FEB 2010 - Insider Tips: Questions to ask when
purchasing laminate flooring.
There are literally
1000's of different laminate flooring options on sale in Australia
today, so which is going to be the right choice for you? The following
is a list of things you need that could assist you in determining
which style and quality of laminate is going to be your best option.
Is
the product suitable for my application?
Obvoiusly different
rooms will have different levels and type of use. Laminates carry wear
class ratings for domestic and commercial applications and these
can offer a good indication of a products capabilities. Typically,
good quality laminates have a 23/32 wear class rating. What does this
mean? Well the 23 refers to a product that carries the highest wear
class rating for domestic applications, and the 32 means that the
product also carries a general commercial wear class. So this type of
product will be more than suitable for most households with regards to
traffic and wear. These products can also be used for light/moderate
commercial areas, such as retail stores, hair dressing salons,
boutiques etc. All Witex products carry this rating as a minimum,
ensuring that our products are highly suitable for the above
applications.
 
Where
is the product made?
The two main
manufacturing sources for laminate flooring are Europe and China.
Manufacturers in Europe are typically members of the European Producers
of Laminate Flooring or EPLF. This is your guarantee of quality and
will be clearly labelled on each pack of product. All members of the
EPLF carry certification that their products meet the
strictest European Standards for quality and
important factors such as formaldehyde emissions. Products
from EPLF certified manufacturers typically cost a bit more, but
this is because they have been rigorously tested to ensure you are
buying the best quality laminate flooring. Needless to say,
Witex is and EPLF certified manufacturer.
How
is the product installed?
Laminates have been
in Australia for about 20 years now, and the number of quality
installers has risen accordingly. However, question the credentials of
any installer to ensure that your investment looks the best that it
can. Ask to see if there are any jobs nearby that you can have a look
at, or any existing customers that you can speak to. If you are
planning to do it yourself (DIY) then there are some factors that you
need to consider. Ask for a copy of the installation instructions and
familiarise yourself with them. Different brands of laminate
flooring use different licensed locking systems in order to lock their
products together. Some are alot harder than others to install for this
reason. Witex's Loctec system is made under license from Unilin, and is
one of the most respected products proffesionally in Australia and the
world due to its ease of installation and the strength of the finished
floor.
What
is the warranty?
Many things influence the price of
laminate flooring, quality, where it is made, type of locking system
used etc. It is important to realise that like most things in life,
with laminate flooring you definitely do get what you pay for.
Warranty is an important factor in this as this is your peace of mind
with regards to your purchase. Witex guarantees its witloc quality
products for 15 years domestically and 5 years for light commercial
applications. All other Witex products carry a 20 year domestic wear
warranty and a 5 year general commercial warranty. Products with
AQUA-PROTECT also have a 20 year wear warranty in domestic wet areas,
such as bathrooms, laundries and toilets.
For full warranty terms and
conditions please contact us at Floating Floors P/L.
Hopefully this will be useful to
you in determining which products will be suitable for your application.
29.01.10
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