Laminate is not wood at all — it’s a printed photographic image of wood applied to a fiberboard core, sealed with a clear protective layer. Laminate is the most damage-prone floor type when wet because the fiberboard core swells permanently if water reaches it. The protective top layer is also softer than wood finish and scratches more easily. Our laminate cleaning approach uses the smallest amount of moisture of any of our floor services and a finish-safe solution. We never wet-clean laminate the way we’d clean tile or vinyl.
Before any equipment touches the floor, we identify what we’re working with — solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, or luxury vinyl plank — and inspect for existing damage like cupping, gapping, finish wear-through, or water staining. Floors with active damage (boards already cupping, finish worn to bare wood, water rings expanding) need a different conversation than cleaning. We tell you upfront if we see issues that should be addressed before cleaning.
Yes, with the most careful approach we use on any floor type. Laminate is the most damage-prone surface because the fiberboard core swells permanently if water reaches it. Our laminate cleaning uses the smallest amount of moisture of any of our services and a finish-safe solution. We never wet-clean laminate the way we’d clean tile or vinyl.
