Laminate flooring first came onto the flooring market for residential use several decades ago as an easy to install beautiful, stylish, and long-lasting alternative to hardwood flooring. The technology behind it has improved exponentially since then, including higher-quality, sharper images, more embossing and better seaming techniques and many other advancements. However, no flooring is flawless. 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 make improvements. Micro bevels, a deeper texture and better graphics reproduction have led to laminate flooring gaining the appeal and luster of engineered and solid wood flooring, however it remains the most affordable flooring in terms of performance, appearance, and image. Since the quality of the product is different and the lifespan of the product can also differ. Some laminate floorings are able to last 25 years or more in rooms that receive little use, whereas floors that are installed in areas of 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 from $1-$3 per square foot at big box home centers, however you can pay as high as $12 or $10 per square foot for premium products. The majority of top laminates are found at a price that is within the $2 to $3 price range. The price differences depend on what the depth of the wear layer as well as how good the printing layer. Given the price an excellent idea to purchase the highest quality laminate flooring available.
Since it is an simple flooring to set up and install, professional installation isn’t costly. 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, on the other hand is typically priced between 15 to 20 dollars per square foot for installation.
Maintenance and Repair
Laminate floors are simple to clean using the use of a vacuum cleaner or Broom. Clean the floor with a slightly damp mop, or even better make use of the laminate floor cleaner. There is no floor waxing required for laminate flooring. Avoid using too much water when cleaning that can seep into the joints between boards, which can cause swelling. Laminate flooring is not able to handle standing water pools, which are common in kitchens, bathrooms, as well as laundry areas. For areas with a lot of humidity, you’ll need an impervious surface like vinyl or porcelain tile.
Laminate flooring comes with an outer layer of wear which shields the photographic layer beneath and makes it resistant to dents and scratches, and extremely resistant to stains. Certain manufacturers offer long warranties of 10+ years on the wear layer. If you do happen to get an odor, it’s typically easy to remove.
Its inability to sand or finish is one of the major drawbacks in laminate flooring. If laminate flooring has been heavily damaged, scratched deeply or grooved it will not be sanded, refinished, or polished like hardwood flooring. It must be replaced.
Design
Laminate flooring faithfully recreates the look and feel of stones, wood and other natural materials, at most at some distance. As opposed to real hardwood that has a lot of imperfections that must be taken away or cut and trimmed, there are no imperfections with laminate floors. Every piece of laminate flooring is consistent in quality and looks. A deep embossing process enhances appearance of wood grain and also.
The similarity of laminate flooring to stone or real wood is lost when you take a closer look to the flooring planks. Laminate flooring is not by any way identical in appearance as real wood, in part due to patterns that repeat. Most brands have up to 10 different pattern boards are produced, whereas less expensive products might only come with three distinct patterns. If the installation isn’t planned out, you could end having identical boards that are next to each other.
Laminate flooring isn’t an option that will bring an investment value in the long-term for your property, however it is a great option to swiftly and cheaply revamp a floor that is shabby. 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 quick and easy to set up and you can lay many square foot of flooring in just one weekend. Traditional laminate flooring required join pieces However, most of the laminate flooring available today utilizes an altered tongue-and-groove method that can be known in terms like “click-and-lock” also known as “fold-lock,” in which the planks join 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 an “floating floor”–the planks join along the edges, creating the floor as a solid mat which rests on the underlayment there is no glue-down requirement. The installation process is simple of placing a foam underlayment and then joining planks edge-to edge on the floor. A skilled crew can install the floor within an hour or less or so, while a DIYer may complete the task in a day.
Convenience and Comfort
Although laminate flooring can feel hard on the feet, most installations come with a pliable foam underlayment, which gives the flooring a springy sensation. The underlayment can also help eliminate the hollow sensation and sound that is a problem when you have laminate flooring.
Historically laminate flooring was extremely slippery. In recent years laminate flooring producers have developed durable and slip-resistant wear layers. Laminate flooring also tends to generate static electricity, but this issue can be minimized by maintaining the floor in a clean state.
Laminate flooring is an excellent option for those suffering from allergies, since it doesn’t retain allergens or dust and is simple to clean.1 However, a small percentage of people who are sensitive to chemicals may experience reactions to the glues and resins that are used in flooring.
Laminate Flooring vs. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Millennium oak laminate flooring is an excellent flooring option to quickly upgrade a flooring if you’re not too concerned about the value of your property in the long run and don’t have an extravagant look. It’s 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 think about premium vinyl flooring (LVF) that is often marketed by the name of plank vinyl flooring.
Luxury vinyl comes with numerous advantages over laminate flooring, such as simple installation and excellent performance It also has outstanding water-resistant properties. In contrast to laminate flooring, that has a core of particleboard that can be damaged by water leaking through the seams, premium vinyl flooring is constructed from waterproof materials throughout its length, making it nearly indestructible against water damages. Because it is an extremely durable material that is quieter and less spongy beneath the feet unlike laminate flooring.
Luxury vinyl is now offered in almost as many styles and colors as laminate, and includes impressive reproductions of wood grains or natural stone. It is a little higher priced than laminate at around $7 to $2 per square foot. However, its numerous benefits are enough to make it a good choice when you’re searching for a more flooring.
Are Laminate Flooring right for you?
Laminate flooring could be the right option for you 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 extremely practical and stylish however, it doesn’t have the same prestige or added property value that is found in real stone or hardwood flooring.