Frequently Asked Questions on Laminate Flooring

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Are Balterio laminate floors suitable for people with allergies?

Thanks to the hard, sealed surface layer of the laminate, dust is unable to stick. In addition, the click system of Balterio ensures perfect connection of the seams between the laminate planks, preventing dust from becoming stuck in between. By ensuring that your laminate floor receives regular cleaning, the V grooves will remain dust free. Dust mites and other allergenic particles cannot survive and therefore, will not cause allergies.

Are Balterio laminate floors suitable for floor heating?

Yes, all Balterio laminate floors can be combined with floor heating. The maximum permitted contact temperature is 27°C for both traditional heating elements (hot water or electrical) and heating films that are installed on the underfloor. A number of installation instructions must be adhered to.
Laminate and floor heating

When using a laminate floor with floor heating, the total thermal resistance must not exceed 0,15 m2 K/W. The higher the thermal resistance, the longer it will take for the floor to heat up and the less efficient your floor heating will be. The thermal resistance of Balterio laminate combined with one of our underlays can be found in the specific guidelines for floor heating.
Important: install an insulating layer (which is a better insulator than laminate) under the floor heating to reflect the heat and conduct it up through the floor.

Can I install Balterio laminate in my kitchen and bathroom?

Balterio laminate floors with HydroShield technology – identifiable by the blue droplet – are suitable for damp rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms. HydroShield combines an almost contiguous and water-repellent click system with natural grooves to prevent water from penetrating the click joints.

Can I install Balterio laminate on my veranda?

Yes. Make sure to use a suitable Balterio underlay with in-built moisture barrier and sufficient expansion joints so that the floor can move freely under the skirting boards. A benefit of Balterio is that it will not discolour when exposed to sunlight.

Can I install Balterio on stairs?

You can cover your stairs with Balterio laminate with the aid of the Smart Finish Incizo 4in1 profile. The edges of the steps must be straight – not rounded.

Is Balterio laminate suitable for pets?

We recommend trimming dogs’ and cats’ claws regularly so as to minimise the risk of cracks in your laminate floor. Urine and faeces should be removed promptly, and you should clean your floor afterwards.

Are Balterio laminate floors susceptible to static electricity?

Balterio laminate floors undergo antistatic treatment, making the risk of unpleasant electrostatic discharge and the risk of electric shock a thing of the past. With its antistatic treatment, Balterio laminate satisfies the EN1815 and EN14041 standards. 

Is Balterio laminate colourfast?

Yes, Balterio laminate does not change colour. The printing process for design papers uses inks that are not sensitive to sunlight. The shine and structure of the floor may very well change as a result of daily use or unsuitable cleaning agents.

Is Balterio laminate resistant to cracks?

Like almost all other types of floor covering, including parquet, natural stone tiles, ceramic floors and carpets, laminate is not entirely scratch-free. All Balterio laminate floors have a protective layer of melamine, which makes them scratch-resistant, but not scratch-free – ideal for normal domestic use. Balterio laminate floors with Scratch Protect technology have greater resistance to micro-scratches.
To enjoy your Balterio laminate floor for many years to come, it’s sensible to take some protective measures:

• You should catch fine dust, small stones and pebbles by placing a high-quality door mat next to external doors and sliding windows.
• Fit protection under the legs of chairs and other movable furniture – felt pads or soft rubber caps are ideal. Check these protective measures regularly and replace them, if necessary.
• The wheels of movable furniture should ideally be made from soft rubber and should turn smoothly.
• The attachments and wheels of vacuum cleaners should also satisfy the protective conditions – soft rubber, wheels that turn smoothly and the attachment set to the brush position. Ensure that the hard base of the attachment does not make contact with the laminate floor and rub against it.
• Use a brush with soft bristles to sweep your Balterio floor, avoiding all use of hard brushes.

Preparation and Installation

How to install Balterio laminate flooring?

In order to obtain a good result, we advise to carefully read and follow our installation instructions. Here are some key takeaways to get you started:
Preparation

• Let the planks acclimatize for 48 hours in the middle of the room where the floor is to be installed.
• Remove any damp-porous floor covering (carpet, needle felt, etc.) first.
• Make sure the subfloor is level, clean, firm and dry.
• Additional instructions apply if there is underfloor heating or cooling.
• Cooking islands for kitchens and other very heavy objects should be installed first and not placed on top of the laminate.

Installation

• Before you start, carefully measure the length and width of the room to plan a precise layout to achieve a balanced appearance of the floor.
• Make sure the panels are mixed sufficiently when you install them to obtain the best visual effect.
• First install the right underlay.
• Start with the first full plank that will be installed in the corner.
• With lengths or widths of more than 13, there should be an intermediate expansion joint.

Download installation instructions  (Joshua upload the file and link in the button)

How do I choose the right underfloor for my Balterio laminate floor?

The best result requires thorough preparation. When installing a Balterio laminate floor, a Balterio underlay is essential. An underlay evens out irregularities in the floor below, acts as a vapour barrier and provides noise insulation. Pick the right underfloor to absorb footfall and transmission noise.

• Basic: entry-level underlay with great price-quality ratio and good transmission sound reduction.
• Versa Sound: premium quality underlay Versa reduces walking sound and transmission sound, making it the perfect solution for second-floor bedrooms and apartments.
• Select: quality underlay for reduction of reflected walking sound. Select is also perfectly suitable for underfloor heating.

How long should I wait before installing a Balterio laminate floor on screed or fresh concrete?

The screed must have dried out completely before installing the Balterio laminate floor on top of it. The drying time will depend on the thickness of the screed.
As a general rule for drying times with ventilation, we allow one week per cm to a depth of 4 cm and two weeks per cm for a depth of 4 cm or more. For example: for 6 cm of screed, the total drying time is (4 cm x 1 week) + (2 cm x 2 weeks) = 8 weeks.
A moisture measurement is essential to ensure that the screed has dried out completely. The values can be found in the installation instructions.

What is the maximum length of a Balterio laminate floor without expansion profile?

Like other organic floor coverings, laminate is subject to expansion and shrinkage due to changes in temperature and humidity. An expansion profile must be fitted every 13 m, with 8 mm of clearance on either side. The expansion joint can be finished with a connecting profile.

Can I install a Balterio laminate floor continuously from one room to another?

Installing a Balterio laminate floor continuously from one room to another is not permitted. Like other floating floor coverings, laminate is subject to expansion and shrinkage due to changes in temperature and humidity. If floors in different rooms are installed continuously, they will not have sufficient room to move – expand and shrink.

Finishing

What’s the best way to cut the skirting boards with an offset?

Cutting the skirting boards with an offset is not difficult at all provided that you have the right tools – a mitre box and a tenon saw.
Place the skirting board upright against the sides on the inside of the mitre box (as you would place it against the wall) and clamp it tightly so that it doesn’t move while being cut. Use a tenon saw or hand saw with fine teeth and cut from left to right according to the angle that you want.
If you have a bench mitre saw on which you can run the motor along a vertical plane from left to right, lay the skirting board flat with the design side facing upwards. Cut from left to right according to the angle that you want. If the motor can only be run along a horizontal plane from left to right, position the skirting board upright and clamp it tightly so that it doesn’t move while being cut.
Whatever saw you use, always ensure that the saw blade is sharp and has fine teeth so as to minimise the risk of damage to the design of the skirting board.

How do I finish a HydroShield laminate floor so that it is watertight?

If you have followed the installation instructions carefully, there will be some play between the laminate planks and the wall, allowing the laminate floor to expand and shrink when the temperature and humidity change.

1. Fill the space between the floor and the wall with a strip of Balterio PE foam.
2. Use a glue gun to finish the PE foam with the Balterio WaterShield adhesive.
3. Smooth out the silicone with your finger.
4. Fit the skirting boards.
5. If you’re installing the floor in a damp room, such as a bathroom or kitchen, apply Balterio WaterShield adhesive to the bottom of the skirting boards once you have fitted them to make the floor water resistant. Smooth out the silicone with your finger.

Maintenance

What’s the best way to maintain my Balterio laminate floor?

Balterio laminate floors require minimal maintenance. Everyday maintenance is best carried out with a dry microfibre tissue – the magnetic properties of the microfibre tissue will help to remove small dust particles from the grooves.
You can also clean your laminate floor with a vacuum cleaner, provided that it is equipped with a parquet brush or that the attachment is set to the brush position.

What’s the best way to remove adhesive residue from my Balterio laminate floor?

Adhesive residue (e.g. from masking tape) is best removed with a little acetone on a clean cloth. Only apply it to the stain! Rub gently until the adhesive residue comes away. You should then wipe off with a slightly damp cloth. Ensure that none of the acetone comes into direct contact with the floor and V grooves.

Can I mop or wet clean my Balterio laminate floor?

You can only mop or wet clean Balterio laminate floors that have HydroShield technology.

What’s the best way to remove stains from my Balterio laminate floor?

Most stains can be easily removed with a slightly damp cloth or a little acetone on a clean cloth.
Greasy stains are often caused by a residue left behind after cleaning with certain cleaning products. We recommend you use a cleaning product suitable for laminate floors.

What if I have spilled liquid on my Balterio laminate floor?

Spilled some water, tea, coffee or juice? Don’t worry! A few dabs with some kitchen towel, a cloth or absorbent sponge and your floor will be as good as new.
Coffee and juice can make your floor sticky. The best way to remove the stickiness is with a damp mop and a bucket of water containing a cleaning product suitable for laminate floors – do this after absorbing the spillage with a kitchen towel or sponge. You can also wet clean a HydroShield laminate floor.