Below Grade Laminates

It gets its name from the fact that it is mainly featured in horizontal applications such as counters islands desks tables and vanities.

Below grade laminates. This section applied to all levels that are located below ground level. It is a little thinner than standard grade and thus a. Recommended for cabinet faces sides doors furniture. A high performing durable engineered surface used for a variety of vertical and horizontal applications wilsonart s hpl also offers a broad range of attractive patterns and texture possibilities.

Made up of a wear resistant overlay decorative sheet and impact resistant kraft wilsonart high pressure laminate hpl offers long lasting beauty function and performance. Laminate flooring in a below grade space needs a proper subfloor which sits above the concrete and provides a raised surface to lay the laminate on that s because the base material of the laminate can be damaged with prolonged contact with water and the top layers may begin to peel if they sit in a couple of inches of water during a flood. Unlike hardwood laminate is also water resistant making it one of the best options available for damp areas and below grade bathrooms. This is true for rooms that only have part of the room below ground level.

If installing laminate flooring it is possible to install it directly on the concrete slab with an intervening layer of foam underlayment. Also commonly known as standard grade laminate this is the most commonly used grade. Some below grade flooring such as ceramic tile can be installed directly on the concrete slab. For example basements are always below grade even if part of the basement is open to a different part of the ground level.

For the floor adhesive to properly stick the floor must be clean. You can ensure that a particular laminate is good for basement use by carefully reading the stipulations in the material. Traditionally laminates have not been recommended for below grade basement installations due to issues with rising groundwater and flooding. Some below grade flooring requires a raised subfloor.

Installing laminate floors is a simple diy project even for homeowners with limited home improvement skills and that means even more savings on installation costs. Using a glue down floor is an option in above grade installation only since installation below grade requires a plastic barrier on top of the concrete. 500 750 square feet of coverage. Wilsonart and formica vertical grade laminate is used in applications where thinner materials are desirable and impact resistance is not as critical.

When a surface needs to be impact resistant horizontal grade is the best option. However new manufacturing techniques now can produce lines of laminate that are rated to deal with moist subterranean locations.