Laminate flooring first came onto the scene of flooring for homes a few several decades ago as an easy to install beautiful, stylish, and long-lasting alternative to hardwood flooring. Its technology has evolved exponentially since then, including better high-definition images, greater embossing, more efficient seaming mechanisms and many other advancements. However, no flooring is the perfect choice. In all of the major categories related to flooring–installation, cleaning, durability, and more–laminate flooring possesses both pros and cons.
Laminate flooring companies have been working to improve their products. Micro bevels, more texturing and better graphics reproduction have made laminate flooring more akin to the appeal and luster of engineered wood and solid hardwood flooring, however it remains the most affordable flooring in terms of performance, appearance, and image. Because the quality of the flooring is different and the lifespan of the product can be different. Some laminate floorings are able to last 25 years or more in rooms that receive minimal use, while floors placed in areas with heavy traffic might require replacement within 10 years.
Pros
Easy DIY installation
Cost-effective
Excellent stain resistance
Non-allergenic
Cons
Highly susceptible to damage from moisture
“Fake” appearance
The underfoot is noisy and hard.
Certain chemicals are present
Cost of Laminate Flooring
The average cost of laminate flooring between $1 and $3 per square foot at big box home centers. However, you could pay as much as $12 or $10 per square foot for premium products. The majority of top laminates are available within the budget-friendly $2-$3 range. The prices are determined by how thick the layer of wear as well as how good the printing layer. Given the price an excellent idea to purchase the highest quality laminate flooring that you can afford.
Since it is an easy flooring to put in it is also not too expensive. Nationally, the average price for a laminate flooring installation–materials plus labor–is only about $5 per square foot. This makes laminate flooring one of the most inexpensive of all flooring materials–comparable to a mid-level carpet. Hardwood flooring, however is typically priced between around $15-$20 per square foot to put in.
Maintenance and Repair
Laminate floors are simple to clean using either a vacuum or the broom. Use a damp mop or, better still you can use the laminate floor cleaner. Floor waxing is not required for laminate flooring. Beware of excessive water while mopping as it can get into the joints between boards, leading to swelling. Laminate flooring is not able to handle standing water pools, that are often found in kitchens, bathrooms, as well as laundry areas. In areas that are prone to humidity, you’ll need an impervious floor, like vinyl or porcelain tile.
Laminate flooring is covered with an outer layer of wear that protects the photographic layer beneath and gives it a degree of resistance to dents and scratches and highly resistant to staining. Certain manufacturers offer large 10-year warranties on the wear layer. If you do end up with an odor, it’s typically easy to remove.
Its inability to sand or finish is one of the major drawbacks for laminate floors. If laminate flooring has been heavily worn, deeply scratched or grooved will not be sanded or finished as solid hardwood. It has to be replaced.
Design
Laminate flooring is able to faithfully replicate the look and feel of stones, wood and other natural materials at most at some distance. In contrast to real hardwood, which is made up of a variety of imperfect pieces that must be taken away or cut down and trimmed, there are no imperfections on laminate flooring. Every piece of laminate flooring is consistent in quality and design. The embossing in depth adds to an illusion that resembles wood and also.
The similarity of laminate flooring to stone or real wood disappears when you carefully to the flooring planks. Laminate flooring is not by any not identical to wood, mainly due to patterns repeated. Most brands have 5 to 10 different patterns of boards are made, while less expensive products might only come with three patterns. If the installation isn’t executed in a planned manner, you may end having identical boards that are next to each other.
Laminate flooring isn’t an option that will bring the value of your real estate in the long run to your house, but it is a great method to cheaply and quickly remodel a worn-out floor. If you’re looking for the most value for your home, hardwood or engineered wood flooring will give you more value.
Laminate Flooring Installation
Laminate flooring is fast and easy to set up It is possible to lay down many square foot of flooring in just one weekend. The older types of laminate flooring required glue the pieces together However, most of the laminate flooring available today utilizes an altered tongue-and-groove method that can be defined by the terms “click-and-lock” also known as “fold-lock,” in which the planks are joined in an interlocking manner, from edge-to-edge to end-to-end. Because the planks are built with a core of particleboard, it’s simple to cut them in order to fit using miter saws.
Laminate flooring is generally installed as it is a “floating floor”–the planks join around the edges, creating an unbreakable mat that is laid on the underlayment there is no glue-down requirement. Installing is as simple of placing a foam underlayment and then joining planks edge-to edge on the floor. A professional team can put down the room within an hour or less while a DIYer could finish the job in just a few hours.
Convenience and Comfort
Although laminate flooring may feel hard on the feet, most installations have a resilient foam underlayment, which gives the flooring a springy feel. The underlayment can also help eliminate the hollow sensation and sound that happens when you have laminate flooring.
In the past laminate flooring was extremely slippery. Recently, however manufacturers of laminate flooring have developed durable and slip-resistant wear layers. Millennium oak laminate flooring also tends to generate static electricity, however, this issue can be minimized by cleaning the floor.
Laminate flooring is a great option for those suffering from allergies, because it does not retain allergens or dust and is simple to clean.1 However, a tiny percentage of chemically sensitive people may develop reactions to the glues and resins that are used in flooring.
Laminate Flooring vs. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Laminate flooring is an ideal flooring material to easily upgrade your flooring if you’re not concerned about the long-term value of your home and don’t want the look of a luxury. It’s also a ideal choice for those who want to complete the job yourself. This is one of the most straightforward flooring options for DIYers. However, you may be interested in the luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) that is sometimes sold by the name of plank vinyl flooring.
Luxury vinyl offers numerous advantages over laminate flooring, like ease of installation and high performance however, it also comes with outstanding water-resistant properties. Contrary to laminate flooring that has a core of particleboard which is easily damaged by water leaking through the seams, premium vinyl flooring is constructed of water-proof materials throughout its thickness, which makes it nearly indestructible against water damages. Because it is resilient that is quieter and more comfortable beneath the feet unlike laminate flooring.
Luxury vinyl is now offered in nearly the same variety of designs and colors as laminate, including realistic reproductions of wood grain or natural stone. It is a little higher priced than laminate at around $7 to $2 per square foot, however its numerous advantages can make it an attractive option in the event you’re searching for a more flooring.
Are Laminate Flooring the right choice for you?
Laminate flooring could be the best option in case you’re in a tight budget and would like to save even more in the process of installing it yourself. There are few flooring options that are less expensive or more simple for installation than laminate. Although laminate flooring is practical and stylish but it lacks the same prestige or added property value that is found in genuine hardwood or stone tile flooring.
