Laminate Flooring Pros and Cons

The pros and cons of laminate flooring

Laminate flooring has different pros and cons, which makes it either a valuable or regrettable purchase, depending on a homeowner’s needs. Here are some laminate pros and cons:

Pros

Ease of installation

Laminate flooring is easy to install, so you could probably do it yourself. Laminate planks are clicked and locked together. They’re installed on top of a clean and flat subfloor, so a plank can be easily replaced if needed.

Versatility

Laminate flooring can be made to imitate virtually any type of floor, including tile, hardwood, or stone flooring. The options are virtually endless when it comes to laminate flooring. While it’s obviously not the real thing, it’ll still give your home a beautiful look.

Affordable

Typically speaking, laminate flooring costs about $4.50 – $5.00 per square foot. This is much less expensive than some other flooring options. The low pricing of laminate flooring can justify some of its shortcomings.

Easy to clean

Laminate surfaces are multi-layered. One of those layers is a wear layer. The wear layer offers support and protection to the surface. It prevents scratches and the sudden appearance of seams. As a result, the surface maintains its flatness. Ultimately, all that is needed to keep a laminate floor clean is a broom and a vacuum.

Borderline Pro/Con

Appearance

Laminate flooring is not real hardwood. However, it does imitate the material quite well. Technology has become so advanced that the high-resolution images used for laminate flooring truly makes it look like real wood.

Durability

Like all flooring, laminate flooring will wear down over time. While its composition helps prevent damage, it will eventually succumb to wear and tear. Unfortunately, laminate flooring cannot be refinished. Laminate flooring typically comes with a warranty of at least 10 years.

Cons

Vulnerability to moisture

This is one of the biggest disadvantages of laminate flooring. If moisture is left standing on laminate flooring, it will severely damage it. Therefore, it’s not suggested to have laminate flooring installed in rooms that are prone to spills and leaks. However, laminate flooring can be installed in a kitchen. The point is that moisture should not be left standing on laminate flooring.

Lower return on investment

Since laminate flooring imitates other flooring materials, it doesn’t add much value to your home. Additionally, it’s relatively short lifespan doesn’t attract many homebuyers.

Floors BLVD

Floors BLVD carries all kinds of high-quality laminate flooring. Our experts will be more than happy to answer and flooring questions you might have. Call Floors BLVD today at (469) 535-9246 for more information on laminate flooring. Also, check out our blog for more helpful home remodeling tips.