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

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

TrafficMaster Laminate Overview – Product Specs – Professionals & Cons – Set up – Upkeep – Costs & Choices – Shopper Opinions

Overview: What’s TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring?

There are two methods to reply that.

The final reply is that TrafficMaster laminate is an reasonably priced model of laminate flooring bought solely at Residence Depot.

Residence Depot manufactures and sells TrafficMaster. There is no such thing as a “intermediary” taking a lower of the income, so costs are very aggressive. Residence 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-proof melamine backside layer supplies a secure 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 energy, extra moisture resistance and stability – stopping shrinking or increasing.

Design layer: Additionally known as the visible layer, it’s a high-resolution picture 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 fee.

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

TrafficMaster Laminate Product Specs

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

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

Put on layer depth: It is a extra essential distinction than plank dimension. TrafficMaster makes use of three put on layer thicknesses. Right here they’re with widespread 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 metallic varieties.

TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring Professionals and Cons

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

TrafficMaster Laminate Benefits:

Affordability: That is clearly the highest purpose for TrafficMaster’s reputation. It’s low cost laminate flooring partly as a result of Residence Depot cuts prices by manufacturing and promoting it. For instance of the low value, 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 kind of 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 in opposition to producer defects – however the flooring could possibly be worn out lengthy earlier than that.

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

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

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

Works with radiant flooring methods: TrafficMaster laminate works properly over radiant warmth in concrete or beneath wooden subfloors. When 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 could be dissatisfied with of wooden.

Restricted model vary: TrafficMaster makes fewer types than Pergo, Armstrong and different prime manufacturers.

Noise: It is 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 helpful for loos, laundry areas or wherever else it could be uncovered to standing water. When used under grade, a vapor barrier with taped seams should be put in beneath it.

Not inexperienced: The flooring will not be 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, however it does make this assertion within the checklist of guarantee exclusions: “The guarantee doesn’t cowl put on or harm brought on by improper set up.”

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

When you go professional, rent an skilled installer acquainted with laminate.

How TrafficMaster Laminate installs

TrafficMaster laminate has tongue and groove design on each the lengthy and quick facet of every plank. The planks simply lock along with an audible click on to type 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 top 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 well lined by flooring trim.

Flooring Acclimation

Step one is to carry the flooring inside a minimum of four days earlier than set up.

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

This enables the laminate to amass the identical temperature and relative humidity as your house. 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 accountable for prices incurred when a flooring with seen defects has been put in.”

Briefly, 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 issues.

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 pointers state the floor beneath should be in good situation and stage. Low spots ought to be full of self-leveling concrete.

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

Subfloor Tips

Over concrete: New concrete ought to remedy 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 except the subfloor under the carpet is concrete. All different carpet sorts and the padding beneath them ought to be eliminated.

Over radiant warmth: TrafficMaster pointers 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 will be elevated to a most of 85F in increments of 10 levels per hour.

TrafficMaster Laminate Upkeep

Preserve it easy. Stick to those tricks to hold the flooring wanting its greatest.

Commonly Take away Free Filth

Strolling on grime 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 arduous flooring.

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

Get to Spills Shortly

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

Soak Away Sticky Stuff

Squeeze a number 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 grime, pet hair, and so on.

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

Keep away from Shoe Mats and Rubber Mats

We advocate a no-shoes method to laminate. Nonetheless, we don’t advocate protecting a mat or boot tray for footwear by the door.

These objects sometimes get grime beneath them. As they transfer, even barely, the grime beneath acts like sandpaper on the flooring. The abrasion will shortly 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.

Shield your TrafficMaster Laminate

You possibly can forestall harm with these simple steps:

• Put on tender slippers on laminate as a substitute of shoe.
• Use pads on the underside of chairs and furnishings legs.
• Preserve canine nails neatly trimmed.
• Elevate and transfer heavy objects slightly 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

Compared, here’s a checklist of different laminate flooring manufacturers and present costs.

Shopper Opinions

Householders which have put in TrafficMaster laminate are typically pleased with it. The typical ranking on Residence Depot for all types are four.three to four.5 stars. Listed here are essentially the most helpful buyer evaluations mentioning TrafficMaster laminate execs and cons:

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

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

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

“Purchasing 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 to be 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 toilet. Just a few of the sides within the toilet began to cup after four years. Purchase an additional carton or two for repairs. We’ve gone via half a field already to exchange scratched, stained and cupped items.” – Miggy G

“DIY Saratoga Hickory was a snap, actually and figuratively. Did 400+ sq. toes with assist in a day. Beautiful 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 visitors it will get. Our family: two adults, 2 teenagers, three midsize canines and we do loads of entertaining. We’re considering 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 via fourth yr – four stars. Now, after 5 years, I’d say three stars because of edges chipping and chair legs gouging. Pad all legs. Don’t drop something heavy. We’ve got the Reclaimed Oak which I feel is 7mm.” – Justin 044

Conclusions

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