TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring Evaluate | Professionals & Cons, Costs & Set up

Welcome again to our evaluations of the TrafficMaster flooring model bought solely at Dwelling Depot. Final time we took a take a look at TrafficMaster Attract Vinyl flooring. Subsequent up is TrafficMaster’s extremely standard laminate flooring vary. Scroll down or use these fast hyperlinks to navigate our evaluate.

Overview: What’s TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring?

There are two methods to reply that.

The final reply is that TrafficMaster laminate is an inexpensive model of laminate flooring bought solely at Dwelling Depot.

Dwelling Depot manufactures and sells TrafficMaster. There is no such thing as a “intermediary” taking a lower of the income, so costs are very aggressive. Dwelling Depot shouts its opinion of the flooring by spelling it TrafficMASTER.

The technical reply is that the phrase laminate means “layered” or “constructed with an overlay.” Each definitions apply to this cheap laminate flooring.

TrafficMaster laminate, like all laminate, is made with 4 layers of fabric.

Base layer: A water-resistant melamine backside layer offers a steady base and prevents moisture from under (in concrete, for instance) from rising and damaging the flooring.

Core layer: Excessive-density fiberboard (HDF) is the thickest layer. It’s paper or wooden pulp mixed with polymer and resin binders for power, further moisture resistance and stability – stopping shrinking or increasing.

Design layer: Additionally referred to as the visible layer, it’s a high-resolution photograph of the wooden the laminate is mimicking.

Put on layer: This aluminum oxide layer is hard and clear. The thicker the damage layer, the higher the ground’s resistance to scratches and basic put on – and the upper the associated fee.

Set up: The fabric has tongue and groove design to create a flooring that “floats” moderately than being glued down. It’s among the many best sorts to put in.

TrafficMaster Laminate Product Specs

You’ve obtained restricted choices for plank sizes and the thickness of the damage layer.

Planks dimensions: Types are produced in barely various plank sizes from about 7”x50.5” to eight”x48”.

Put on layer depth: This can be a extra necessary distinction than plank measurement. TrafficMaster makes use of three put on layer thicknesses. Right here they’re with standard types in these thicknesses.

• 7mm: Goldwyn Cherry, Reclaimed Oak, Ember Oak, Embossed Brazilian Cherry, Embossed Alameda Hickory, Lakeshore Pecan, Pure Pecan, Saratoga Hickory, Russet Hickory, Anniston Oak, Gray Oak, Gladstone Oak, Reclaimed Oak, Cameron Oak
• 8mm: Cumberland Oak, Distressed Maple Cruise, Distressed Maple Lawrence, Embossed Hillside Oak, Hand Scraped Douglas Acacia
• 12mm: Birch, Oak, Sycamore, Colfax

Equipment: TrafficMaster makes transition strips in each wooden and steel varieties.

TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring Professionals and Cons

Like several laminate flooring product, TrafficMaster laminate has its advantages and potential disadvantages.

TrafficMaster Laminate Benefits:

Affordability: That is clearly the highest purpose for TrafficMaster’s recognition. It’s low-cost laminate flooring partially as a result of Dwelling Depot cuts prices by manufacturing and promoting it. For example of the low worth, TrafficMaster 12mm laminate prices about $1 per sq. foot lower than Pergo’s 10mm laminate.

Respectable sturdiness: Expectations are the important thing. Relying on the damage layer thickness and what sort of site visitors it will get, TrafficMaster laminate ought to final 7-15 years. It would last more in no-shoes, no-pets, light-traffic settings.

All TrafficMaster laminate has a 15-year guarantee towards producer defects – however the flooring may very well be worn out lengthy earlier than that.

Low upkeep: It’s as simple to take care of as hardwood, however with out the necessity to seal it periodically. The keys to upkeep are to hoover or sweep away gritty filth and use a moist mop as wanted to maintain it wanting good.  You will discover out extra about the perfect laminate flooring upkeep ideas right here.

Straightforward and fast set up: Many useful owners select DIY laminate set up. In the event you rent a professional, the labor price needs to be lower than for supplies like tile and hardwood that take longer and require extra provides to put in.

Versatile set up: Laminate might be put in over concrete and a few flooring sorts. Particulars are discovered under.

Works with radiant flooring programs: TrafficMaster laminate works nicely over radiant warmth in concrete or beneath wooden subfloors. In the event you’re putting in it, learn the directions about letting the system cool first.

TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring Disadvantages

Not as fairly as wooden: Householders that need the real fantastic thing about actual wooden is likely to be upset with of wooden.

Restricted type vary: TrafficMaster makes fewer types than Pergo, Armstrong and different high manufacturers.

Noise: This can be a shortcoming it shares with hardwood and tile. Noise-reducing subfloors can be found to soak up the click-clack of laminate.

Not for moist areas: Laminate isn’t really useful for bogs, laundry areas or wherever else it is likely to be uncovered to standing water. When used under grade, a vapor barrier with taped seams have to be put in beneath it.

Not inexperienced: The flooring isn’t recyclable or biodegradable and is usually disposed of in landfills. Small quantities of formaldehyde are utilized in TrafficMaster manufacturing.

TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring Set up

TrafficMaster doesn’t void the guarantee should you DIY, but it surely does make this assertion within the record of guarantee exclusions: “The guarantee doesn’t cowl put on or harm attributable to improper set up.”

In the event you set up it, learn the directions and observe them precisely.

In the event you go professional, rent an skilled installer accustomed to laminate.

How TrafficMaster Laminate installs

TrafficMaster laminate has tongue and groove design on each the lengthy and quick aspect of every plank. The planks simply lock along with an audible click on to kind a floating flooring.

The planks are all the identical size. To keep away from butt-end seams lining up throughout your flooring, the primary row ought to begin with a full plank, and the second row ought to begin with a half or quarter plank to stagger finish seams. Alternate beginning with full items and the scrap from the tip of the final piece.

TrafficMaster requires a minimal 5/16” (8mm) growth house on the perimeter. Spacers are included with the flooring. This house is definitely coated by flooring trim.

Flooring Acclimation

Step one is to convey the flooring inside at the very least four days earlier than set up.

Lay the containers flat, and go away the plastic wrap on per TrafficMaster’s directions. Indoor temperature needs to be between 65 and 75 levels Fahrenheit.

This enables the laminate to accumulate the identical temperature and relative humidity as your property. Acclimation prevents the laminate from shrinking and pulling aside or increasing and buckling as soon as put in.

Inspecting your Flooring Earlier than Set up

The TrafficMaster Guarantee Exclusions part says, “The proprietor should examine for coloration, end and high quality earlier than set up. The producer can’t be held liable for prices incurred when a flooring with seen defects has been put in.”

In brief, be sure that your flooring planks are straight, flat and constant in coloration earlier than putting in them. In the event that they’re not, contact the retailer along with your considerations.

TrafficMaster Laminate Set up Necessities

One of many advantages of laminate is that it may be put in over concrete, wooden, plywood, O.S.B., sheet vinyl, tile and a few carpet.

TrafficMaster tips state the floor beneath have to be in good situation and stage. Low spots needs to be crammed with self-leveling concrete.

The TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring Set up Information is “should” studying earlier than starting the job. Following this information is the perfect strategy to set up success and never voiding the guarantee.

Subfloor Pointers

Over concrete: New concrete ought to treatment for three months previous to laminate set up. A non-permeable polyethylene vapor barrier with taped seams ought to cowl the concrete.

Over carpet: It may be put in over glue-down carpet until the subfloor under the carpet is concrete. All different carpet sorts and the padding beneath them needs to be eliminated.

Over radiant warmth: TrafficMaster tips are to decrease the radiant warmth system to 60 levels F one week previous to laminate set up. As soon as the flooring is put in, the warmth might be elevated to a most of 85F in increments of 10 levels per hour.

TrafficMaster Laminate Upkeep

Hold it easy. Stick to those tricks to preserve the flooring wanting its finest.

Repeatedly Take away Free Grime

Strolling on filth and grit hastens the demise of aluminum oxide put on layer. Sweeping is OK, the perfect vacuum cleaner for laminate is one that’s designed to be used on onerous flooring.

Take away filth about as soon as per week for every individual or pet in your house, particularly in important site visitors areas.

Get to Spills Shortly

Use a towel or sponge to take in spills, after which clear the ground with gentle cleaning soap and water. Rinse and dry the laminate.

Soak Away Sticky Stuff

Squeeze a couple of drops or gentle spray of heat water on stuck-on messes. Give the water a pair minutes to melt the mess, and wipe it away.

Mop as Wanted

Steam mops shouldn’t be used, however a moist microfiber spin mop or related is good. Solely make the mop as damp as wanted to select up filth, pet hair, and so on.

If the ground is sort of dirty, use a pH-neutral cleansing answer really useful for laminate.

Keep away from Shoe Mats and Rubber Mats

We suggest a no-shoes strategy to laminate. Nevertheless, we don’t suggest protecting a mat or boot tray for sneakers by the door.

These gadgets sometimes get filth beneath them. As they transfer, even barely, the filth beneath acts like sandpaper on the flooring. The abrasion will rapidly present.

Rubber mats – and latex and vinyl mats too, can discolor laminate. The backing materials doesn’t breathe, and a chemical response takes place that may discolor laminate.

Defend your TrafficMaster Laminate

You’ll be able to forestall harm with these simple steps:

• Put on comfortable slippers on laminate as an alternative of shoe.
• Use pads on the underside of chairs and furnishings legs.
• Hold canine nails neatly trimmed.
• Raise and transfer heavy objects moderately than dragging them.

Costs and Choices

Here’s a desk with the costs of TrafficMaster laminates, at time of writing (April 2019).

7 mm	Value/ sq. foot	eight mm	Value/ sq. foot	12 mm	Value/ sq. foot
Gladstone Oak	68 cents	Cumberland Oak	72 cents	Oak	$1.29
Lakeshore Pecan	79 cents	Hand Scraped Douglas Acacia	$1.70	Birch	$1.29
Saratoga Hickory	89 cents	Distressed Maple Cruise	$1.70	Sycamore	$1.29
Goldwyn Cherry	89 cents	Distressed Maple Lawrence	$1.70	Colfax	$1.39
Russet Hickory	89 cents	Embossed Hillside Oak	$1.70
Alameda Hickory	95 cents
Embossed Brazilian Cherry	96 cents
Gray Oak	99 cents
Reclaimed Oak	99 cents
Cameron Oak	99 cents
Anniston Oak	99 cents
Pure Pecan	99 cents
Darkish Brown Hickory	99 cents

Different Laminate Flooring Choices and Costs

As compared, here’s a record of different laminate flooring manufacturers and present costs.

Client Opinions

Householders which have put in TrafficMaster laminate are usually proud of it. The typical ranking on Dwelling Depot for all types are four.three to four.5 stars. Listed here are essentially the most helpful buyer evaluations declaring TrafficMaster laminate execs and cons:

“We selected Saratoga Hickory 7mm laminate for our kitchen as a brief flooring till we do a serious renovation upon retirement in four years. It has surpassed our expectations for magnificence and water resistance. This flooring has made us suppose twice about utilizing real wooden after we do the transform.” – Toledo Mo

“I’m not tremendous useful, however DIY set up went nicely with a couple of early hiccups. Use a rubber mallet to faucet the planks into place and get rid of gaps. First and final rows are trickiest, however the directions assist. The misery maple seems fabulous within the entryway and front room.” – Steve within the 60120

“Hillside Oak. It will get 5 stars for seems. 5 stars for DIY ease. three stars for sturdiness. Too simple to scratch and dent it. Indentations below the legs of the mattress.” – Elizabeth P

“Searching for extra TrafficMaster laminate, so I figured I would depart a evaluate in regards to the 8mm oak-look laminate we put in our bed room six years in the past. It nonetheless seems new. We’re simple on it, however have a 50lb German Shepherd. The ground is holding up higher than I’d have guessed.” – S Han

“I’ve 12mm Birch all through the primary flooring together with a full lavatory. Just a few of the perimeters within the lavatory began to cup after four years. Purchase an additional carton or two for repairs. We’ve gone by half a field already to switch scratched, stained and cupped items.” – Miggy G

“DIY Saratoga Hickory was a snap, actually and figuratively. Did 400+ sq. ft with assist in a day. Attractive stuff, even when not fairly on par with actual wooden.” – Drummer within the D

“Anticipate 5-10 years from this max relying on how a lot site visitors it will get. Our family: two adults, 2 teenagers, three midsize canines and we do lots of entertaining. We’re pondering after four years that we’ll possibly get 7 years from the 8mm Hickory we put in. Nonetheless, that’s fairly good worth for $1.19 a foot.” – Biggs in Beaverton

“Chips simple. First yr – 5 stars. Second by fourth yr – four stars. Now, after 5 years, I’d say three stars resulting from edges chipping and chair legs gouging. Pad all legs. Don’t drop something heavy. We’ve the Reclaimed Oak which I feel is 7mm.” – Justin 044

Conclusions

A good summation of the evaluations is that the ground provides good worth as a result of it prices lower than most different respectable laminate flooring. Appears to be like are nice, however care needs to be taken to keep away from scratches, chips and dents. Prevention goes a great distance towards defending the flooring.