I'm about to re-floor my "man cave" (2.0M x 3.20M). I'd like to use wood effect laminate but I'm worried that my desire to scoot around on my swivel chair will damage it. It has 5 castored feet and I weigh 13.5 stone. What am I looking for? Is it AC4, IC2 or something else entirely?
Any advice gratefully received.
Another Dave
My feeling is that its too easy to scratch the stuff. Brian
Get a big mat. Office chairs are too skiddy on hard floors IME.
I bought a chair-mat from Ikea in 2012; it's still in use but, as it's on a rug on a carpet, it's a bit turned up at the edges and there are some cracks but nothing serious. It does 'walk' a bit on the rug so I usually move it back to about an inch or so clear of the edge. On a hard floor it would do a lot better. There is a 'correct' way up for it but, as the chair will roll out the top and cause a bit of a curve, migh be worth turning occasionally.
'er indoors uses such a chair on a patch of, ahem, value-for-money wood effect laminate. That is used like one of the mats one can buy - i.e. laid on top of carpet + underlay. I shudder to think what state the carpet + underlay are in but after 7 years the laminate is dull and a bit chipped at the unbounded edges but otherwise undamaged.
The idea of an extra sacrificial layer does appeal. Thanks.
Another Dave
I use one of the mats from an office furniture supplier. Not incredibly cheap, but it has lasted about 15 years with no dsiacerbible wear. It has small plastic spike moulded into it, and never shifts.
I am heavy on stuff like this; wore out my office carpet at work! And I am on the second chair in that time (it was new when the mat was new).
Typists chairs/operators swivel chairs are available with castors suited to these surfaces
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