FOCUS ON WOOD & LAMINATE
Mould-Busting Methods
Online flooring store Leader Floors shares installation and maintenance advice on protecting laminate flooring from a spread of mould or mildew.
Laminate flooring reproduces the look of stone or wood flooring with the added benefit of being easier to install and cheaper to purchase. However, in order to enjoy these advantages, there is one minor shortcoming that homeowners must put up with: laminate flooring is much more sensitive to mould and mildew than other materials. Without proper care, this could make the home an unpleasant and odorous environment, and it could cause significant damage to your laminate flooring. Before installing it, homeowners should be aware of how mould and mildew can occur and what steps can be taken to prevent it.
Mould and mildew is usually caused by moisture getting beneath the laminate flooring. Therefore, correct installation of the flooring is one of the best ways to alleviate the risk of encountering either of them. If the floor is set correctly, it will reduce the amount of moisture that is able to penetrate the surface. Waterproof plastic sheeting, for example, should be initially installed underneath your underlay to safeguard against this. Do not install anything, furthermore, if there are signs of existing mould or mildew. It should be thoroughly taken care of before installation – scrubbing it with a stiff-bristled brush soaking in a combination of domestic bleach and water – to guarantee the mould or mildew does not spread.
Given that moisture is the main cause of mould and mildew, residential property owners must also be careful to ensure spillages are addressed quickly. It is impossible to prevent spillages in a home, whether it is minor occurrences like dropped drinks or an overflowing sink or major ones like a burst pipe or faulty appliance. However, when you have laminate flooring installed, both minor and major spillages must be cleaned up immediately. If not swiftly attended to, liquid can quickly seep beneath the flooring, leading to problems down the line. General household cloths or mops will be sufficient in absorbing the water.
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There are other ways in which moisture can spread beneath laminate flooring that may not be quite as obvious to homeowners. Condensation, for instance, can cause mould and mildew to occur. This is something that should be of particular concern to residential properties with laminate flooring in the bathroom. As condensation is generally produced by hot water from baths and showers, laminate flooring is more susceptible to mould and mildew in the bathroom than it is anywhere else in the home. There are a number of different ways to reduce condensation in the bathroom but an extractor fan comes highly recommended. It should ensure condensation does not linger around the bathroom, thereby facilitating mildew and mould.
However, there are many other reasons why condensation may occur in a home, which may in turn cause mould or mildew to appear beneath your laminate flooring. Drying clothes indoors is one of them, as well as cooking. Most homeowners won’t want to install an extractor fan in their kitchen, living room or bedroom in order to deal with this. However, by increasing circulation around individual rooms that might be affected by condensation, you can reduce the risk of damage to your flooring through mildew or mould. Keeping doors open between rooms and moving furniture away from walls can both improve airflow.
Impervious to most cosmetic damage, simple for anyone to install and stylish in its ability to mimic the look of stone, wood and other natural materials, laminate flooring is a great choice for residential properties. With an understanding of how mould and mildew can occur in laminate flooring, homeowners can ensure they are able to enjoy these benefits for a long period of time.
www.leaderfloors.co.uk www.tomorrowsretailfloors.com
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