Floors are an integral part of your home. Not only is it something you spend a lot of time standing on, but a good floor can elevate and bring a space together. Choosing flooring that is both durable and within budget can be difficult, especially for first-time homebuyers or DIY home renovators. Laminate provides an affordable, durable, and attractive option, especially because it can look like other types of flooring. Read our guide to explore the types of laminate flooring available, their pros and cons, and how to install it.
What is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring consists of tiles or boards made up of a synthetic blend of materials sealed together during the laminate process. These four layers – wear, decor, core, and backer – give synthetic flooring its strength and durability, as well as the ability to recreate the look of other flooring materials, like stone or natural hardwood.
Types of Laminate Flooring
Plastic
Plastic laminate flooring is made completely of artificial materials, making it waterproof and resistant to scratches, dents, bumps, and other damage that can occur with natural hardwood floors. However, plastic laminate cannot be sanded or refinished, meaning that it must be replaced once damage starts to occur.
Engineered Wood
Although plastic laminate flooring can closely replicate the appearance of other materials, those looking for a more “authentic” wood look can choose engineered wood flooring. In addition to an acrylic laminate layer, it uses layers of real wood to appear and feel more like its pure hardwood counterparts. Unlike plastic options, laminate wood flooring can be sanded and refinished several times before needing replacement.
Because it uses actual hardwood, engineered wood laminate flooring can cost more than twice as much as plastic laminate. It is also more susceptible to water and physical damage.
Benefits of Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring’s popularity is due in large part to its cost. Compared to hardwood floors, tile, or stone, even the more high-quality laminate flooring is significantly less expensive. It is also very durable and able to withstand areas of heavy foot traffic with minimal wear. With waterproofing and UV-resistant options available, manufacturers have come a long way to ensure that your flooring lasts for a while. With the ability to simulate the look and even the feel of other materials and for its price, laminate has incredible value and versatility.
Disadvantages of Laminate Flooring
Even with continuing advancements in printing technology and with the ability to integrate real hardwood, laminate flooring can never truly replicate real hardwood flooring, tile, or stone. Laminate flooring is also susceptible to damage from liquids, especially if not treated to be waterproof. Liquid damage causes buckling, waving, and eventual warping of laminate floors, which can cause them to dissolve and break down over time. Untreated liquid damage leads to unattractive staining that can become permanent.
As most laminate consists entirely of plastic, it cannot be refinished once it is damaged or broken. You also cannot partially repurpose or partially replace laminate flooring, as it usually comes in pre-cut slats or tiles. This makes it especially important to avoid common mistakes when laying laminate flooring and to take good care of it once it is installed. You must replace the entire piece of laminate to fix a problem area that cannot be covered by repair putty or by filling in minor scrapes. However, for its cost and how easy it is to replace, laminate flooring provides many benefits to consider.
Price of Laminate Flooring
The average cost of laminate flooring per square foot varies between $0.70-$2.00. Maple laminate flooring tends to be the cheapest, acacia wood and beech wood laminate flooring in the middle, and hickory the most expensive.
Maintaining and Caring for Laminate Flooring
Because of its durability, laminate flooring is easy to maintain and lasts a long time. Along with installation kits, laminate flooring also comes with instructions on how to best care for and maintain the appearance of your laminate flooring. Depending on the manufacturer, the material of the laminate, and whether it is waterproofed or UV-resistant, maintenance instructions will vary.
In general, ensuring that you quickly clean spills, cover areas of high traffic with an area rug or carpeting, and put padding on anything that might slide across the surface of the floor all help increase the lifespan of your laminate flooring. If you do not elect to use waterproof materials, you must be extremely careful not to use too wet of a mop or rag when cleaning floors. A damp mop with some laminate floor cleaner once a week or so will keep the luster and shine of your floors. Just remember to ensure that all your cleaning products are laminate-friendly.
Installing Laminate Flooring
Another major benefit of laminate floors is the easy installation. Laminate flooring lies on top of a preexisting subfloor, making it easy to put just about anywhere in your home. It also comes in a variety of easy-to-install options, such as glueless slats that click together or pre-glued tiles that fit snugly against the subfloor. Laminate flooring installation also lends itself well to unique flooring patterns, such as a herringbone pattern or utilizing wide-style laminate planks.
Laminate can also be installed using the traditional glue-in-place method. Although more time-consuming and challenging, hand-glued laminate flooring ensures a tight, sturdy bond for the lifetime of the laminate. Regardless of installation type, laminate flooring comes with a installation kit to guide homebuyers and contractors on how to install it properly.
Professional Laminate Flooring Installation
The experts at Dylan Hardwood Floors can install any type of laminate flooring of your choice. We ensure that your new flooring fits perfectly into every space in your home exactly as you want it. Whether looking to lay down traditional-style flooring or trying a different pattern, laminate flooring provides homeowners with an affordable, stylish option for any sized project. Call us at 201-424-5110 or fill out our online form to get a free estimate today!
