Everyone loves the beautiful and timeless look of wooden floors. Elegant, yet simple, hardwood is stunning. But take a closer look. Is that scratched and dented hardwood? Are those spots and fade marks you see there? Maybe that hardwood floor isn’t as pretty as you originally thought.
If you like the timeless look and feel of hardwood floors, but don’t want the scratches, dents, and discoloration marks that come with them, then laminate flooring is a good choice for you. In addition to the fact that laminate is much more durable than traditional hardwood floors, it is also much cheaper.
What is laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring is a composite product that looks like a wood product; however, you can care for it just like you would a laminate countertop. Laminate flooring is made from a high-density core with an image placed on the top layer and sealed with a laminate coating. Laminate flooring has a water repellant placed over it and good quality flooring is infused with water repellent throughout the core.
What kind of laminate flooring should I get?
When you’re choosing your laminate flooring, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind. The first thing you should look at is where you are going to put the floor. Are you looking for a high traffic area that will see a lot of use? Alternatively, is the area you are covering a smaller, low-traffic area? If you’re looking to cover a low-traffic area, you’ll probably be able to get away with a laminate flooring that has a smaller core.
Laminate flooring core sizes vary between 6mm and 12mm. The thicker the soil core, the better the stability. Also, if you have a thicker core, it will resist wear and tear better and is likely to last you longer than a thinner core.
If you’re thinking of moving to a different home in the next few years, you may also want to opt for a lower-quality laminate floor. Usually, when people buy a house, the floor is the first thing they change, so it does not make sense to spend a lot of money on a flat when you are moving house.
Most laminate flooring comes with warranties that start around ten years. Generally, the more expensive types of flooring will come with longer warranties. However, be sure to read your warranties very carefully, as some warranties may not cover kitchen or bathroom flooring.
Can I do it myself?
One of the biggest draws to laminate flooring is that most people can install it themselves. You can install most laminate siding over sheet vinyl, concrete slabs, plywood underlayments, existing hardwood, or any other flat, level surface.
Pergo Glue Free flooring is a very popular option because it does not require any glue to install properly or any other special tools of any kind. Therefore, anyone can do it by himself without any special training. Even if you’ve never installed flooring before or don’t have much experience renovating homes, laminate flooring is easy to install.
One of the biggest benefits of installing your flooring yourself is that you can save thousands of dollars in installation fees. Unlike hardwood floors that are already very expensive and must be professionally installed, laminate is quick and easy, even for beginners.
What happens in the kitchen?
Laminate flooring is a good choice for the kitchen and bathroom because it repels water. The core of the laminate flooring has been infused with water repellent to protect it from the daily spills that occur. However, if you are thinking of installing your floor in the kitchen or bathroom, you may want to purchase a floor that has been infused with paraffin wax in the joints to further repel water and prevent swelling.
Unlike hardwood floors, laminate is a much better option for kitchens or bathrooms. Because we all know that spills happen. Water and food spills can stain traditional hardwood floors, and with laminate, just wipe it off and you’re all set.
Choose the right floor
Laminate flooring is available in many different styles, colors, and patterns. There is something for everyone, no matter what your style preference. When you go shopping for laminate flooring, you’ll find many different brands, including Pergo, Armstrong, and Bruce. Since laminate was introduced in 1982, its market share has been growing by leaps and bounds. You’ll be able to find laminate in many price ranges, so there’s something for everyone and every budget.
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