Laminate Flooring Should you Pick Glued Or Click?

Today?s laminate flooring materials are amazingly easy to install, highly durable and low maintenance in care. They can withstand the wear and tear of feet & things being dragged across their surface, are resistant to most spillage, burns and stains. They are the ideal flooring materials for the 21st century hectic lifestyle.

Stone, tile and hardwood visuals ? they all make the decision to select an interesting and difficult process. This is due in part to the vast array of quality designs available.

And now, comes the question: Should you pick glued or click laminate flooring?

Glued installation has long been the standard in laminate flooring. The basic procedure consists of clamping the boards together, so that the excess glue is squeezed out. When you see glue squeezed out, you know you are installing correctly. Glue seeping out is necessary to ensure there are no small gaps that develop between the boards which later on will allow moisture to slip between.

Depending on the manufacturer, glue may be applied to certain portions of the board, only on the groove, tongue, or both spaces.

A buying tip - use the laminate flooring manufacturers? glue, otherwise your floor?s warranty is void.

Click laminate flooring on the other hand, works on the locking system principle where each plank locks, hooks, or snaps the tongue and the groove to another to install the floor in place. It?s easy enough to do, as long as you take time to carefully read and follow the instructions.

You might want to consider the value found in installing click laminate flooring if:

You are new at installing flooring material.

Plan to use the flooring for small spaces.

Don?t have a budget for a professional installer or have the time to install it yourself.

Have the need to immediately use the area for walking.

With glued laminate flooring, you?ll need to partition off the area to allow the glue time to harden, which depending on the manufacturer?s glue can between 12-30 hours before the floor can be used.

Another consideration for installation of glued laminate flooring requires that the installer use straps so the joints remain tight. The installer will also have to constantly check that the design is straight and that the planks remain in the correct position until they have dried.

With the click laminate flooring?s locking system on the other hand, you?ll immediately know if you?ve locked it incorrectly. This is because the planks won?t come together nice and cleanly. The locking system eliminates the need to constantly check if you are installing a crooked design or that you?ll create gaps where moisture or spillage can seep through. Nor will you need to use straps.

A tip to a better locking system is to consider manufacturers who offer click laminate flooring materials that have a tolerance of 1/10,000 of an inch, per plank.

What about maintenance and repair?

The better laminate flooring systems, whether glued or click, use superior technology that coats the planks, so that moisture doesn?t seep into the core. You can expect repairs to be minimal.

However, when the time to repair does happen, expect to spend more when it comes to repairing glued laminate flooring. Especially if you don?t have a router bit. This piece of equipment is used to cut out the damaged portion, to create new tongues and grooves.

If you are experienced with replacing damaged planks, then it won?t be a problem, but what if the plank is crooked, or incorrectly cut? Repetition will cost you more.

Paying a professional installer makes more sense. However, be prepared to pay upwards of $200.00 and more for the job.

With click laminate flooring, all you need to do is identify the damaged planks, unlock these from the rest, replace and then reinstall. It?s as easy to repair as it is to maintain.

A final appealing option to consider with no-glue laminate flooring. You can simply uninstall the floor and bring it with you to your next home.

So which way should you go? Glued or click laminate flooring material?

Consider these three concerns as a gauge to buying.

What?s your lifestyle? And can your budget accommodate the added expense of a professional installer?

Is the design you like found in both formulations? Look around because there are many more manufacturers now which offer the same design in glued or click floor materials.

While a wise buyer considers pricing to be important, it isn?t the over riding concern. Laminate flooring materials will show the cumulative effects of scratching. So select a product which offers a warranty of up to 15 years, scratch free life.

And you?ll enjoy the appeal and value of low-maintenance laminate flooring throughout your home. Whether it be glued or click.

My name is Jason Ashby and i have 21 years experiance in the flooring trade. First starting out as a flooring installer then progressing into training people in all aspects of flooring. I also run an online UK store selling Click laminate flooring products. For more informtion regarding laminate or wooden flooring please visit http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/laminate-flooring-information.htm.