Laminate flooring is nothing new really and it is one of the best flooring available today, it’s been around for a few years now in Canada and United States, but more and more people are becoming aware that it’s available and that it’s a good alternative to hardwood flooring because it’s a lot cheaper and imagine if you can purchase these on sale you can save tons. So, If you are looking at different materials available and you want to find out some of the best qualities of laminate flooring, continue to read below for more information on why this is one of the top rated flooring materials to use.
Available In Different Plank Sizes
Although laminate also comes in squares, the most popular style is, in fact, planks. These tend to look a lot more like hardwood, which is one of the reasons people are purchasing this material. The manufacturers that make these planks tend to offer them in whatever custom size you want, however, there are default sizes which include; 8 feet long, 10 feet long and 4 feet long. The width thickness is also going to be different and it really depends on the look that you want to achieve in your home.
Reproduction Aspects
Laminate flooring that is available today can mimic all sorts of different wood types that are available in hardwood styles, but they can also mimic laminate flooring to look like other things too. Chances are if you can take a photographic image of the material, it can be placed on the laminate floors. Some examples include; Leather, Cherry, Oak, Maple, Walnut, Ceramic, Porcelain, Stone, Granite, Marble and more.
But as mentioned when people get this material, they get it because it is closely related to hardwood, therefore, they tend to stick to hardwood-like features. The only real reason you would get a laminate floor that looks like the stone is because it’s going to cost less. For example, laminate flooring, 250 square feet costs a mere $1,444 dollars. On the other hand, marble flooring, 250 square feet costs a whopping $4,148! Big difference and that is exactly why some people choose to create different material looks using laminate.
Cleaning Ability
Cleaning and maintaining this material is really quite easy. As long as you don’t put a sopping wet mop down on the floor, clean up spills and splatters quickly, and vacuum it at least a few times a week, this floor can look and feel good for years to come. You don’t need any expensive floor cleaners. You don’t need expensive waxes. All you need are a few quality tools to clean the floors; a vacuum with a brush that can be raised and lowered, a microfiber mop, and some microfiber cloths to clean up messes or “buffer” the floor to make it shine. This is not a complex material to take care of.
So Easy To Install
Most of the manufacturers such as tilemarkets.com and that makes laminate floor nowadays use a click system wherein the pieces click into each other. This means you don’t need to hire some expert installer who is going to charge you a ton of money for the laminate installation.
You also don’t need to worry about having carpentry skills for laying down your laminate flooring– there is no glue, no nails, no screws involved with this type of laminate wood flooring. It’s just that easy. Anyone can do it. You simply roll down some underlayment and then snap the laminate floors into place. You can even install it over an already done flooring. Can’t ask for much more than that!
These floors can also be installed via a floating floor design which means that you don’t need to take out a pre-existing material – concrete, hardwood, plywood, etc to place this new floor down. Instead, you can place the laminate over an existing floor. It’s quicker, easier, and it’s going to cost you less money, which is always a good thing.
Quicker Acclimation
When you buy something like hardwood, you have to unpack it and sit it in the room for 3-6 weeks before you install it so that the wood can get used to the atmosphere and the climate in the space you want to install it. Laminate isn’t like this. Instead of weeks, it’s only days. 48 hours to be exact. This way you can get on with your project quicker and enjoy it sooner.
Healthier Materials
Laminate flooring is also resistant to allergens, bacteria, mold and mildew and quite eco-friendly according to nalfa.com. You can’t really say that about any other flooring, especially carpet. You can even purchase on the market coatings for your laminate flooring that will make them even healthier for you and your family. This is especially important for people and people with kids that have allergies or asthma or even asthmatic symptoms.
Image credit: 1, 2. Pergo Laminate Floor, 3. Cherry Laminate Flooring