Laminate Flooring: What is it good for?
Laminate flooring has many practical applications. It is typically made from synthetic materials, such as melamine resin, or from recycled composite materials in multiple laminated layers. It is most often manufactured to have the look of hardwood, tile, or natural stone, but sold at a lower cost. So, what is it that REALLY sets laminates apart from other flooring options?
Laminates are Strong
Laminate flooring is incredibly resilient and durable. The aluminum oxide finish commonly used on the surface of laminate planks is extremely hard. I have seen a handyman drop a hammer on a freshly-laid laminate floor. The terror on his face was priceless! But to his relief, he could not find so much as a dent when he bent over to retrieve his hammer.
The hard finish on Laminate floors performs well against pets, children, office chair casters, and heavy traffic in general. The finish is UV resistant, which means it will not bleach or fade in the sunlight.
Laminates are Easy
Easy to prep for, easy to install, easy to clean and maintain, and easy to remove and replace. Laminates are often installed as a floating floor, which means they are not fastened to the subfloor, but merely snapped together. This makes it easy for do-it-yourselfers to install it without a lot of construction experience. The everyday cleaning and maintenance is also simple. For most laminate floors, a simple dust mop once a day is all that is needed. In kitchens and bathrooms the floor can be mopped much like tile or vinyl.
Additional Pros and some Cons
As mentioned before, high quality laminates are often less expensive and easier to install than hardwood or tile. They can often perform better over radiant heat than solid wood floors and usually require less maintenance (no re-sanding and finishing every 5-10 years). They also perform relatively well in wet areas, although they are not considered to be waterproof. So, why doesn't everyone buy laminate? 1. They can be noisy; when walked across, they create a distinct clicking sound that is undesirable (special padding installed under the floor can reduce this noise significantly). 2. Upon closer inspection, one can often tell that the floor is man made and not a natural product. 3. When damaged, they can be much more difficult to repair than a wood or tile floor. While repair kits are available, they are often hard to find and seldom hide the damage completely.
