ᐅ Cheap vs. expensive laminate? Sealing with 0.55 mm vinyl?

Created on: 6 Mar 2018 17:13
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Changeling
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Changeling
6 Mar 2018 17:13
We have a quote for the entire ground floor with glued-down vinyl flooring featuring a 0.55mm (0.02 inch) wear layer. At first, this seems a bit thick, but since we do a lot of home office work (office chair) and will also have vinyl in the entrance and kitchen area (to avoid constantly changing and thus mismatched flooring in the fairly open ground floor, and because we are not fans of tiles).

1. Does it make sense to additionally seal the vinyl floor for extra protection with such a high wear layer?

For the upper floor, we plan to install laminate that looks similar ourselves for budget reasons. We also have a not particularly cheap quote for the laminate material.

2. What is the difference between cheap DIY-store laminate and laminate from a specialist retailer? We could save almost 10€ per m² (10.4 USD per sq ft), but the saying “you get what you pay for” applies... what is really different? Is it softer? The salesperson mentioned that the “tongue and groove” joints are not as well made. However, paying the extra for that seems too much to me, especially since it’s a one-time installation.
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Baumfachmann
6 Mar 2018 18:35
The cheaper the laminate, the poorer the fit usually is, but there are exceptions.
Sealing is recommended for heavily used areas. It is important that the floor is really clean (use alcohol-based cleaner) and that the sealant is at room temperature (20-25°C / 68-77°F), not colder.
Apply three coats (depending on the product), ensuring there is no dust in the house and no other work being done during application. Allow it to dry thoroughly.
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Baumfachmann
6 Mar 2018 18:46
In the hardware store, there is also very good quality (not the cheapest flooring), so the ones for 5€ can be forgotten.

Cheap twice is also expensive.
bluminger6 Mar 2018 18:48
I have no experience with laminate at all. Just out of interest: What does .55 mean? Is the floor 0.55 cm (0.2 inches) thick?
Mycraft6 Mar 2018 18:56
Good laminate flooring is easy to install, and the joints remain stable even after several years. With cheaper options, the tongue and groove may break during installation. As a result, you might need to replace it after 3, 4, or 5 years. Quality laminate also looks good even after many years.
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Baumfachmann
6 Mar 2018 19:14
0.55 for heavy load 0.33 standard for living areas