What happened to glue laminate?

Question

Back in about the years 2000 - 2001 I built a house - new construction to live in.  I really wanted Pergo flooring because it was cool back then.

The developer wanted no part of it and refused to install it.

Ok, fine I will do it after the house is done.  So I just went with the basic linoleum and when I moved in I bought some Pergo.  I went with the type that you used glue, the concept being it would hold up better to water getting on it.

I ended up having to sell the house and move for work, I only lived on the flooring (that I installed myself) for a few weeks before the house was no longer mine.

I have no idea how well that flooring held up, but it seems the concept of glue does not really exist anymore.

Would using a glue not provide a better seal against water damage?  Water is a big killer of laminate flooring, if all you had to do was use some glue or some product to seal areas like the kitchen to provide extra durability it seems like a winning combo to me.

John Ratigan · Answer

if water is a concern, you want to put in some porcelain. they sell wood-grain tile that is made to look like wood, but you will never warp the boards like laminate.

as far as glue, all the products are called 'floating' floors now, they click into each other, installed over a water-proof sheet. any water will ruin a piece or 2, and the idea being you can rip the piece up and put a new one back in.

it's actually easier to just install it without glue. they click in, no nails or screws.

Robert Gunther · Answer

Oh my, I feel old now.  Here is a photo of what the install looked like back in the day.  Place glue along the edge of the board and use straps to secure it in place while it tried.  You did not have to leave it very long, the floor did float with space at the edges.

The boards did have a tongue and groove, plus the glue holding it in place.  I thought it was an excellent system and the results came out well.   But since I sold the house right after it was done I have no idea how it held up over time.

Michael Shuell · Answer

interesting, ive never heard or seen it done that way!

Robert Gunther · Answer

The product I installed (nearly 16 years ago) you clued the boards together, it was not glued to the floor.   Rather than the products that click today, you would run glue along the edge and then use these straps to hold them in place to try for a while.   You then glued the next piece as you moved along.

They did market it at the time as a way of making the floor more resistant to water damage.  Seems the times have changed and it is no longer done that way.

I tried searching online for photos, everything about these straps and install method date back to the 2000 timeframe, same as when I did it.  So it is obviously antique and not done that way anymore.

Some others have mentioned you now can just unclick some flooring and replace any damaged pieces.   That sounds good, but I would have to see it to believe it.

Michael Shuell · Answer

I think you are either thinking of a different product or miss-understanding the purpose of the glue.  Pergo is a wood composite that cannot handle prolonged exposure to water.  if the wood laminate is glued to the sub-floor that only makes it more difficult to remove once water has ruined it.  The glue isn't a water-proofing.  A floating floor is generally better in every way, best bet is to follow the mfr. instructions.

Another product, vinyl tile is not affected by moisture.  I'm actually working on a supermarket right now in which all the VCT within 10' of the produce misting system is adhered with a 2-part epoxy adhesive.

In a home, vinyl tile is usually part of a floating system, but if you have supermarket level traffic and moisture the epoxy is important.

Bob H. · Answer

I had that discussion with a sales guy at a flooring store just this week. He said you could glue the modern "click-to-install" laminate, and that certainly would keep it from coming apart, but it would inhibit your ability to make repairs by disassembling the floor from one wall to the repair area. I had asked about that because of my experience a few years ago. I bought some cheap laminate for one room of a rental house, attempting to match some other laminate that had been installed by the previous owner. I had some trouble with the installation. The boards sometimes would come apart when I was adding boards further down a row.

I installed a glued laminate floor in another rental back around the time you did. The glue was good, but it didn't solve all moisture problems. At one point the dishwasher leaked and the tenants didn't recognize the problem until much later. The water seeped under the laminate below the dishwasher, migrated across the concrete slab and caused swelling elsewhere in the kitchen. When I remodeled the kitchen later, I ended up cutting out the laminate in the kitchen and replacing it with tile. That worked, but I lost the nice look of a continuous floor from the kitchen into the dining room.

What happened to glue laminate?

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