Will Laminate Flooring Add Value To Your Home
This is a subjective question through and through. Some buyers love the idea of laminate floors because theyre durable and easier to maintain others prefer the real thing.
Generally speaking, wed probably say that laminate is more valuable than other budget floors. If youre comparing laminate vs. linoleum , laminate probably offers more resale value.
Aquaguard Pros Cons And Ratings
How does AquaGuard laminate flooring stack up to Mohawk, Armstrong, Tarkett, Pergo and other top brands?
Pros:
This is quality flooring, and all of it is water-resistant. The wear rating AC5 is among the best.
Style is covered well with EIR, handscraped, smooth, etc.
The warranty coverage is excellent, including the 15-year commercial warranty.
Cons:
If you’re looking for affordability, you’ll have to find it in another brand. The quality is good to premium, so cost is higher. For cheaper laminate, try TrafficMaster, the low-cost Tarkett at Menards or the most affordable Armstrong laminate.
AquaGuard is only sold online, so if you like to see large samples before you buy, this brand isn’t a good option.
Here are our ratings:
- Range of color/style options: 4
- Overall Quality: 5
If you live in an area where Floor& Decor has stores, then you can walk in to the store and check out the Aquaguard flooring for yourself. They allow you to buy samples out of their stock packages of any of the styles they have in stock, which is about 15-20 styles in our local store. As mentioned in the article above, its solid quality flooring which also means it takes a little longer to install since it requires a little more effort to click the planks together than thinner material.
Is Thicker Laminate Flooring Better
Since a laminate floor is a floating floor, a subfloor that has a peak or valley of over 1/8th of an inch within 40 inches of grade is not good. A thicker plank can provide superior acoustics. Because the plank is thicker, sound doesn’t travel as well. A thicker plank provides better impact resistance.
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Aquaguard Standard Texture Laminate Flooring
This flooring has lighter texturing than the EIR lines, but it’s still enough to provide the look of genuine wood flooring.
AquaGuard Standard Texture Laminate Flooring
The AquaGuard Textured floor styles include a good mix of traditional, neat and clean wood looks with those showing more character mineral staining in the wood, knots, weathered appearance or the look of reclaimed wood. About half are Oak. The rest are a variety of wood species and colors. A few of the styles have mixed plank widths to add visual interest.
Like most AquaGuard laminate, the planks are 12mm. They have an AC5 residential/commercial wear rating and are backed by the Lifetime/15 warranties.
Best used: This AquaGuard laminate with standard woodgrain texturing is more understated than the Embossed in Register texturing. If you want your flooring to really pop, go with the Authentic Texture EIR floor. If your decorating calls for balance, then the standard Textured AquaGuard laminate is a better selection.
This material stands up to the traffic in a busy home or commercial building.
AquaGuard High Gloss Laminate Flooring
High-gloss flooring has a sparkle, but it shows imperfections more readily than matte and satin finishes: water spots, scratches, wear and dirt. The gloss might also make the floor more slippery than other finishes.
There are more than 10 styles in the AquaGuard High Gloss laminate category, and they’re very attractive.
AquaGuard High Gloss Laminate Flooring
The Downsides Of Using Redguard
Redguard does have its limitations and shortcomings. It pays to be aware of these downsides before choosing Redguard for your project.
- Dont apply Redguard when the environmental conditions may bring temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit within 72 hours of applying the product.
- Surfaces that are too wet or suffer from hydrostatic pressure are not candidates for the application of Redguard. See the manufacturers technical data for more information.
- The application of Redguard of expansion joints is not a suitable use of Redguard. Custom Building Products offers better options for sealing expansion joints.
- Redguard must have a suitable finish layer installed. Redguard is not suitable as a finish coat and must be protected by another material.
- Redguard has no adhesive qualities and you should not use Redguard to hold materials together.
Consult with Custom Building Products for any questions concerning the applicability of Redguard for a particular application. In many cases, Redguard can be used if certain preparation or companion products are also involved.
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The History Of Laminate
Laminate has been around since the 1970s, when it became popular thanks to a boom in the US housing market. Since it was cheaper than hardwood , it ended up being used everywhere.
While it wasnt one of the worst types of flooring, it did have a reputation for looking a bit cheap and plastic-y.
But that perception changedonce laminate was forced to compete with high-quality luxury vinyl. The best vinyl flooring options also offer beautiful, inexpensive, and durable alternatives to hardwoodbut with the added benefit of being waterproof. To survive, laminate flooring had to improve as well.
Nowadays, laminate is commonly confused with engineered hardwood . In other words, modern laminates look really good.
Pluslaminate can mimic any number of hardwood species and withstand a good amount of abuse.
Special Features Of Aquaguard Laminate Flooring
These are the features worth comparing with features from other brands you’re considering.
Waterproof construction: This flooring has the best waterproofing technology in the industry. All perimeter edges are coated twice with sealer to keep out moisture. As a result, AquaGuard laminate has the best water warranty too. As noted often, it is guaranteed against water damage for 30 hours compared with the 24 hours of Shaw Repel, Mohawk RevWood Plus, Pergo WetProtect and Harmonics SplashDefense.
Longer warranties: Several brands offer a Lifetime warranty, but few offer a 15-year commercial warranty. AquaGuard also offers a Pet warranty against stains.
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Aquaguard Handscraped Laminate Flooring
Handscraped wood planks have an Old World look, dating to a time when each plank was worked by hand to the right thickness. The handscraping also helps to expose the richness of the wood grain.
AquaGuard handscraped laminate cost starts at $2.69 per square foot. There are various price levels to the most expensive AquaGuard laminate at $3.99 per square foot. The pricey styles have three plank widths and three plank lengths for enhanced beauty and the real look of an Old World wood floor.
Colors are mostly medium grays and browns. You have neutral options like Latte Walnut and Estate Oak Greige. Warmer colors include Cerise with ruddy highlights and Estate Oak Cocoa.
AquaGuard Handscraped Laminate Flooring
The specs are what you expect from AquaGuard laminate: 12mm, AC5 rating and the Lifetime residential and 15-year commercial warranties.
Best used: When your home or commercial setting has a classic, vintage or Old World vibe, this is the best AquaGuard floor to choose. It’s right at home in vacation homes and cabins in the woods or by the water, workshops and man caves.
Most Waterproof Laminate Flooring Cant Survive Standing Water
Its probably not fair to list this as a con because the reality is, standing water ruins just about anything. But, many waterproof laminate flooring brands state that their floors are actually water-resistant in their warranties.
Should you be worried, though? Probably not. So long as youre not literally flooding your floor, most waterproof laminates should have no problem surviving ordinary accidents.
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Newton Waterproof Laminates Warranty
Given its AC4 rating, Newton waterproof laminate flooring is designed to handle above-residential-level use. As a result, all products offer either a robust 20-year or limited lifetime residential warranty.
Additionally, most of these floors also carry a 5-year commercial warrantywhich is pretty impressive at the price point.
Waterproof Laminate Vs Water
Weve spent hours upon hours going through warranty information for different products, and found that many waterproof laminate flooring brands will dot their catalogs with the word waterproofonly to say the flooring is water-resistant in the accompanying warranty.
Again: well be super clear about which is which.
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Most Laminate Flooring Is Ruined By Water
If you pour water on a typical laminate floor, it might spontaneously combust. Kidding, kidding! The floor wont explode or anythingbut it wont be happy, either.
Liquids dont just ruin the wearlayer of a laminate plank. If they get into the core, the plank will swell and warp. In turn, this can the plank to pop out of place, crumble, and so on.
Aquaseal By Ll Flooring
AquaSeal might be higher on this list if its manufacturer, LL Flooring, didnt have a history of lawsuits. Oh, and the mixed reviews dont help either.
Most of AquaSeals offerings meet the definition of budget flooring, but the lifetime residential warranty and 10-year commercial warranty suggest the floor is at least decent. It also has an AC4 rating.
Still, a casual glance at LL Floorings website reveals more than a few negative AquaSeal flooring reviews, many of which seem to focus on the durability of the floor.
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Aquaguard Flooring Reviews Bamboo
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How Long Does Waterproof Laminate Last
Quality waterproof laminate flooring should last around 25 years, but a lot of factors can go into this .
However, many high-end brands offer lifetime residential warranties. So: its possible that these products could last much longer.
That said, if you want something thats going to last for generations, maybe think about buying hardwood floors instead. Some of the most durable wood flooring options arent that much different from laminate in terms of hardness, and they can be refinished indefinitely.
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Aquaguard Waterproof Laminates Warranty
AquaGuards strong warranty makes up for the confusing rhetoric on its water-protection: limited lifetime for residential use 15 years for commercial applications .
Just be sure that the floor is installed correctly or the warranty may be voided.
Note: to access AquaGuards warranty, select any product on their site and scroll down to the Install & Product Documents section.
What Is The Best Color For Laminate Flooring
Dark and light-stained wood, gray and white washes, and mid-tone wood finishes look good with most aesthetics. If you have floorings like these, your floors will never look out-of-place should you one day decide to go from a minimalist living room and then redecorate it into a modern rustic style years later.
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What Happens If Regular Laminate Flooring Gets Wet
Even the best hardwood floors cant stand up to liquids, and laminate is no different. Ordinary laminate flooring is absolutely ruined by water. Basically, liquids penetrate the finish or wear layers of the floor, seeping into the core layers where those fibers expand. Eventually, this will lead to warping and cracks.
Can I Install Laminate Flooring Over Existing Floors
This is another one of those check the warranty first questions, but in general, you should be able to install waterproof laminate flooring over existing floors. It really depends on the product, though.
Of course, the standard option would be to install it over the subflooring rather than an existing surface.
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Fully Waterproof Laminate Is Protected On All Sides
If you only apply waterproof coatings to the surface layer of a floor, its going to fail the moment water worms its way around that single defense.
Thats why the best waterproof laminate flooring is protected on all sides with specialty sealants. Waterproof vinyl flooring is super popular because it does this so well. Laminate manufacturers have caught on.
Some Waterproof Laminate Floors Dont Look As Authentic As Ordinary Laminate
Again, this goes back to low-end products, but youll notice that some laminate products have weirdly glossy finishes that look, well, fake.
As it turns out, the technology used to waterproof laminate flooring has actually been around for a long time. The problem was that it made these floors look like plastic.
The best waterproof laminate flooring should look authentic, but watch out for low-quality options. This can be tough when you order floors online, which is why we recommend visiting a local flooring store or ordering samples to verify that the floor you want has a nice, authentic-looking finish.
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The Best Waterproof Laminate Flooring Absolutely Compares To High
Even though there are few problems with luxury vinyl tile , its an all-around fantastic flooring option and its waterproofing is arguably more waterproof .
That goes double for rigid-core luxury vinyl flooring , which is even more durable than ordinary vinyl plank.
Still, waterproof laminate flooring offers a similar degree of performance in the same price range.
What Are The Advantages Of Aquadefense
Mapei Aquadefense has a wide array of uses because of its many advantages. Some of the most important advantages include:
- No mixing is required. Aquadefense is ready to use as is off the shelf.
- You can lay ceramic coatings in as little as four hours after applying the Aquadefense to the surface. Follow the Mapei instructions for applying Aquadefense for the best results and shortest drying times.
- You can apply Aquadefense to many existing surfaces and materials such as:
- Existing concrete
- Existing coatings
For quick and easy application with a roller, short drying times, and superior coverage, Mapei Aquadefense offers many advantages to both professional installers and do-it-yourselfers.
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Ok But Just How Waterproof Is It
We get it. There are a lot of conflicting claims out there about the actual waterproof qualities of waterproof laminate floors.
Heres the real scoop. Some products marketed as waterproof laminate flooring will only survive casual exposure to liquids: spills, accidents, etc. These are really just water-resistant.
A few, however, can survive some level of standing water. And those are fully waterproof. Well be super clear about which are which in our brand breakdown below.
Quick Step Laminate Flooring: Reviews Prices Pros & Cons Vs Other Brands 2022
Lowes has Quick Step laminate lines you won’t find anywhere else.. Additional Quick Step laminate flooring collections are available from a wider range of flooring and home improvement stores and online sellers.. This Quick Step laminate review and guide gives information and reviews on each Quick Step line of laminate.. Quick Step NatureTEK Laminate Flooring. If you want wood texture you can feel beneath your feet, then choose one of the many textured styles of NatureTEK by Quick Step.. Quick Step NatureTEK Plus and Select laminate are covered by three warranties: Lifetime residential, 5-year commercial and a waterproof warranty.. Waterproof laminate: The NatureTEK Plus flooring by Quick Step uses three steps of technology.. This technology was designed and is used by Mohawk, the parent company of Quick Step laminate flooring.. Large selection: With more than 100 styles, this flooring rivals Armstrong, Mohawk, Tarkett and Pergo for the best selection of laminate flooring.. Low-VOC flooring: Most Quick Step laminate is certified by FloorScore , “the most recognized indoor air quality certification standard for hard surface flooring materials, adhesives, and underlayments.”. Quick Step laminate is certified to be low-VOC flooring.. How does Quick Step laminate flooring compare to other brands?
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What Are The Advantages Of Redguard
Installers and professional builders praise Redguard for its many advantages on the job site. Among the most common advantages mentioned are:
- The Redguard quick-dry formula saves time on the job site.
- The ready-to-use formulation of Redguard doesnt require mixing or agitation before application, further reducing preparation time.
- You can apply Redguard using a roller, trowel, or sprayer to find the most efficient application for your needs.
- The Uniform Building Code rates Redguard as a suitable shower pan product.
- Redguard makes a great substrate preparation material to seal and waterproof swimming pools and hot tubs before applying a final finish coat.
Redguard is a versatile and easy-to-apply waterproofing product that is suitable for a wide array of applications.
Armstrong Laminate Flooring: Reviews Prices Pros & Cons Vs Other Brands 2022
Not all laminate flooring manufacturers offer stone and tile looks.. Most mimic traditional stone tile including grout lines.. Best used: This Armstrong flooring is ideal for use where you want stone or tile without the high cost of the “real thing.”. Longer Warranties: Armstrong backs its products with a 20-year warranty at minimum.. Compare them to Shaw long board options that are 78″.. The better grades of laminate have very good warranties.. Only Audacity by Armstrong is listed as a low-VOC flooring product.. Now for the Armstrong laminate ratings:. Armstrong recommends using their products to install Armstrong laminate flooring as their products are designed to work together and have been thoroughly tested.. All of Armstrongs laminate flooring has an AC4 or AC5 rating, however.. Q: What should I use to clean laminate flooring from Armstrong?
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Aquadefense Vs Redgard: Whats Better For Waterproofing
Many homeowners find themselves asking if they really need waterproofing on their homes at some point.
If you live somewhere that gets a lot of precipitation like snow and rain, or if your basement often floods after a storm, waterproofing is certainly something you should consider using.
If you are still unsure, there are a few signs to look out for that can answer the question.
You can also pay attention to things like cracks in the foundation, plumbing issues, or rotting floors.
If you notice these problems, water might be the culprit which is getting into your house and damaging it from the inside out.
If it turns out you need to waterproof the house, Redgard and Aquadefense are the two great options in my experience when it comes to general waterproofing.
Both of them are great in terms of performance, making both an excellent choice, but I have noticed that Aquadefense does seem to have a slight edge over Redgard in a few ways.
For instance, Aquadefense is more flexible than Redgard. It is well suited for areas that experience issues with hydrostatic pressure.
Because Redgard is weaker in that regard, Aquadefense is usually best. Overall, that is the only real difference that youll notice.
It is possible that Aquadefense has more uses than Redgard, but it can be difficult to decide based on that alone.
