Laminate Floor Ratings

About Laminate Floor Ratings

When you go to your local home improvement store, you find that there are many different types of laminate flooring at many different price points. The more expensive flooring per square foot is the laminate flooring that looks and feels closest to natural hardwood and the less expensive flooring is the type that looks a little fake. Laminate flooring from the inexpensive to the expensive comes with what is called an AC rating.

What "AC" Means

Simply put, the "AC" in AC ratings is a measure of the overall durability and strength of the laminate floor. The laminate floor is tested for its resistance to:

• Burns – The burn testing for laminate flooring includes minor burns, such as those from a cigarette, to open flame burns.
• Scratches – Sometimes referred to as abrasions, laminate flooring is tested for how well it stands up to scratches from items like furniture legs.
• Impact – This is a measurement of how it resists dents and dings when something is dropped on the flooring.
• Moisture – Moisture resistance testing is performed in order to determine how the floor responds to anything from small spills to standing water.

The AC Ratings

• AC1 – Laminate flooring with an AC1 rating is perfect for areas of low traffic. Manufactures often used bedrooms as an example of a low-traffic area. Other areas that are suitable for AC1 rated flooring are rooms that are used infrequently in your home and are therefore not subject to heavy foot traffic.
• AC2 – AC2 rated laminate flooring is great for those areas in your home that experience light to medium foot traffic like living and dining rooms.
• AC3 – Laminate flooring with an AC3 rating is probably the most versatile flooring for your home. Flooring with an AC3 rating will stand up to foot traffic and daily abuse in all areas of your home from hallways to busy family rooms. It is also suitable for areas of light commercial use such as a small office.
• AC4 – Perfect for commercial use in busy stores, shops and offices.
• AC5 – AC5 is the highest laminate floor rating and is durable enough to withstand the abuse of heavy foot traffic in commercial properties.

Important Considerations for Laminate Floor Ratings

If all the areas of your home receive heavy foot traffic, it may seem like the AC5 rated laminate floor is the best choice, but that isn't necessarily true. Think of it this way, anything rated above an AC3 should be considered commercial grade flooring.

This flooring is designed to take heavy abuse and, more importantly, the higher the floor rating, the rougher the texture and feel of the floor. In fact, laminate flooring manufacturers report that the number one complaint among consumers who bought and installed AC4 and AC5 rated laminate floors in there home was that the flooring caused holes in their socks.

So, if this flooring is causing holes in socks, imagine how it feels on bare feet? Besides, most of the flooring offered at large home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe's, are going to be AC3 rated, meaning it is more widely available and store associates will be able to answer any questions you may have before purchasing the floor. This may not be the case with commercial-grade laminate flooring.

Wrapping it Up

Although they are extremely important, the AC rating should not be the only consideration when buying laminate flooring. Remember these other important considerations before you purchase and install your new laminate flooring:

• The amount of foot traffic the area receives daily
• Whether not the area is exposed to moisture
• The weight of the items that will be placed on top of the flooring such as refrigerators, couches and desks

If you are still unsure as to how to go about choosing the right flooring for your home, read the North American Laminate Flooring Association's Buyers Guide. This buyers guide, along with your newfound knowledge of what the floor ratings mean, will help to ensure that you will pick a floor that will look beautiful for years to come.