The Pros and Cons of Installing Laminate Flooring
Whether you're looking to renovate your home, build from the ground up, or fix up a place of business, a laminate floor is one of the best flooring materials you could install. This product is a high-performing and cost-effective option for incorporating a hardwood floor design. This is not real wood but simulates the look of natural wood.
Since you're spending a lot of money on your floors, you shouldn’t make decisions flippantly. Choosing the appropriate flooring material for your space comes with vital considerations. If you're considering laying new laminate floors, keep reading for more insight into its pros and cons.
The Advantages of Laminates
Laminate flooring is a popular option today because of its many benefits. Check out the various advantages of investing in this type of flooring material:
- Cost-Efficient
Many people switch to laminate because of how affordable it is compared to natural hardwood. Laminates are made from composite wood that has been pressed together under extremely high temperatures. Then, the material is processed to look like hardwood with a variety hues and grains. It's more affordable than real timber, especially if you are after exotic patterns. Sometimes, the price of laminates can be slashed more than half when compared to the cost per square metre for solid hardwoods. Its cost-effectiveness is one of the reasons why property owners, designers, and builders favour this material.
- Highly Resilient Material
Since laminate is made from composites of timber that has been processed, it is a hard-wearing floor. It comes with UV resistance, so the design retains its colour and glimmer even when exposed to sunlight. The top coating has resin that makes it resilient against scratches. It will survive high traffic, rambunctious kids, and unruly pets. However, this doesn't mean that laminates are impervious to scratches. You must still watch out for damage by avoiding wearing stilettos or soccer cleats and cutting your pet's claws.
- Very Eye-Catching Appearance
If you put natural timber and laminate next to each other, you'd be hard-pressed to know which is the real deal. Thanks to technological advancements in the manufacture and production of laminates, you can barely distinguish between laminate and hardwood. Now, higher-end laminates come with embossing. These embellishments and finishing touches enable laminate floorboards to mimic the wood grain the appearance and texture of natural timber.
- Very Easy Maintenance
As a property owner, the last thing you want is a high-maintenance floor that you have to baby. This will only add undue stress and give you a headache. Many people love laminate flooring because it's easy to clean and keep fresh. You can readily wipe away spills and avoid marks with a soft microfibre cloth. You can also sweep it with a soft-bristle brush and vacuum without a brush attachment to suck out dirt, debris, and dust. Contrary to myths, you can also mop your laminates, but make it a point to do so with only a damp cloth. Wring it dry to prevent moisture from seeping into the seams.
- Fast and Easy Installation
It can be a hassle to renovate your floors. That's why you want it done as fast as possible. Even if you're building a new home, you want the flooring ready so that you can move in immediately. With laminates, you get a simple lock system that can "float" on top of any surface. This makes it very easy to install.
The Disadvantages of Laminates
As with anything in life, no flooring material is perfect. Other kinds of floors like carpet, hybrid, hardwood, and vinyl have disadvantages that are innate to the material. Laminate flooring also has cons that you must watch out for. Check them out below:
- It Cannot Be Refinished
You cannot sand and polish laminates; unlike hardwood, which you can refinish if it gets scratched. Hardwood can be refreshed to look new. In contrast, laminates have surface design layers that you cannot refinish even if scratched. You may have no choice but to get parts repaired or replaced if the damage is severe.
- Watch Out for Scratches
Laminates can get scratched, so make it a point not to walk on them with sharp shoes. It would also help to put area rugs in high traffic areas and entryways. If you have pets, be sure to trim and file the nails. It would help if you also taught your children to be cautious of how they play on the floors. Proper use lets you keep your laminates looking fresh and clean for the long haul.
- Not Waterproof
Laminates are made of composite wood, so they warp with excessive moisture. Therefore, it's not suitable for wet areas like the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. Light surface cleaning is not an issue, but you must mitigate saturation.
Call a Professional Flooring Specialist for Installation
If you want laminates installed, seek guidance from a flooring expert. Even if you’re handy around the house, DIY is not the greatest option when it comes to something as massive as your floors. It’s still best to leave it with the pros.
Remember, no flooring is perfect. What is suitable for your home depends on your family's lifestyle and budget. Get assistance from our team and shop for different designs of laminate floorboards on our website - https://www.prolinefloors.com.au/
Consider these additional ideas as well!
What are the pros and cons of laminate wood flooring?
Laminate is a cost-effective and high-performing option for incorporating hard flooring into your home or office – but no flooring comes without important considerations. If you’re planning to lay new hard floors in your home, read on for more insights into the pros and cons of laminate flooring.
- Affordability
Most people learn of laminate flooring due to its cost-effectiveness. Because laminate flooring is made mostly from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures, it’s considerably more affordable than natural timber, which can be quite expensive depending on how exotic the tree is.
For example, the most affordable laminate available right here from Carpet Call is $26 per square metre, compared to $50-$150 per square metre for solid hardwood floors.
Here https://www.carpetcall.com.au/blog/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-laminate-flooring
Source: luxury-flooring.blogspot.co...
