Laminate Flooring – An Alternative to Hardwood

Have you always wanted hardwood floors, but been too concerned about the expense, the work of installing them, or other problems to believe you could have them? There's an alternative gaining popularity on the market that could solve all your wood flooring woes. Laminate flooring is an attractive, lower cost, modern composite that has the look and many of the properties of hardwood flooring without all the trouble. There are many advantages to installing laminate flooring in your home. Laminate is usually a thin veneer of real wood on top of a composite base. It can also be composed of a resin based decorative pattern on top of the composite wood base. These patterns can mimic wood, stone, or any other surface, and are very realistic. This means that it's more durable and less likely to warp than regular hardwood flooring. If a section of your laminate floor does get damaged beyond repair, you can easily replace just that area. This is because the flooring is installed in modular sections. Buying a new section and replacing the old one is a snap. This method of installing laminate flooring makes it easy to install. Older laminate flooring wasn't as easy, since the pieces needed to be glued together. However, many new brands offer a click lock design, which combines with a dry glue already on the product. You simply swipe a damp sponge or cloth over the glue, lock the pieces together, and your section of flooring is installed. You can put three hundred square feet of laminate flooring together in just one weekend. Since laminate flooring has an extra coating over the surface to protect it, this kind of floor is less vulnerable to denting than hardwood. Some laminate flooring manufacturers are so certain of their product's longevity that they'll guarantee it for as much as ten years. Real hardwood usually means that there will be a number of “imperfect” pieces that can't be used in your floor. Laminate flooring has no such pieces. Every one that you buy should be defect free and able to be installed right out of the package. If you live in a moist location, you'll be glad to know that laminate flooring tolerates moisture much better than traditional hardwood. You can install it in bathrooms, kitchens, and other places where the air is likely to be very damp, and it still won't warp or “cup” the way hardwood can. However, no floor tolerates standing water well, and laminate flooring isn't an exception to this. Remember to keep your laminate floor dry and to mop up spills immediately for the best performance. Laminate flooring is easy to clean, however. It can be swept or vacuumed, and mopped with a damp mop. You won't need waxing or other special products to keep laminate flooring looking its best. This kind of flooring resists staining, too. The coating which protects from chipping and denting also keeps stains from penetrating the floor. Protect your laminate floor from severe wear by using mats in front of doors, sinks, and stoves, and other areas with a lot of traffic. Place mats under chairs with casters, maintain the right temperature and humidity in the room, and place protective pads under furniture feet. Remember that you should lift furniture when moving it over a laminate floor, instead of sliding, pushing, or pulling it. Of course, clean up stains and spills immediately. All these things will contribute to the long life of your laminate floor. While laminate flooring is durable, it's not proof against everything, and minor regular maintenance and precautions will keep it looking its best. Laminate flooring varies in cost, but is generally cheaper than regular hardwood. At around $2.00 per square foot. It's available in a wide variety of different styles and looks. Fancier types of laminate flooring can cost as much as $4.00 per square foot. However, you're guaranteed a good selection and the ability to shop around with all the different kinds and styles available. There are a few downsides to laminate flooring, of course. If your laminate floor becomes scratched, you will have to replace it. Hardwood floors can usually be resanded and refinished, instead. Laminate flooring has a lower resale value in your home than real hardwood. It's not real wood, which can bother some people. While the composite layer in laminate flooring is made of reprocessed wood, and some laminate floors have veneers, they're not real, solid wood in the same way as traditional hardwood floors. Whether or not this is a problem is up to the individual consumer. Laminate flooring can be hard underfoot, the same way that tile or other rigid floors are. It's also traditionally been slippery. However, new processes with slip resistant wear layers are helping to reduce this problem. Whether or not you choose laminate flooring will be up to your budget and preferences, of course. However, if you're looking for a low cost, low maintenance alternative to traditional hardwood, laminate flooring could be the answer. Easy to install, easy to keep looking great, and available in a wide variety of styles, laminate flooring is quickly growing in popularity. If you're curious about laminate flooring and how it would work in your home, ask an expert at your local building or remodeling center. You can also find information about laminate flooring in popular home magazines and books, or online. Laminate flooring has a lot of advantages, and could help you get the look and feel of hardwood floors without all the problems.