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Although laminate flooring may look almost exactly like a real hardwood floor, there are several differences between the two. It's difficult to tell the difference at a first glance, but looking closely you will notice repeated features throughout your laminate flooring, such as the same knots and grain. While this can provide a more uniform look, some people prefer more variations in the pattern of their flooring.
The biggest difference between laminate flooring and hardwood is probably the price. Laminate flooring can save you about 20-25% when compared to real hardwood floors; however hardwood floors may increase the resale value of your home and be better for you in the long run if you don't plan on living there long-term.
Another important difference to note is the longevity of your flooring. Laminate flooring can stand the test of time much better than hardwood, which can be subject to sun and water damage as well as wear-and-tear caused by traffic. Some people consider this fact of hardwood floors appealing, as "weathering" can give a floor (and in turn, a room) more "character". However, laminate flooring can withstand the heavy traffic of a modern family home without as much weathering or damage a whole lot better.
The cost of maintenance and upkeep of your floor is also something to consider when you are choosing between genuine wood or laminate flooring. Hardwood floors can require a lot of time, money and effort to keep in top condition, and you can expect to re-sand and refinish real hardwood floors periodically. With laminate flooring, on the other hand, your floor will need much less maintenance and remain gorgeous for a fairly long time with minimal upkeep.
Laminate flooring is created by bonding many layers of various fibres together, treated in several ways to protect your floor against weathering and wear. Your floor can keep the same colour for years, unaffected by sunlight and moisture. This makes it easy to replace a single damaged tile and maintain the uniform colour and pattern of your floor. With hardwood however, replacing a single plank after years of wear can be impossible without contrast to the surrounding boards. If one area becomes stained or damaged, it's often necessary to replace the flooring of the entire room.
Installation is also a topic to discuss before you decide whether to buy real hardwood or laminate. If you choose hardwood, you can expect to pay experienced professionals to complete the installation perfectly. Doing this job yourself as a homeowner is not in any way fail-safe and there are many risks involved with taking on such a big project. It would take time, effort and extensive knowledge to install real hardwood floors correctly.
The installation of laminate is much simpler. You actually have a few different options for installation, but it's far more reasonable to install laminate flooring without professional help. You can choose flooring that comes pre-glued, that you must glue yourself, or even laminate flooring that requires no glue at all. It's also unnecessary to remove your old flooring when you install laminate tiles or planks; they can usually be installed on top of your existing floor.
Choosing between laminate and hardwood flooring is a personal decision. You want to consider your family lifestyle and pick appropriate flooring based on affordability and durability, as well as style. There are many options however, so you can easily find the perfect flooring for your home.
- The Convenient Option
Perhaps you are a part of the ever-growing legion of weekend warriors. When the office work is done your attention is fixated on home improvement.
You've been leaning toward building a new deck or possibly a bathroom remodel, but the flooring in the kitchen is looking a bit ragged.
This has been a project you have avoided because the family choice seems to be either stone or ceramic and you aren't exactly thrilled with the work involved in attempting to install flagstone or ceramic tile.
There are some diehards who enjoy the challenge of learning a new skill and for this hearty group of weekend warriors the installation of ceramic or flagstone is a perfect challenge. However, for those who are looking for flooring products that blends the ease of installation with lower overall product cost, the durability of laminate flooring has become a key point of consideration.
Many consumers have come to believe that laminate flooring is only a simulation of popular wood flooring, but the scope of laminate flooring has seen incredible growth in variety and style.
- Hassle Free Flooring
The easy-to-assemble laminate flooring uses efficient tongue-in-groove construction making this one of the few home improvement projects that can provide the entire family with the ability to have a hand in the finished floor.
Unlike typical ceramic or flagstone flooring, laminate flooring provides a distinctive ease of use. A simple damp mop cleanup is the general means of revitalizing this brilliant centerpiece in your home.
Should you ever determine new flooring might be in order laminate flooring provides one of the easiest means of original floor recovery. The reason this is possible has to do with the fact the laminate flooring is never actually attached to the sub-flooring. A laminate floor is often called a ‘floating floor' because it maintains a quarter inch comfort zone in installation to allow for minor movements. When the time comes to remove laminate flooring rest assured it will be an easy process.
- How to Choose
There are several makers of laminate flooring and many provide a selection of laminates that do not maintain the typical wood grain. Online showrooms can provide a preview of available styles and may even allow you to see what the flooring choice might look like in a variety of different rooms in the home. Some manufacturers even offer to sell a sample of the flooring so you can more closely determine if the flooring choice is right for your home.
Remember that a flooring choice that is lighter in color can allow your room to seem larger than it actually is while a darker tone may allow the room to have a more intimate feel.
Wood grain laminate flooring remains one of the most popular flooring choices, but it may surprise you to learn that in some cases, stone and ceramic laminate flooring may be significantly less expensive with a similar level of quality.
The choices in home remodeling and décor have never been greater and the variety of applications in laminate flooring make it a strong contender in the finish of a new home and the touch of brilliance for the weekend warrior in all of us.