Laminate has become a popular choice in the flooring world for its durability and low cost.
Reasons to Consider Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring looks just like hardwood or stone, but its price is exponentially lower. Also, it does not have the required maintenance that hardwood does. A homeowner gets the look of hardwood floors without the installation cost or maintenance cost.
Laminate is an easy way to update the look and style of your home. Removing shag carpeting and replacing it with easy-to-install laminate is a quick way to give your home a facelift.
Most laminates can be installed directly over existing flooring. With the exception of removing the carpet, laminate installation requires virtually no preparation.
It’s great for use in high-traffic areas because it’s highly durable and scratch resistant. However, it is important to know the intended purpose of the purchased laminate. If it is recommended for light traffic, it would not be good to use it in the kitchen. Other than that, premium laminates are made for significant use and are even more durable than hardwood.
Reasons not to use laminate flooring
Also, it doesn’t absorb noise well. When walking on the ground, it makes a loud, hollow sound. Also, laminate flooring is not very visually warm.
While it increases the value of a home, hardwood increases it even more. Home buyers know when they see the real thing and would prefer hardwood to laminate.
When buying laminate, it is impossible to customize the color or gloss of the floor. There can be many different options, but with hardwood it is always possible to sand and stain to exact preference.
Since the laminate is still relatively new, it remains to be seen how it performs in wet conditions and under different wear and tear.
Recommended types of laminate
There are many different reasons to buy a variety of flooring. Glued laminates or glueless floating laminates should be considered. Glueless is better waterproof than a tongue and groove glue free laminate. Also, when considering laminate for use in a bathroom or kitchen, it would be good to look for waxed joints because the floor is even water repellent.
Also, consider the core of the laminate. Thicker core acoustics are more like wood with less of a hollow sound.
Recommended Brands
Laminate flooring is becoming more and more popular, with many different companies to choose from.
Pergo is the best known and comes with a warranty ranging from 15 years to a lifetime. It costs $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot. Amtico has a variety of patterns and textures. Amtico uses a Tap & Lock Connection system. It ranges from $1.75-$5.00 per square foot. Armstrong has two different lines of glueless flats. It ranges from $2.00 to $6.00 per square foot. Quickstep has 11 different collection styles and offers square replacement tiles. It runs $2.00 to $6.00 per square foot.