Flooring Underlay Makes All The Difference

Flooring Underlay Makes All The Difference

Consumers understandably focus on choosing an appealing design and suitable AC Durability Class when shopping for laminate flooring. However, the quality of flooring underlay used is also crucial.

The underlay plays a vital role in overall quality of the installed floor; in particular, a quality underlay should significantly reduce both Impact Sound and Walking Sound.

Impact sound: Sound travelling through to the room immediately below.

Walking sound: Footfall noise heard in the same room.

While many underlays adequately reduce Impact Sound, most do not properly address Walking Sound, which can result in the typical ‘loud and hollow’ sound that laminate flooring is known for.

It’s good to know that laminate flooring doesn’t have to sound this way – simply choose an underlay with large Walking Sound reduction for the best possible acoustic performance.

Laminate Flooring Durability

Laminate Flooring Durability

Laminate flooring durability is rated according to a special classification, from the AC1 up to AC5 which is the highest rating.

The AC rating is the measurement which specifies the durability level of laminate flooring. AC ratings are applied to laminate floors by an independent organisation known as European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF). These ratings provide a summary of a laminate’s resistance to stress and abrasion, helping buyers understand the difference in durability among laminate flooring products.

To assign an AC rating, a series of tests are performed to assess each line of laminate flooring for resistance to scratches, impact, burns and stains. These tests also examine the effects of furniture legs, castors and thickness swelling along plank edges. Laminate flooring is given a rating only if it has passed all of the tests, as failing a single test disqualifies the product.

ABRASION CLASS (AC) RATING FOR LAMINATE FLOORING

  1.    AC1 – Moderate Domestic: Only suitable for light residential use such as in closets or bedrooms.
  2.    AC2 – General Domestic: This class of laminate can handle moderate foot traffic and can also be used in the majority of rooms such as dining rooms or living rooms.
  3.    AC3 – Heavy Domestic/Light Commercial: Suitable for every room in the house, including high-traffic areas. Also suitable for commercial spaces with light traffic (such as small offices or hotel rooms).
  4.    AC4 – Heavy Domestic/Medium Commercial: Suitable for all residential uses as well as commercial spaces with heavy foot traffic like offices, cafes, and boutiques.
  5.    AC5 – Heavy Commercial: Suitable for commercial use in high-traffic spaces like department stores and public buildings.

Based on the above, AC4 is the most widely used laminate flooring, suitable for heavy domestic and medium commercial use; however, AC5 Heavy Commercial laminate is becoming very popular not just for commercial projects, but also for residential buyers who want the most durable floor surface possible.

We hope you enjoyed our explanation of the laminate flooring durability classification system.

What is laminate

What is laminate

The first laminate floor was developed in Sweden, arriving on the market in 1980. This new kind of flooring quickly spread to other countries in Europe. The laminate back then was not of the high quality that it is today – but thanks to on-going developments, by the end of the 1980’s visible advances had been achieved.

Today’s sophisticated looking and very durable laminate is one of the most popular floor surfaces in the world. What has not changed since the 1980s is the composition of laminate flooring. The general construction of laminate floor is composed of three layers.

Layer 1

The top laminate layer consists of an overlay to protect against wear and tear and a design layer, which depending on the production process is made from one or several layers. The surface coating is composed of a special synthetic resin-treated cellulose to give the floor a tough, durable surface. The decorative layer gives the laminate flooring an attractive appearance.

Layer 2

Under the decorative pattern is the high-density wooden composite core (HDF).

Layer 3

At the base on the back of the HDF core you will find a watertight layer that improves the structural stability and serves as a moisture barrier.

All three layers are permanently bonded with resin, heat and pressure.

Especially on the surface, the differences between inferior laminate flooring and high quality European made laminate become clear. In particular for the design: a good quality laminate feels comfortable and demonstrates a very natural-looking structure. At the same time, the high-quality finishing of the laminate provides many advantages.

We hope you have enjoyed the above introduction to the world of a laminate floor.