The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Laminate Flooring

Shopping for a low-cost alternative to traditional hardwood flooring? Although hardwood flooring is one of the oldest flooring options available on the market, it still remains a popular choice for modern homes. However, its high price tag makes it unappealing to homeowners on a shoestring budget. 

With laminate flooring, you can get wood-look floors without splurging on the real stuff. But you should first assess the pros and cons of this type of flooring before installing it.

Here are the main benefits and drawbacks of laminate wood flooring.

Benefits Of Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring costs only a fraction of the total cost to install hardwood flooring. And, its benefits extend beyond affordability. Additional advantages of laminate flooring installation include the following:

  • Superior Moisture Resistance – since laminate flooring is a synthetic wood flooring product with a non-porous top/wear layer, it resists moisture damage better than natural wood. 
  • Beautiful Appearance –  although no replica can beat the authentic beauty of real wood flooring, laminate flooring comes pretty close to it. Laminate floors have a decorative layer located below the wear layer to give your floors a beautiful, wood-look appearance. 
  • Better Scratch Resistance – laminate flooring is a great wood alternative if you are concerned about pets scratching your floors with their claws. The top layer of laminate flooring not only resists moisture but also scratches. 
  • Low Maintenance – if you wish to enjoy the appearance of wood floors without their high-maintenance requirements, look no further than laminate flooring. Since laminate floors do not absorb moisture and spills, they are much easier to clean than traditional wood floors. 
  • Easy Installation – laminate flooring is relatively easier to install compared to hardwood flooring. If you have the requisite skill and experience in laminate flooring installation, you may not require professional help with your project, thus saving money on labor costs.

In a nutshell, laminate flooring is an ideal choice for homeowners who want their floors to resemble traditional wood floors without the higher upfront costs and maintenance requirements.

Drawbacks Of Laminate Flooring 

Despite the many delightful benefits they provide, laminate floors do have drawbacks. To start with, they can't be sanded and refinished like wood flooring, meaning they do not last as long. Also, the quality of laminate flooring can vary greatly, as with wood. To maximize your return on investment, you will need to invest in high-quality laminate flooring products, which can be pretty pricey.

Contact a flooring contractor that focuses on laminate flooring products to explore your options and get your quote.

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All The Better To Walk On

Have you ever walked across a certain floor and thought to yourself, "wow, this floor feels nice to walk on." Chances are, that floor was cushioned in some way. Yes, the surface may have been made from tile or some other hard material, but there was probably some sort of padding underneath the outer tile that gave the floor some "play" and made walking over it a more comfortable experience. Flooring is like that. Its comfort really depends on its construction. You can learn all about flooring, how it is constructed, and more on this blog, where we publish regularly.

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