If you are ready to update the look of your home, you might consider new flooring. Some homeowners underestimate the power of their flooring. However, updating your flooring can change the look of your entire home. Whether you have carpeting, hardwood, tile, or vinyl flooring, you might consider switching to laminate for a completely different look. With laminate, you can change the flooring in one room or your entire home.
Aside from the ability to adapt to most rooms in your home, laminate flooring has many other benefits. There are many pros to installing a laminate floor, from lasting durability and low maintenance to easy installation. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you might consider getting laminate floors.
Durability
If you have pets, small children, or lots of foot traffic, you might consider laminate floors for your home as an extremely durable option. Laminate is a strong, scratch-resistant, and highly durable flooring material. Typically, many most laminate products are protected by a tough top layer and resin coating. Laminate is a great alternative to hardwood floors as it holds up well in high-traffic areas and resists scratches, dents, moisture, and mold. The protective top layer is also anti-fade and wear-resistant.
Easy Installation
Another reason many homeowners choose laminate over other flooring materials is that it is much easier to install. Laminate floor planks are made with interlocking tabs that make them easy to snap together and place on the floor. Additionally, laminate can be a floating floor that can be laid over existing flooring without the need for nails or glue. While professional installers can easily lay laminate floors, many people find it easy to do themselves with basic tools.
Lower Price
While laminate floors are made from high-quality materials, they are usually much less expensive than other flooring types. Hardwood flooring can cost as much as $12 per square foot, while laminate floors max out at around $2 per square foot. Laminate can vary in options and price. However, it is usually cheaper than other products but provides quality the same quality and look.
Subflooring
As discussed already, laminate can be installed over a variety of other flooring or subfloor materials. From concrete or plywood to existing vinyl floors, laminate can go over most surfaces pretty effortlessly. In many cases, homeowners elect to put down an underlayment layer to provide a cushioning and sound barrier for the flooring. When homeowners consider a flooring project, hardwood floors can be unsuitable for certain subfloor materials, and laminate becomes the better option.
Variety of Styles
Many varieties of laminate floor material simulate the look of authentic hardwood or stone floors. However, given the process for crafting laminate material, the possibilities for color and style are almost limitless. The variety of colors, tones, and textures enable homeowners to match flooring options with the mood and style of any room. Laminate floors range from very light colors to rich, elegant tones.
Easy Maintenance
Laminate planks are moisture and stain-resistant, making clean-up and maintenance easy. In general, there are no special cleaners or sealers required to keep the flooring in good shape. Many homeowners report that daily sweeping or even vacuuming is all that is needed to keep the floors clean. You can also mop laminate floors just as you would any other material.
As you can see, there are numerous benefits to having laminate floors installed in your home. While this flooring option is very versatile, however, it is not without its limits. Laminate planks are made to be water-resistant but not waterproof. As a result, it might not be the best flooring material for bathrooms or laundry rooms where heavy water spills are possible. Aside from this, however, laminate floors could be an excellent choice for many areas of your home.
