The Pros And Cons Of Laminate Wood Flooring: A Comprehensive Review
Laminate flooring is a synthetic, composite flooring that offers the opportunity to incorporate hard flooring in residential or commercial buildings.
Laminate flooring is the perfect substitute for homeowners looking for that rustic hardwood or tiled look but without the budget for it. Over time, laminate technologies have produced deeper embossing, sharper, high-definition imaging, better seaming mechanisms, and other features.
Still, while laminate flooring has many benefits once installed, it’s by no means perfect. Before settling on this floor type, it’s imperative to learn as much about it as possible.
Pros of Laminate Wood Flooring
Here are the top 6 reasons why laminate wood flooring has become popular in recent years.
Affordability: Laminate Flooring Offers a Cost-Effective Flooring Solution
Wood laminate is generally less expensive than other flooring types, but that’s not all. Aside from the initial cost, its durability and longevity make it a more economical choice.
Part of this affordability comes from the manufacturing process. Wood laminate is made mainly from composite wood being pressed together. This makes it considerably more affordable than natural timber, which can get rather pricey depending on the type of wood used.
A laminate floor costs about $20 to $60 per square metre, installation included. Other flooring types are priced as follows;
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Wooden floors: $80 to $130
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Solid timber flooring: $100 to $150
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Laminate floor: $30 to $60
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Vinyl floor: $30 to $80
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Bamboo floor: $70 to $120
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Engineered Flooring: $70 to $130
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Hybrid flooring: $35 to $70
Resilience: Laminate Flooring is Durable and Scratch-Resistant
Don’t let its aesthetics fool you: laminate wood flooring is highly durable. The top layer of wood laminate flooring is scratch resistant. So high traffic, pet claws, little ones running around, and even moving furniture won’t damage this surface.
Laminate flooring technology also includes UV resistance, meaning your floor will likely retain its colour and vibrancy for a long time. These are qualities you miss putting on hardwood floors.
Once installed, good quality, properly installed laminate wood floors should last a good 10 to 20 years before requiring replacement. How much wear you get from your laminate flooring will depend on its quality, proper installation, and the care and maintenance you accord it over the years.
Appearance: Laminate Flooring offers a Wide Range of Designs and Styles
Initial laminate wood flooring was frowned upon because it looked synthetic and cheap. Not anymore. Modern technology can create realistic-looking designs. So much so that distinguishing laminate from natural timber is an uphill task. Unique embossing is also used to give the look and feel of natural wood.
Maintenance:Laminate Flooring are Easy to Clean and Maintain
Laminate floor surfaces are largely stain resistant. Cleaning is as simple as mopping and light sweeping. Similarly, unlike hardwood floors, you can use a mixture of vinegar and water when you need to do a deep clean.
Installation: Laminate Flooring is Simple and Time-Efficient
This flooring type features an easy click-and-lock or fold-lock system, perfect for DIY laminate floor installation.
Water-Proof Options: Laminate Flooring is Suitable for High-Moisture Areas
In the past, vinyl was preferred to laminate because it was possible to get waterproof vinyl flooring. Technology has also changed this, as waterproof laminate proofing is now available.
Not Always Moist-Proof: Laminate Flooring is Susceptible to Water Damage
Some timber laminate flooring types offer a degree of moisture resistance. Still, these floor types are rarely 100% waterproof and can get water damage.
While minor spills and cleaning with water are fine, standing pools of water that saturate the floor is not advisable.
As such, this floor type is unsuitable for bathrooms and should be used cautiously in laundry rooms and kitchens.
Eco-Friendliness: Laminate Flooring has Environmental Concerns
Synthetic flooring tends to have volatile chemicals that get released from the floor over time. These chemicals are known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and can cause health problems.
However, you can specifically look for non-toxic options. These have a GreenGuard or a FloorScore certification.
Cons of Laminate Wood Flooring
Here are some drawbacks of wood laminate flooring.
Cannot Be Refinished: Laminate Flooring has Limited Lifespan
All flooring types tend to lose their lustre with time. Timber flooring, for example, can be sanded and refinished to refresh it over the years. On the other hand, the laminate top layer cannot be refinished to freshen its look.
If you want a floor you can sand or stain over the years, this is not a good option.
It’s Not Real Wood: Laminate Flooring Lacks the Authenticity of Solid Hardwood
While wood laminate might look like solid hardwood, it’s not. Aside from aesthetics, laminate flooring will not increase your home’s value like hardwood does.
Comfort Under Feet: Laminate Flooring has Less Cushioning and Sound Absorption
Wood laminate offers average comfort on the feet, though if you get high-quality underlayment, it becomes slightly more comfortable.
Something else worth noting is noise. Laminate without proper underlayment can make a noisy hollow sound when stepped on. If you wish to stick with this flooring type, use high-quality laminate with noise-reducing capabilities.
Understanding the Limitations of Laminate Wood Flooring
While laminate wood floors are durable and offer some resistance to water and scratching, they can still get damaged. Unlike other floor types that can be refinished by sanding or restraining, this is not an option with laminate wood.
As such, while appreciating its durability, ensure to keep the floor dry as dry as possible. Moisture causes laminate floors to warp, swell, and even grow mould and mildew. As a rule, avoid laminate floors in areas with high humidity. Also, go for other flooring options in kitchens and bathrooms.
Similarly, avoid scratching it by lifting furniture instead of dragging it around a room.
A laminate floor will give you up to 20 years of wear, while a hardwood floor lasts a lifetime. This means you will need to replace your laminate floor every 20 years, which will increase your long-term flooring costs.
Factors to Consider Before Choosing Laminate Wood Flooring
Is laminate wood flooring the right choice for your home? Well, one way to answer this question is by considering the benefits and drawbacks of this flooring type. The other is by assessing the factors that make this a good choice or otherwise.
Here are some of the critical factors to consider before choosing laminate wood flooring
1. Design and Quality of Laminate Flooring
Get in touch with a reliable manufacturer to go over the available options. They should provide you with various designs, and you can identify one that suits your personal style and complement the general theme of your home.
Similarly, ensure that the product is ’embossed in register.’ This means the surface lines of the laminate follow the image design.
One thing you can be sure about with laminate is that you will likely find whatever look, feel, and style you want. Laminate has you covered whether you want a rustic, country feel, the classic farmhouse look, or a neutral, contemporary apartment feel.
2. Room Function
Laminate technology has morphed over the years to give us the sturdy, scratch-resistant, and water-resistant variations we have today. Still, laminate flooring is not indestructible, and you have to consider your lifestyle and the function of a room.
For example, you can go for a darker-colored laminate for a room with a lot of foot traffic, kids, and pets. Textured laminate would also provide better safety. On the other hand, steer clear of laminate in the kitchen, laundry rooms, pool area, and bathrooms. While good laminate has some water resistance qualities, it will still get damaged from standing water.
For example, if a room is more susceptible to scratching from kids playing and pets, keep AC rating in mind. AC3, AC4, and AC5 offer the best scratch resistance.
3. Plank Size
The versatility of laminate allows you to play around with different aspects to create different illusions. For example, longer planks will visually lengthen a room if you have a small room.
Any plank will work well on an uneven subfloor, but standard planks are much more forgiving if you have an uneven concrete or timber floor.
Go For The Best
Laminate wood flooring looks great, is easy to maintain, affordable, and versatile. Additionally, with proper care, it can give you over 20 years of use.
However, proper installation is imperative. With over 25 years of experience, Polwood flooring handles all your flooring needs, from supplying top-quality supplies to installation and repair work.
To do this, we have over the years, invested in highly skilled professionals who make their businesses stay on top of industry trends. This, our professionalism, attention to detail, and customer focus, ensures that we deliver floors that last decades. We bet this is precisely what you’d want for your home, so call Paul at Polywood Flooring for a free quote today.
Servicing All Of Adelaide
Why Choose Us
Quality is at the core of everything we do. With 25 years of experience our team of highly skilled professionals are the ideal choice for all your timber flooring needs. From installation to maintenance and repair, our team has the knowledge and expertise to deliver exceptional results. We stay up to date with the latest techniques and trends in timber flooring to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality craftsmanship. We take pride in our ability to exceed customer expectations through our attention to detail, professionalism, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Our previous clients can attest to the quality of our workmanship and the reliability of our services. Call Paul today to get a free quote.
Testimonials
Paul is one of the most meticulous trades you could ever hope to engage. He is brilliant at what he does (a true perfectionist) and is a lovely person. It was a pleasure to have him work in our home. Thank you, Paul. Highly recommend!
Lucy Cornes
If I could give Paul 6 or 7 stars, I would! He was absolutely fantastic. Took on a tough residential project that others didn't want to touch and finished the floors off beautifully. Highly recommended!
Matt Thomson
Paul has completed a lot of work for me over the years and I have always found him to be honest, punctual and a true gentleman. He has laid floors for me, repaired damaged floors and sanded and polished them and I have always been blown away with his workmanship.
Frank Coppola
Paul does an amazing job every-time. I have used Paul and recommended him to my clients for over 20 jobs over the years and he delivers without fail. Whether you are wanting an old floor re-sanded/finished or looking to put in new flooring Paul is your man. Could not recommend him any higher!
Brad Allan
Paul’s workmanship is of high quality and takes great pride in every job he does. Paul provided an outstanding polishing finish in my house at Goodwood and has provided the same quality of service for all my friends I have recommended him too. Great worker, even better person!
Christian Bell
I am a top end residential builder who has been using Polwood Flooring for over a decade. I am still using Paul as he is a reliable, honest, skilled tradesman who adds value to my projects.
James Gray