-What To Consider Before You Buy Laminate Flooring A Look At Pros And Cons - By: Chris Harmen

Replacing the floor covering in a home or office requires a significant amount of research. There are many options, each with pros and cons. Arming yourself with a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different materials, such as laminate flooring, can help you select the best product for your home or office.

Traditional floor coverings include carpet, wood, stone, tile, and vinyl. Other than the self-sticking vinyl squares, which tend to be short-lived, most options require professional installation and the use of nonrenewable or slow-to-renew natural resources, such as stone and trees. These factors generally result in higher costs. Carpets are notorious for harboring dirt, grime, and allergens. They also tend to be susceptible to stains, heavy wear, and other signs of damage, as are other floor coverings. Laminate flooring, however, offers a wide range of advantages over these traditional materials, with only minimal disadvantages to the home or business owner.

Realistic Designs

One advantage of installing laminate flooring is the wide selection of natural-looking wood, stone, and tile designs. Whatever the decor, these planks create a solid foundation that will complement any architectural or interior design. Whether rich and dark, light and airy, or something in between, there are planks that match and accent the style and mood of any room. This is done with photographic images of wood, stone, or tile that make up the design layer, underneath the scratch and stain resistant wear layer. Of course, once the planks are selected and installed, they cannot be sanded or refinished, unlike natural wood. Of course, wood floors also require periodic maintenance, such as sanding and resealing, which is never needed by laminate flooring.

Built To Last

Carpets start matting down and collecting dirt and allergens on the day they are installed, while laminate flooring retains its good-as-new appearance for many years. The industry standard lifetime for these high-tech planks is 10 to 25 years, depending upon the individual product quality as well as the care and installation. In comparison, poorly made carpets tend to last only three to five years, and high quality carpets generally last 10 to 15 years with proper care and regular cleaning. An added advantage over other materials is its resistance to sun and electrical light bleaching, staining, and cracking or chipping. All floors become scratched over time, but laminate flooring offers the highest level of durability for the price, making it an excellent choice for both home and commercial applications.

Easy To Install

Unlike other floor coverings, laminate flooring is so easy to install that it can be done by practically anyone. Generally, 300 square feet can be installed in a single weekend. All that is required for installation is a non-carpeted area that is flat and clean. It can also be ordered with the sublayer padding already attached or separate from the planks. The click-lock and dry glue design allows the planks to simply snap into place. The glue is then activated with water from a damp sponge. For areas that will be exposed to above average levels of moisture, planks can be ordered with a moisture resistant core and waxed edges. These materials are especially useful in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. One disadvantage of laminate flooring and hardwood floors is the hollow sound one hears when walking across a room. High quality padding and throw rugs can reduce this effect if it is considered undesirable.

Child Friendly

Children and pets can be hard on floors with all of their running, jumping, and the inevitable spills. While carpets absorb sound, they also soak up spilled juice, paint, food, and other messes. Laminate flooring offers a stain resistant top coat that even protects against chemical spills. Messes are quickly and easily wiped up, and the smooth surface offers no hiding places for dust, dirt, and allergens. This ensures that your home is healthier as well as being easier to clean. Crayons, paint, and even magic markers can offer little or no resistance when being removed.

Nice Transitions

Each room has its own personality, and laminate flooring provides pleasant transitions from one environment to another. Identical planks can be used throughout a building to provide uniformity and stability, or different style planks can be used in each room to accentuate its decor and uniqueness.

The lower purchase and installation costs and increased durability of laminate flooring make it an attractive and affordable choice for homes and businesses of all sizes.

About the Author

Chris Harmen enjoys transforming her home and office with affordable laminate flooring by Best Laminate. They offer Cheap Pergo that comes in many styles, making it easy to find the right flooring solution.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Chris-Harmen/89665

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