on the edge of the steps. They are 94” long.

5. QUARTER ROUND -Nicely frames all flooring projects. Used either separately or together with wall base, to cover the 1/4″ gap that must be left around the perimeter of the floor. Common uses include installation in front of fire places, under the cabinets and in front of the face plate on steps. The are 94” long.

6. WALL BASE MOLDING Borders the floor for a finish look and is used around the perimeter of the floor to cover expansion gaps. Our wall base is 3-1/4″ tall. Must be screwed or nailed in place. They are 94” long.

Q:  What do I need to know before choosing my moldings

A: Find out:

1. What type of floor surface(s) is my laminate transiting to?

2. Are these transitions going to be even with each other, or does one floor surface sit higher up than the other? -

3. For carpet transitions: is your carpet very thick?

4. How is it secured at the transition -with a tack strip or a bull nose?                                                                                                                5. -Concerning mounting tracks:  How high off of the subfloor is the surface of the floor going to be?

Bestlaminate would like to help you with your Spring remodeling projects. Each day in May, Bestlaminate will be giving away all kinds of tools to help you with your Spring remodeling projects. We will be sharing home remodeling ideas and projects throughout the month of May. We would love to see your photos and hear your stories!

Here is how to Enter:

Mandatory Entry:
- Like our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/bestlaminate
- Answer our daily question on Facebook
- Register here

The winner will beselected at random and announced the following day on Facebook wall.

Bestlaminate reserves the right to disqualify participants that use vulgar language and inappropriate tweets. It is at the discretion of Bestlaminate to determine the prize winners. Participation is all that is required. This HUGE Spring event at Bestlaminate starts on May 1 and will end on May 31, 2012.

Quarter Round Molding

When you redo the floor in a room, one of the most vital parts of the project is adding base molding as a finishing touch. Base molding not only serves as a beautifier, but also helps hide minor imperfections such as gaps, uneven wall protrusions, and corners that are out of square. Let’s take a look at how to install base molding for laminate floors.

Tools and Materials

• baseboard
• stud finder
• miter saw
• finish nailer
• furniture touch-up marker
• tape measure
• pencil
• caulk (optional)
• paint (optional)

Steps

1. Base molding is typically nailed or glued into place. To nail the baseboards, first use your stud finder to locate the wall studs, and then mark the locations with your pencil. To glue the baseboards, be sure to use strong adhesive that is rated for wood and drywall.
2. Use your finish nailer to attach the base molding at the marked wall stud locations. If using an adhesive, you can disregard stud locations and simply apply the glue as needed.
3. The process is easier if you use longer pieces rather than shorter ones. If short pieces are required, cut the molding at a 45-degree angle with your miter saw prior to installation.
4. Use the furniture touch-up marker on the nail holes and seams for a more polished look.
5. Fill any remaining gaps between the base molding and wall with caulk, and then paint the area after the caulk dries.

You don’t have to hire an expensive trim carpenter to install base molding to go with your new laminate flooring. Instead, you can get nearly the same results for a fraction of the cost by tackling the project on your own. Just follow the above steps provided by BestLaminate.net and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

We’ve taken the most frequently asked questions from our chat feature and will be posting them weekly here on our Blog. Check back every week for new questions or go to our website and submit your own!

Q:  What are the different options in underlayment?

A: Regular Underlayment –this is our most popular, thin foam padding. In most cases it is 3mm=1.8” thick and comes in rolls. We sell our regular underlayment per sq.ft, and we can pre-cut custom square footage roll for every customer. This underlayment foam is good to install over a wood subfloor only, because do not have a moisture barrier. If you have cement sub-floor you should consider 2-in-1 Vapor underlayment or 3-in-1 Silent underlayment.

2-in-1 Vapor Underlayment- this product is the same as Regular Underlayment with an additional layer of moisture barrier attached to it. Vapor barrier will keep moisture out of your laminate, and you should use this underlayment in places where there is a possibility of moisture coming up from your sub-floor.

3-in-1 Silent Underlayment – This premium underlayment is ideal for all floating floors such as laminate and hardwood. This underlayment provides excellent sound reduction and thermal insulation. It is easy to install and comes with attached moisture inhibiting membrane and tape on the overlaps. Our recommendation: Harmony Underlayment.

Q: What is a “Piano” finish?

A:  Piano Finish floor has the beautiful shine of polished hardwood and durability and cost of laminate flooring. But that’s not all; where some manufacturers simply apply their aluminum oxide to the top of the laminate (which causes a cloudy, thick coat to sit on top of the wood finish obscuring the image) Piano Finish floors completely saturates the decor layer with aluminum oxide providing the best clarity, enhanced realism and the best durability in the industry.

Q:  What kind of warranty does laminate flooring have?

A:  **This is a very generalized answer and you need to consult your warranty paperwork as each company is different in what inclusions and exclusions they may have.**   Most laminate floors are warranted when installed in dry interior to the original purchaser (warranty is non-transferable) and will cover points listed below:

• The laminate surface will not wear trough
• The floor will not fade due to sun or electrical light
• The floor will not stain
• The floor will be free from manufacturer defect

Laminate flooring is a very user friendly floor, but keep in mind, the following laminate flooring warranty claims are usually not covered under warranty:

• Wrong laminate flooring installation
• Improper materials used during laminate floor installation
• Installation on uneven subfloor
• Laminate flooring not installed for proper use
• Water damage from appliances, such as a dishwasher, washing machine, or a shower stall
• Scratches or cuts

Q:  What is laminate flooring made of?

A:  Laminates are constructed using three principal layers: the decorative layer, the core, and the backing layer. These layers are compressed together using a high-pressure process. The higher the pressure used, the more durable the laminate will be- and it will have a higher AC rating.

The Decorative Layer -This is the surface layer of the laminate floor, what gives it the beauty and elegance of an actual hardwood or tile floor. This layer is simply a high-definition photograph of a particular wood species or type of tile, which is sealed using a resin-based coating containing aluminum oxide. This is what gives the floor it’s resistance to scratching, UV rays, burning ash and embers, and chemical agents.

The Core Layer – This is what gives the laminate its true durability. The core is made of a highly compressed, High Density Fiberboard (HDF). This is what allows the floor to take the shock of localized impacts, such as high-heeled shoes and falling objects.

The Backing Layer- This is the layer that binds the laminate together, and gives it stability. The backing layer is made to float overtop of the foam underlayment, making the laminate a floating floor and further differing it from hardwood.

Q: Do I have to be present at the time of delivery?

A: Yes, you have to sign the shipping papers and check your order. Before signing the delivery driver’s paperwork, inspect the shipment for any shipping damage that may have occurred. If the freight company will not allow you to inspect the item please conduct a thorough visual inspection of the outside of the shipping container and note any issues – no matter how small – on the driver’s delivery receipt.

Q: What should I do when shipping damage is discovered?

A: If shipping damage is discovered at the time of delivery note any issues – no matter how small – on the driver’s delivery receipt. Contact Bestlaminate right away, so we can take care of it. Naturally if you find unacceptable shipping damage you are free to refuse all or part of the shipment. We’ve had excellent service from our freight companies in the past and we trust that your delivery will be handled as expertly as possible. If shipping damage is discovered after you have signed for the item in good order then you are responsible for filing an insurance claim with the freight carrier within 24 hours of the shipment’s arrival.

Durable, modern, and green, are three concepts that Kronoswiss laminate flooring prides itself on. With beautiful designs and patterns to choose from, your home or business can be transformed in a matter of hours. Kronoswiss laminate flooring offers micro-beveled edges, which bring elegance to your home in ways you never imagined. Laminate flooring produced in Switzerland, with beauty to be enjoyed for years to come. With more than 40 years of production under their belt, Kronoswiss laminate flooring has continued to embrace the consumer in the 21st Century.

With four beautiful designs to choose from, you will find Kronoswiss laminate flooring to meet the needs of you and your home. Noblesse Oristano Oak, Noce Rubio, Old Rustic Cherry, and Wild Mahogany are four stunning, smart choices when it comes to updating the flooring in your home. The handscraped textures bring the look and feel of real hardwood right into your home.

With the easy to install Swiss-Click Comfort, and the Angle2Angle locking systems; Kronoswiss laminate flooring is a product that works well for the DIY enthusiast. The planks are 54.33” long, 6.26”/ 7.59” wide, and 8mm/12mm thick. AC3 and AC4 wear ratings, which makes Kronoswiss laminate flooring one of the most durable laminate floors in the market place today. Kronoswiss laminate floors are ideal for extremely high traffic residential use areas, and light commercial use areas.

Kronoswiss laminate flooring is dedicated to creating a greener world through the use of the environmental management system (IS014001); which means that during the production process all raw materials are recycled as much as possible. Kronoswiss practices the Timber Circle. This means that the required energy is produced from recycled wood, after it has gone through its many possible life lines; replacing fossil energy. By taking environmental issues serious, Kronoswiss laminate flooring has invested in modern technologies for energy production, as well as air/water purification.

If you need stunning flooring that enhances your home, Kronoswiss laminate flooring is for you. You will find beauty, real wood texture, and a floor suitable for those extra busy areas of your home. The Original Swiss Floor, Kronoswiss Laminate Flooring, made in Switzerland, designed for the active consumer. A company that cares about our environment, offering recyclable products in flooring that will be enjoyed for many years.