Posted by Patrick on August 02, 19104 at 14:04:11:
In Reply to: Re: ordering off the internet posted by Kim on August 02, 19104 at 12:00:46:
" I ordered Balterio internet flooring off the Internet from internetfloors.com in early June."
(It's the beginning of August, there needs to be more time to properly asses how good a floor is going to be years down the road)
"The rating is AC3, 31 which makes it IDENTICAL QUALITY TO Columbia and Pergo accolade and many other brands for about 1/3 the price."
(AC ratings are only one part of many things to consider when buying laminate, generalizing laminate and buying according to 1 rating may cause product failure due to misinformation)
"but I do think it is an EXCELLENT, VERY HIGH quality flooring and a great value and more people should buy it!"
(You are probably right, but you have only lived with it for less than 2 months.)
"Go by the QUALITY RATINGS not the manufacturer - the laminate floors are all RATED for quality (AC2, AC3, AC4) - go BY THESE RATINGS AND NOT THE NAME BRANDS! Ratings are industry standardized - they are NOT assigned by the companies themselves but are outside assessments of quality."
(again, AC ratings are important but should not be the only deciding factor. You are still uneducated about the other brands or else you would not tell people not to buy by manufacturer. It so happens that quickstep makes uniclick tounge and groove like nobody else, it has won tons of awards, and it also has the best quality control in the business, plus they make ALL their own materials that makes up the laminate. What about High Pressure? What about Mannington's Icore? What about thick laminate face and backing like Wilsonart's Estate Plus? Not all laminates are alike, and some people need the bells and whistles that other laminates may offer, that your laminate does not have)
"Anyway, interestingly enough I accidently spilled plant wanter (left a hanging plant too wet) all over my new Balterio floor - it held up PERFECTLY, unlike the columbia which has costs more than TRIPLE and was completely TRASHED by flooding."
(I am happy it held up, and it sounded like a good test, although I don't think it can be compared with a flood.
I am not responding to argue, but I just wanted to make sure that everyone who reads these posts have ALL the information. The laminate you bought IS probably a good quality and a good value, you should be happy you bought it, I just want to make sure we give ALL info.
congrats on your new lam!