What Are The Advantages Of Laminate Flooring Versus Hardwood Flooring?
Laminate Flooring Versus Hardwood Flooring is beautiful. But they require some maintenance and often cost a pretty penny. If you want something that looks great, lasts forever, and won’t break the bank, then Laminate Flooring is your best bet.
What are the benefits of laminate compared to hardwood flooring? Learn more below.
Hardwood floors are beautiful and durable. They look great, last longer than vinyl floors, and require less maintenance.
Unfortunately, these floors also cost quite a bit. Even though you might save hundreds or thousands of dollars over time, it’s usually harder to install hardwood floors because of their high installation costs. In addition, installing hardwood floors isn’t always the easiest thing to achieve.
There are pros and cons to both laminate and hardwood flooring. Both types of flooring offer their own unique advantages and disadvantages. The question is, what type would suit you better? Read on for our guide on choosing between laminate and hardwood floors!
If you like the idea of having custom-made wood floors in your kitchen or bathroom but don’t have the money for the high price tag then laminate flooring may be just what you need to realize your dream. Laminate flooring can imitate the appearance of real wood with the added benefit of being much easier to install.
It can easily be installed by an average handyman without requiring any special skills. Because of this ease of use and low cost, many people choose laminate floors as an affordable alternative to solid wood floors.
The main drawback to laminate flooring is the lack of the deep wood grain pattern that many people desire. This means that there will be no visual distinction between the laminate and the surface beneath it which can make it appear flimsy when viewed from certain angles. However, if you plan to put laminate flooring only in one room of the house where the views are not important to you, laminate flooring should provide a good solution.
The major advantage of using laminate flooring over hardwood floors is its affordability. With proper care and maintenance, laminate planks can last several decades. While it does not have the same lifespan as hardwoods, it still outlasts most other types of flooring. Unlike hardwood floors, you do not need to worry about warping or splitting after installation.
This is partly due to its density. When used properly, laminate floors will never expand, contract or warp. You do not have to worry about water damage either since laminate flooring is waterproof.
Laminate floors also come in various styles and designs to fit virtually every home decor style. You can find them in contemporary hues, traditional patterns and even modern geometric shapes. There are also several different materials within each brand so no matter what kind of design you prefer, there’s a match for you.
Since laminates can withstand moisture and heat, they work well in kitchens and bathrooms. If you want to go all out on your remodelling project, installing laminate flooring in multiple rooms can drastically reduce the overall project cost.
Laminate flooring comes in three basic types: high-quality vinyl, medium-quality vinyl and lower-grade vinyl. High-grade vinyl flooring tends to be more expensive, but it has a longer life expectancy than the cheaper versions. A higher-end vinyl product usually features a thicker top layer and a stronger backing that provides additional durability.
In addition to providing strength, the top layer helps protect against wear and tear caused by foot traffic. Medium-grade products are generally less durable but typically offer a better value for the price. Low-grade vinyl is made primarily for inexpensive mass-market sales. These products are typically thinner and are easier to install, but they tend to look cheap and feel inferior compared to their pricier counterparts.
The best way to tell the difference between these three styles is by looking at the material thickness. The vinyl used for high-end applications is approximately 0.25 inches thick while mid-grade vinyl ranges from 0.15 inches to 0.23 inches. Lower-grade vinyl is anywhere from 0.07 inches to 0.13 inches thick.
How To Install Laminate Flooring?
Installing laminate flooring is easy provided you know how. You just need to follow these simple steps. First, you must decide whether you want your floor installed with glue or nails. Nails hold up better but require more skill to install correctly.
Glue holds the floor together much like wallpaper adheres to walls. Once you have decided which type of adhesive you plan on using, you then need to prepare your subfloor first. This means sanding down any loose surfaces before applying the adhesive. You should wait at least 24 hours after sanding before applying the adhesive because this allows the adhesive time to dry completely.
Next, lay the flooring pieces in the prepared area. Make sure to keep the edges tight together to avoid cracks during drying. Allow the adhesive to cure for 24 hours before moving the furniture back into place. Finally, apply an underlayment over the entire surface to prevent scratches that may occur when you move furniture around.
In order to make your laminate installation last as long as possible, it is important to pay close attention to proper care and maintenance.
Here’s why:
When you clean laminated flooring, always remember not to use harsh chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. Both of those substances will damage the finish and weaken its bond with the fiberboard. Instead, try using a damp mop and warm water.
Cleaning spills or stains immediately is another good habit to get into. Scrubbing spills with a sponge or paper towel will help loosen the stain without damaging the finish. After cleaning, let the floor air dry thoroughly before walking on it. Also, don’t put anything heavy on top of the finished concrete, especially if there is moisture underneath.
Laminate Flooring Installation Tips
When putting new floors in, many homeowners choose not to bother doing the job themselves. Why not? Because it can seem overwhelming. But, installing laminate flooring isn’t nearly as difficult as most people think.
If you do some planning ahead of time, however, you can save yourself lots of aggravation. The following tips can help make your laminate flooring project go smoothly.
1) Know what style of floor you want before starting. There are three basic types of laminate flooring out there: engineered, solid wood laminate and tile. Each kind has its own benefits and drawbacks. For example, engineered floors tend to be softer and provide more cushion than tile, but they are also very loud.
Solid wood floors are often heavier and more durable than engineered ones, but they can be pricey.
Tile floors aren’t ideal for every situation, since tiles are harder to maintain and can chip easily. However, they do look great in kitchens and bathrooms. Most people prefer engineers for reasons of price, durability, noise reduction and ease of maintenance.
2) Choose the right size. Before starting to lay out the flooring, measure the room where it will be placed. It might be best to start by measuring the length and width of the room and then adding 3 feet on each side to account for the thickness of the flooring.
Remember that some flooring comes in different widths. For example, the standard 12×12-foot sheets come in either 36 inches or 48 inches wide. And, even though you may only need one sheet per foot, you’ll still end up buying enough material to cover all four sides of the room.
3) Lay the subfloor first. This helps ensure a nice flat surface for the laminate flooring. When laying the floor, consider placing a piece of plywood across the room, preferably on top of the old carpet. Then, lay down your subfloor padding (if needed).
Next, lay the engineered flooring directly on the subfloor, making sure it covers both the plywood and the carpet. Use spacers between the floors to allow air to flow through the space while the adhesive dries. If your house was built after 1996, you should have no problem using this method. Otherwise, you will need to apply a vapour barrier over the subfloor.
4) Secure the edges. Once you’ve laid down any baseboards or other edge trim, install moulding along the perimeter of the room. Make sure you leave at least 18 inches of space around the walls and at least 24 inches around the doors and windows.
That extra space will give you plenty of room when you cut the plank floor plan later. If you’re working with an existing floor, you’ll probably have to remove the hinges and reattach them after cutting out the opening.
5) Cut out the plan. Your next step is to draw out the layout of the room. You should be able to use graph paper, clip art or just get creative.
Mark everything, including doorways and windows. Be careful to create openings large enough to accommodate the doors or windows that you’ll eventually be replacing.
6) Cut out the plan and put down the glue. Now that you’ve got the design complete, you can start cutting out your pieces of floating flooring. Glue the flooring as soon as possible, letting it dry completely.
The faster you can work, the better. Of course, if you make mistakes, you can always go back and correct those areas later. But, when you have the chance to smooth things out now, take advantage of it!
7) Install the underlayment. Underlayments are designed to help protect the subfloor from moisture and wear and tear. They also act as a soundproof layer between the subfloor and the flooring.
To prevent warping of the flooring, you may want to place 2 – 4 inches of insulation underneath. Most insulation products include their own underlayment already. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
8) Attach the tongue and groove strips. After installing the underlayment, secure the tapered strips at every corner and along the long axis of the room. These will serve as guides for attaching the flooring. Start with the corners and work your way towards the middle.
9) Lay down the flooring. Finally, once the underlayment is installed, you can begin laying down the flooring. It’s important to keep in mind that some types of laminate require a protective finish before they can be installed.
Others don’t. So, read the installation instructions carefully. Also, check out our post about how to choose the wood flooring option and how to install it before reading further.
10) Sand and seal. Finally, clean up all the loose debris from the project and sand the entire room. This ensures that there aren’t any rough edges or bumps in your finished product.
Then, follow these steps:
1) Apply a clear sealer;
2) Wait until the sealer has dried completely;
3) Apply two coats of stain.
You can do most of this by hiring a professional installer/flooring expert that can provide more guidance as well as additional services such as levelling or installing flooring.
