We have a horrible ceramic tile floor in our dining room and kitchen. After removing the same tile from the bathroom (100 sq’) I have decided that I have no interest in removing another 400sq’! I was thinking of installing a laminate floor over the ceramic.
I like the Kronotex pattern/color better than the others I have seen. Does anyone have any experience with the Kronotex laminate . . . aside from hating laminate in favor of hardwood? Is it a good product at a good price? Or is Pergo really worth $30+ more a carton for 5 fewer square feet?
Thanks – Jason
Replies
Jason, I don't know if it's possible to find the figures, but you should look to the thickness of the pretty picture on laminate floors. Outside of the backings which are very similar (?) the thickness of the wear layer might help you make a decision.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
The "wear layer" on the Kronotex Swiftlock (Heirloom Cherry) is 12mm, which is 2mm thicker than Pergo's premium laminate. Jason
The image layer will be the same from brand to brand, and I'm not sure there is a way to determine the thickness of the wear layer. The thickness you are referring to is the total thickness of the laminate plank. Thicker isn't necessarily better, though it generally works out that way.
I've found this third-party testing from ifloor.com to be pretty darn helpful, but they don't seem to sell Kronotex:
http://www.ifloor.com/articles/lam/lamwars2.htmlJustin Fink - FHB Editorial
Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
Like justin says..............
I'm not talking the overall thickness.
Hopefully someone will come here with a report on the Kronotex itself. The picture on the top of the lam. floor is what will (could) wear or scratch through. I would be wary of some of the off brands that are drastically lower in price. Justin says the picture layers are the same thickness. I'm wondering if the composition of them is the same. I built a parts counter in a autoshop out of old melamine sheet goods. It's been on there easily 20 years. I've made shelves out of melamine that show wear in just a few. Looks the same thickness, but must be different stuff.
best of luck.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Calvin,
Although flooring, shelving, and countertops all have similar laminate construction - the difference is in the details. A laminate floor has a photographic layer that is completely covered by the see-thru melamine, I think the countertops are just a colored wear layer - ie: the same layer provides the color and the wear layer, rather than a wear layer protecting the color.
- Does that make sense?Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
I does make sense justin. I've never seen the details on lam floors or even plastic lam. If you bust up a pc. of plam, you can see the different layers, remarkable how thin they are. I suppose you could submerge some lam. floor and hope it destroys itself. Then you could see the thin film that has the picture.
The melamine we used for that counter was salvage (unused) from someone. I know not what grade it was but I assumed a commercial cab shop. It is like iron.
Speaking of iron. How's the "gift closet" looking for this years fest? And are you and ? coming down to L.I. for the Festivities? It would be a real pleasure to meet up with some more of the generous FHB staff. And how about Kevin? Could he make time to slip into the anniversary celebration?
thanks.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Just wanted to update anyone on this product . . . I picked up a package of it at Lowes (Kronotex Swiftlock, Heirloom Cherry - $35.00 a package). I will be returning it today. The laminate was peeling off of the backer on two of the planks, two others were chipped at the ends, and one had a white streak across it. Very disappointed, but I guess I should have expected this considering it was half the price of the others.
I'll be stopping by the local flooring business to see what the laminates look like outside of the big box stores.
Jason
Thank you jason. As you go to look at and decide on your best alternatives, keep an eye out for the trims. Both in their available lengths and price. This could surprise you even more than what you've come to realize already. Best of luck.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
having been in the floor business for 49 years kronotex is on the bottom of products wilsonart is the best out there it is the only high pressure prouduct .WILSON classic has a 16 mil wear layer 1 mil is 1 1000 of an inch
"wilsonart is the best out there it is the only high pressure prouduct"What do you mean high pressure.I was under the impression that all laminate flooring's show layer was "high pressure laminate"?
And 16 mil is 1/64... .016 inch. So...where is this "wear" thickness info?? Is this spec out on all laminate products?? I'm only aware of "AC" ratings but don't recall "wear" specs/thickness...something I'd like to be aware of. Thanks.
rustbucket