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You may envision a classic look of hardwood flooring or timeless porcelain tiles when installing new flooring. However, these flooring options can cost you a ton. Laminate flooring is an affordable option that looks like premium flooring options and offers an extra layer of durability. Hence, this property is ideal for homes with kids, pets, and frequent visitors.
If you want laminate flooring for your home, continue reading this interesting blog to get a full knowledge of what this flooring option has in store to offer.
Laminate Flooring: Exploring the Looks
Most laminate floors look like hardwood. Almost any wood species can be matched with laminate planks. You can get it if you want a rustic antique hardwood look, a distinctive wood stain, or an exotic wood species. There are laminate floors that look like tile, too.
Unlike your grandmother’s linoleum flooring, laminate is much more stylish.
Photorealistic printing is used on the veneer of each plank or tile to give laminate flooring its look. The real advantage of laminate is that it goes beyond appearances. It has the texture of hardwood and tile flooring because it’s embossed. You can get these floors in matte or high gloss finishes. Matte flooring hides little scratches better than glossy flooring, but both are durable.
Floor Construction
Each tile contains pressed composite wood layered with attractive veneer and topped with a clear, protective finish in laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is thicker than its alternative Amtico flooring, which is why it can be used to create a beautiful wood or tile appearance. However, since laminate is constructed from cost-effective materials, its price is much more affordable for homeowners.
Laminate Flooring Installation
Laminate flooring should be installed over a thin underlayment, which helps this flooring feel softer than hardwood flooring. It also dampens noise. For this reason, laminate is a versatile choice and may be a good fit for spaces where hardwood and ceramic tiles are not an ideal option.
Laminate flooring is available in interlocking planks or tiles and groove construction to snap each piece into place. Once this flooring is in place, you can walk on it immediately. However, you have to remember that laminate is a floating floor. Therefore, it needs a small perimeter space for expansion in humid conditions. Therefore, you must choose the right floor trim to complete the look.
Although laminate floors are easy to install, you should still take the help of professional installers. When the laminate flooring is installed correctly, it is tight and seamless and causes no water damage.
Ideal Areas For Laminate Flooring
In addition to laminate’s wide variety of design options, it’s versatile enough to be used in hallways, living rooms, dining areas, finished basements, and even bedrooms. Laminate makes cleaning and maintenance easy, so it works well in busy homes.
Where to Avoid Laminate Flooring
It would help to be careful when choosing laminate flooring for high-moisture areas like the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, etc. If you use laminate flooring in these spaces, ensure it’s water-resistant or waterproof. If you’re installing laminate in the basement, you’ll want your installer to lay down a vapor barrier. It’ll prevent flooding damage.
It’s important to remember that laminate has a short lifespan, like hardwood flooring or tile. Since laminate can’t be refinished, you may need to replace your flooring sooner. Due to this, laminate isn’t perfect for rental properties and doesn’t tend to appeal to potential buyers if you plan to put your house on the market soon.
A Look at Pros and Cons
Pros
When discussing the benefits of laminate flooring as a building material, everything you have heard or read about it is correct. It is extremely hard to find a flooring material with so many advantages as laminate flooring. Here is a list of benefits:
Durable
Laminate flooring is durable, pet-friendly, and great for high-traffic homes. It can also bear exposure to sunlight for a long time without fading. The word durable now is an understatement.
Easy To Clean
Need another reason to love laminate flooring? It is extremely easy to clean. There are no special instructions required to clean it. A vacuum cleaner, broom, or mop can easily eliminate dust and spills. Isn’t it that easy? With simple maintenance, you can get long years of beautiful laminate flooring.
Appearance
In the past, laminate was known as artificial wood. But today, with technological advancements, it is difficult to tell the difference between laminate and hardwood. This makes it a great option for anyone who wants the look of hardwood and other materials like stone without burning a hole in their pocket.
Laminate is Cheaper
That’s right, laminate wood flooring can look like real hardwood but is way cheaper. This makes it a perfect choice for budget-conscious homeowners. It is even cheaper than porcelain tiles. Who wants to go for something other than an option that saves money??
Easy to Install
It is the biggest advantage of laminate flooring. It is easiest to install, even for a DIYer. A lot of that is since laminate forms a floating floor, meaning it does not have to be nailed or glued.
Cons of Laminate Flooring
As with any material, there are also some downsides. Don’t worry, they’re not too many.
Potential Moisture Damage to Your Laminate Floor
It’s made from a composite material called high-density fiberboard (HDF), which is more prone to water damage than natural wood. HDF expands and breaks down when exposed to standing water. If that happens, you’ll have to replace your laminate floor. Laminate has traditionally been limited to certain areas, like bathrooms, where regular water exposure is common.
As a result, manufacturers have created waterproof and water-resistant laminates. A water-resistant laminate is great for kitchens and other places where moisture is present, and spills are likely. Meanwhile, waterproof laminate designs hold up well in humid areas like the bathroom.
You can’t refinish laminate flooring.
Keeping hardwood looking fresh and new is easy with refinishing. Laminate floors are the opposite. Sadly, you can’t refinish it since it’s fiberboard with a thin wood-look (or stone-look) layer on top. When that thin layer wears out, the whole floor has to be replaced.
Laminate flooring is becoming popular in UK homes because it’s easy to clean, doesn’t cost a lot, and looks like hardwood.
Are you ready to add laminate to your home? If you’re looking for laminate flooring, stop by one of our stores! Our next blog will be about Parquet flooring. Keep watching this space if you want to know more about it.
