The design benefits and drawbacks of laminate flooring

Posted on 6 July 2021
By Carlton Whitfield
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Laminate flooring has been increasingly popular in recent years as an attractive, cost-effective flooring alternative for interior design.

If you’re thinking of installing laminate floor, you should read more about them so you can make an informed decision. Check out our advice on the benefits and drawbacks of laminate flooring to see if it’s the best fit for your home.

The Benefits of Laminate Flooring

In terms of the advantages of laminate flooring as a material for construction, everything about laminate is true.

In fact, a flooring material with a larger upside than laminate would be hard to find. Here’s a list of advantages to install laminate floors in your home.

Durable

Laminate floors are incredibly durable, more than hardwood, making them both livestock-friendly and family friendly and an excellent choice for heavy goods transport. It can also survive exposure to sunshine for a long time and not diminish this benefit. The word durable now appears to be a hypocrisy.

It’s Easier to Maintain Laminate Flooring

Maintenance does not necessitate any particular instructions or supplies. A vacuum cleaner, a broom, or even a slightly damp mop may readily remove dust and spills. Isn’t it straightforward? You’ll have many years of lovely laminate flooring with this simple maintenance!

Appearance

It used to be simple to identify whether laminate was real wood or not. However, thanks to technical advancements, distinguishing laminate from hardwood is becoming increasingly difficult.

This makes it an excellent choice for anyone who wants the look (and even feel) of hardwood and other natural materials (including stone) but not the hard labor.

Laminate is less expensive than wood

That’s correct. Laminate wood flooring can mimic the look and feel of real wood without the expensive cost. This makes it ideal for those on a tight budget. Isn’t it true that we could all choose the alternative that saves us money?

The Drawbacks of Laminate Flooring

And, like any other substance, there are some drawbacks. But don’t worry, there aren’t a lot of them.

Your Laminate Floor Could Be Damaged by Moisture

Laminate flooring is primarily composed of a composite material known as high density fiberboard (HDF), which is more sensitive to water damage than raw wood. When HDF is directly exposed to standing water, it degrades and expands.

A normal laminate floor would be compromised and would need to be replaced if this happened. Traditionally, this has limited the areas where laminate can be used, excluding places like restrooms where water is present on a regular basis.

It is not possible to refinish laminate flooring

Hardwood may be refinished several times to maintain its new appearance. Laminate flooring, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to refinish it because of the fiberboard core and thin wood-look (or stone-look) veneer on top. Because when that thin layer wears away, the entire floor must be replaced.

Now you can see why laminate flooring is so popular in homes today: it’s long-lasting, easy to clean and maintain, has a true hardwood look, isn’t too pricey, and is DIY-friendly.

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