Wood Flooring Buying Guide (Part 2): 5 Hard Indicators to Help You Test Floor Quality Yourself

Model: | Date:2026-03-10

Introduction: Marketing claims can be impressive, but testing the product yourself is more reliable. This article introduces a few simple and practical methods you can use in the store to gauge the wear resistance, scratch resistance, and water resistance of a floor.

Body:
Beyond appearance, these "destructive" tests can help you choose high-quality laminate flooring:

  1. Check Wear Resistance: Observe under light. Surfaces with a metallic luster, matte finish, and powdery feel are typically coated with aluminum oxide, indicating good wear resistance. Surfaces that are overly glossy, reflective, and lack a powdery feel may have poor wear resistance. You can also use a key or sandpaper to scratch an inconspicuous area of the sample. Inferior flooring will show the underlying wood grain paper after a few scratches.

  2. Test Scratch Resistance: Use a screwdriver or key to scratch the surface vigorously back and forth. If obvious marks are left, the hardness is insufficient. If there are almost no marks, it proves the surface hardness is good and has strong scratch resistance.

  3. Try Burn Resistance: Place a lit cigarette flat on the floor surface, let it burn for a while, then remove it and wipe with a damp cloth. If black marks, cracks, or bubbles remain on the surface, it indicates poor resistance to cigarette burns and potential quality issues.

  4. Verify Water Resistance: Ask the seller for a small sample piece, take it home, and soak it in water for 12-24 hours. The smaller the expansion and the less edge swelling, the better the water resistance of the board, meaning it will be less prone to warping or deformation during use.

  5. Smell Test: Ask to see a larger unsealed board from the seller, or place the sample in a sealed plastic bag or container. Leave it at around 25°C for a period, then open it and smell. If there is a pungent odor that irritates the eyes, it indicates potentially high formaldehyde emission levels, and you should be cautious about purchasing.