What Is Ac3 Vs Ac4 Rating On Laminate Floor

When shopping around for laminate it s essential to balance the durability of a laminate with its price.

What is ac3 vs ac4 rating on laminate floor.

If the ac4 rating didn t do it for you the included warranties likely will. Homeowners can use ac3 rating to hold up in main living areas hallways and stairs. Because the higher the ac rating the higher the price tag. Levels ac4 and ac5 are appropriate for commercial use while ac1 through ac3 are.

Often a laminate manufacturer will simply label it as ac1 ac2 ac3 ac4 or ac5. With higher ac ratings you will thus benefit from a longer life for your laminate flooring. Ac4 and ac5 products could also be used in all residential areas but in some cases the course surface texture may be too rough for bare feet. What is an ac rating.

To help buyers understand the difference in durability among laminate flooring products these ratings indicate a laminate s resistance to stress. If a laminate flooring product you re looking at is listed as being unrated it s safe to say that this particular floor isn t going to hold up well in any situation. This means it s durable and long lasting making it a safe fit for residential or commercial use. An ac rating is a common term used to indicate the durability level of laminate flooring these ratings are applied to all laminate floors by an independent body known as european producers of laminate flooring eplf.

In fact there have been reports of people wearing holes in their socks from laminate with ac ratings higher than ac3. Ac4 rated laminate is more wear resistant than ac3 by 60 than ac2 by 120 and than ac1 by 180. At discount flooring depot we only sell floors with a rating of ac3 or higher. Ac3 rated laminate is the highest rating for homeowners and the lowest for commercial use.

In some cases ac3 may be acceptable for lighter commercial use but i would receive it more for an office setting and not a store that gets daily public traffic. To receive an ac rating the laminate flooring must pass a series of tests. Any time laminate flooring carries an ac4 rating you know you re getting a product you can depend on. Ac ratings for laminate flooring are sometimes listed in different ways.

Typically the higher the laminate flooring rating the higher the price may be. Every laminate is rated based on a series of rigorous tests including an abrasion test burn resistance impact resistance stain resistance and swelling under moist conditions. Commercial flooring solutions technical features commercial laminate flooring same design in different quality levels why laminate ac ratings matter why laminate ac ratings matter when buying or specifying commercial laminate flooring it is vital to understand the product s suitability for its intended application or usage class.