Even the best laminate flooring is susceptible to moisture damage and shouldn’t be installed laundry rooms and rooms with sump pumps or floor drains. Laminate flooring is highly durable. Tarkett makes laminate flooring at all quality levels, but the focus here is on their very inexpensive lines sold exclusively at Menards. If the installation is not done strategically, you can end up with identical boards next to one another. So here are the pros and cons of laminate floors you may need to know. Unlike laminate flooring, which has a particleboard core that is easily damaged by water seeping through the seams, luxury vinyl flooring is made of waterproof materials all through its thickness, making it virtually impervious to water damage. ft, but you can find better deals from wholesalers and online distributors. Since the planks are constructed with a particleboard core, it's easy to cut them to fit with miter saws. It is easy to maintain laminate, but not easy to repair. Pros. Many very good laminates can be found in the affordable $2 to $3 range. Low cost and unique finishes make concrete floors attractive, but they have special requirements. Browse a full list of topics found on the site, from accessories to mudrooms to wreaths. Smart planning and prep make this DIY-friendly material even easier to install. Older types of laminate flooring required you to glue pieces to each other, but virtually all of today's laminate flooring use a modified tongue-and-groove system best described as "click-and-lock" or "fold-lock," in which the planks are joined in interlocking fashion, edge-to-edge and end-to-end. Laminate flooring is typically installed as a "floating floor"—the planks are interlocking at the edges, forming a solid mat that simply lies on the underlayment, without any glue-down required. ft. delivered) 15 mm total thickness including pre-attached foam backer Laminate provides for a floor that’s quite affordable. Flooring experts revere laminate flooring for its ease of installation, durability, and visual aesthetics. Johnathan taught building construction for Rising Sun Energy in Berkeley California. Is nature’s most elegant flooring worth the ongoing maintenance and the price? This makes it an eco-friendly flooring option. Some laminate materials may be made with formaldehyde and other chemicals that environmental experts say can release toxic VOCs, although stricter EPA guidelines have helped reduce VOC content in laminate flooring. But you might also want to consider luxury vinyl flooring (LVF), which is sometimes marketed as vinyl plank flooring. The Pros and Cons Of Laminate Flooring For Bathrooms. The image is printed and glued to a core of fiberboard backed by a bottom layer that’s treated to prevent moisture damage. Laminate flooring is a good choice for allergy sufferers, as the product does not trap dust and allergens and is easy to clean. Laminate flooring also has its pros and cons which are further described below: Pros. All this variety is due to the photographic process used to create the design layer of laminate flooring — a high-resolution image of actual wood that’s vividly realistic. For more vinyl flooring pros and cons click here. Pros Cons; Pros Cons; Affordable: May need to be replaced within 10 years: Comfortable on the feet: Not all types are water-resistant: Realistic wood appearance: Comparing Vinyl vs. Laminate Flooring. ft. ($2.60/sq. Laminate flooring is DIY-friendly, durable and versatile, but is it right for you? Laminate flooring is made primarily from wood elements, therefore it is biodegradable and 85% of its parts can be recycled. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. It is available in the peel and stick tiles as well as the … Hardwood flooring, by contrast, can easily cost $15 to $20 per square foot to install. Are you wondering why people prefer laminate flooring … Mop with a slightly damp mop, or better yet, use laminate floor cleaner. Plastic laminate flooring is a good choice if you are looking to save money with an easy-to-install, basic flooring. Learn the pros and cons of laminate flooring before you begin a project. Look out for an article comparing engineered wood and laminate soon. The underlayment also eliminates the hollow sound and feel that sometimes occurs with laminate flooring. But a small number of chemical-sensitive individuals may have reactions to the resins and glues used in the flooring. With a square foot costing from as low as $1, it’s one of the cheapest options available today. If you do get a stain, it is usually easy to clean off. The Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring. Average material costs for plastic laminate flooring range from $1 to $3 per square foot at big-box home centers, but you can spend as much as $10 or $12 per square foot for designer products. 5. Laminate flooring pros: More visually … Of course, Laminate floors won’t be the best choice in every situation. Both terms give the impression that they are constructed of man-made materials, but there is a vast contrast in the way the two flooring … This home's entryway features the same rustic-looking wood laminate as the … Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Here are five quick ways to personalize tile flooring. Laminate flooring has a wear layer that protects the photographic layer underneath and makes it somewhat resistant to scratches and dents, and very resistant to stains. Laminate flooring can be a good flooring material for quickly upgrading a floor if you're not worried about long-term real estate value and aren't obsessed with a luxurious look. Let’s take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of laminate to establish if it’s the right flooring for your project. As far as cleaning goes, both floors are fairly easy to clean however if one had to emerge victoriously, it would be laminate flooring. Between size, choice of colour, maintenance and environmental considerations, many factors determine the use of vinyl or laminate … The edges and ends are designed to snap together so there’s no nailing, making installation a good DIY project. This makes laminate flooring one of the most inexpensive of all flooring materials—comparable to a mid-level carpet. laminate flooring pros and cons . Best Cheap Laminate: Tarkett at Menards. Facebook; Twitter; Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Pros: The many (120+) options cover the range from light to dark, from rustic to modern and from affordable to premium. It’s a laminated flooring product with real wood veneer instead of image and wear layers. Hardwoods provide a more natural look. 3406 Route 611 Bartonsville, PA 18321 (570) 481-9061 A price that’s too low is an indicator of equally low quality. Hardwood flooring, on the other hand, should be cleaned with vinegar. DIY Installation. Get video instructions about kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling, flooring, painting and more. While there are dozens of laminate floor brands, the best products come from a relatively small number of manufacturers: While laminate flooring can feel hard underfoot, most installations include a resilient foam underlayment that gives the flooring a slightly springy feeling. 3. For areas with heavy moisture, you need an impervious surface, such as vinyl or porcelain tile. Occasional sweeping keeps the surface free from abrasive grit. Engineered Wood Flooring Comparison Guide, Wood Parquet Flooring Review: Pros and Cons, Resilient Vinyl Flooring Review: Pros and Cons. Check out some pros and cons of installing laminate flooring: Pros & Cons. Laminate Flooring Cons Explained Not the Real Thing: The biggest drawback of laminate flooring is the fact that it is not authentic wood. There is still a lot of confusion as to the difference between laminate and engineered wood flooring. Laminate flooring is not a material that will add long-term real estate value to your home, although it can be a good way to quickly and inexpensively renovate a shabby floor. Lee Wallender. Vinyl 1 and laminate flooring are two popular, man-made flooring products that come in a variety of colors and styles. The Pros of Laminate Flooring Low-Cost. Lee Wallender. If you want to get top sale value for your home, hardwood and engineered wood flooring give you better value. The laminate construction gives the pieces stability and prevents seams from opening up during changes in humidity. It much depends on the personal preferences but some facts about the product that make them make decision are also unavoidable. We’ll even go into the pros and cons of tile vs. laminate in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Laminate flooring can’t be refinished the way real wood can, so once it’s worn out, it’ll have to be replaced. You’ve got choices to make; we’ve got the advice you need. And because it is a resilient material, it is quieter and softer underfoot than laminate flooring. It’s typically texturized and dyed, laid in a single layer over rubberized plastic. Laminate floors are low-maintenance, affordable, and DIY-friendly—to a point. Next, we use Pergo pros and cons to compare Pergo laminate to other top brands. That’s a good place to start with the advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring. Golden Select Oslo Grey 19.2 cm (7.56 in.) Other cons may be eliminated by the higher-end models. Vinyl flooring is made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, which is a synthetic material produced by the petroleum industry. Written by. You want the look of hardwood, but not sure if you want to invest in it. It’s all covered by a tough, clear top wear layer that resists scratches and dings. But while laminate flooring is perfectly functional and attractive, it does not carry the prestige and added real estate value found with real hardwood or stone tile flooring. Plus, many manufacturers throw in an increasingly varied portfolio of stone, tile and metal look-alikes. Laminate flooring is enjoyed in millions of U.S. homes for good reason: The pros outweigh the cons. Thanks for the feedback. Here’s how it compares to laminate: 1. With this vast array of choices before you, here’s the pros and cons you need to know: If you have your heart set on real wood but are attracted to the benefits of laminates, then wood laminate flooring may be the answer. 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