Laminate Flooring – Durability Against Scratches, Moisture and Wear-And-Tear

If you’re in the process of deciding on the perfect flooring for your house, then you must have come across hundreds of designs and colors from your random internet searches. It even gets more interesting if a laminate flooring is all you want. This type of flooring can comfortably offer you the incredible smooth hardwood-like look or even take the tile design, that too at very affordable rates. So you don’t have to worry about your budget constraints as your weird cravings for a wide, dark or easy-to-clean floor can be quickly fulfilled.

Want to learn more about this fade-resistant flooring? We break it down for you.

Fundamentals of Laminate Flooring

Also commonly referred to as floating wood tile, laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic floor with a lamination infusion. The floor perfectly simulates the wood underneath with a clear, attractive protective layer. In other words, it’s simply an imitation of the actual wood product. Mostly the top-layers of laminate floors are majorly made from melamine resin and fiberboard materials.

This definition is a complete opposite of the commonly known hardwood floor, which is a typical timber product meant for flooring purposes. And although some high-quality laminate floors might be easily confused for real wood, the difference between the two is still huge and incomparable.

Choosing Laminate Flooring; What Should You Consider?

Given the similarity between the laminate floors and others in the same category, choosing the best among them can be pretty hard for any homeowner. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any difference between them.

The following points will help you get a clear distinction;

Aesthetics

If you’re a first-time buyer, then you might have to rely on the aesthetics for proper differentiation of quality laminate floors from their mimics. For instance, you will discover that some are heavily characterized by enormous wood grain texture variety. Which makes it difficult to come across the exact appearance of more than two pieces of flooring. The case, however, doesn’t apply with laminate as you can have up to five similar planks. This is because the patterns are pre-designed. So you can typically work with a group of two or three favorite patterns for your entire house.

Repairing

It’s much easier to repair a damaged portion of some other flooring than that of a laminate. The reason for this is quite simple; the nature of the materials used. Remember the laminate flooring has several layers, so if the installation procedure involved the use of glue, then it becomes very difficult to separate each piece. So in this case, you will have to replace the whole plank or the entire affected section.

Also, there is a problem when it comes to matching the pieces. You might find it hard to get the exact duplicate of the damaged piece, hence will have to break the pattern of that specific area of the floor.

Durability

Whether the flooring of your house will last for longer depends on a number of factors. For instance, how many are you in that house? And what’s your typical weight? Do you get involved in intense indoor activities such as rope jumping or gym sessions? Truth be told, while the manufacturer might have their own set of recommendations regarding the maintenance and care tips, they can’t help much if the involvement of everyone else isn’t a guarantee.

Since the infusion process of laminate flooring involves a lot of heat and pressure, you can expect the outcome to be quite hard and even better than regular wood. This alone explains the reason as to why most of these floors are high-resistant to fading, staining and moisture damage. No wonder you will easily land a 25-year warranty from various manufacturers on the same. They trust their product and know how reliable it can be over the years. And although they rarely succumb to scratches, they are easily visible when they do and that can ruin the look of the entire floor section.

 

Contrary to expectations, although most individuals feel that oiled wood might be better than laminate, they aren’t that long lasting. And besides, with proper care and great color selections, laminate floors can also hide scratches very well. Their sturdy covering also means it isn’t easy to get past the first layer no matter how stubborn the stains might get.

Moisture

If you’re living in areas with high humidity levels, then you will love the services offered by the laminate. The mere fact that they aren’t easily breathable means no amount of dry air, moisture or environmental changes can affect their efficiency. It’s for this reason that most laminate manufacturers easily recommend them for use in the bathroom and kitchen areas as there is a lot of water spillage taking place throughout the day.

So in this case, it’s evident that even your location can influence the type of flooring you choose. What worked in another city might not necessarily work in the next. Always keep this in mind whenever you’re considering switching locations, especially if you aren’t very flexible to change.

Maintenance

If you thought the maintenance procedure remains the same for all types of floors, then you have been wrong your entire life. For some floors, the care goes beyond standard sweeping and mopping procedures as it also involves the use of specific cleaning agents, which are rather expensive.

But laminate flooring brings forth the correct definition of easy maintenance. All you need is frequent sweeping, dry dusting and dump cloth mopping. In fact, if there aren’t any children or pets in the house, you might reduce these cleaning sessions to a few days a week. Awesomely convenient. You even don’t have to worry about soda spills sticking around and damaging your precious floor.

Friendliness To The Environment

Unfortunately, laminate floors don’t fall in the category of Eco-friendly ( sorry if you can’t imagine using any product that isn’t environmentally friendly). You see, since they are made up of bonded layers, most of them rely on glue to ensure they stay in place. And as you know, glue can be emitted into the air and is one of the leading sources of air pollution. Also, the use of high temperature and pressure during manufacturing makes them far from organic. This means that some countries have to come-up with restrictive measures when it comes to their production.

The good news, however, is that you can still find non-toxic ones in the market and get a good finishing for your house. This option is ideal for all environmental Eco-friendly conscious individuals, who would gladly spend any amount of money to ensure they laminate their floors.

Longevity

Recent research indicates that the average duration of a standard laminate floor is about 20 years. So if you get one installed today, be ready to replace in at least the next twenty years, if at all you maintain all the necessary maintenance guidelines. The reason for this could be because they are simply difficult to repair. Therefore, it’s logical for it to be completely worn out with constant accumulation of wears and tears.

It’s for this reason that we advise you to settle for laminate only when you are sure to keep up with the costs. Also, there shouldn’t be any reason to be scared if you know you can keep up with the maintenance guidelines. Besides, they have been around for a while and we have seen them in most homes where the owners cannot think of any better choice.

Price

The easy manufacturing process of laminate floors makes them pretty affordable as compared to their competitive counterparts. This is because although wood is a raw material that doesn’t require additional materials, its manufacturing process is pretty expensive due to the finishing. And even if you opt for unfinished wood, you will still have to incur extra finishing expenses at the on-site. So generally, laminates remain the most affordable option no matter the length of your space. You can even Click Here to calculate the estimated price for your laminate floor. And you will be amazed at how much you can save.

The Installation

Some types of flooring are simply hard to install by yourself even with the assistance of DIY videos. You will need the services of a qualified professional, which means extra expenses. And even if you decide to hire a professional for both laminate and other floors, you will at the end of the day realize that you will be charged more for some different floor work than they would the laminate one. Besides, you can resort to using DIYs for your own laminate flooring fixation, without involving anyone. Well, this should only be applicable when you confidently trust your skills.

The Impact Of Installation On Durability

Given that laminate floors are not the ” forever type”, you should be ready to take any precaution if it means prolonging their lifespan. For example, you can begin by ensuring the installation procedure is conducted properly. This will typically include smooth transitions between rooms and doorways. And since these types of floors tend to expand and contract throughout the various seasons of the year, you should ensure your installation contractors factors that in their work. If possible, it’s advisable to hire the services of an installation agency with warranty details in place.

Longevity Prolonging Tips For Laminate Floors

Sweep Often

Your laminate floor might be scratch-resistant, but that doesn’t automatically make it dirt-resistant. The accumulation of dirt, hair and all other sorts of debris can easily cause unnecessary scratches. And as you know, you can’t repair such kind of damages on this floor. Therefore, ensure to sweep or mop as often as you can. In fact the frequency, the better for you and your bank account.

Use Protective Pads

This isn’t for you, but for the furniture around your house. While you might be conscious not to pull them around, other family members might not. Besides, there is always room for mistakes. So which is better, prevention or curing? You decide. You can also extend the same care to your dangerously high stilettos if you like wearing them indoors. In this one invest in quality heel protectors. Also, don’t forget to trim your pet’s nails and purchasing stretch-free toys for your kids.

Conduct Extensive Cleaning Once In a While

Don’t just reserve extensive cleaning for your closet and fridge, your laminate floor also needs it. Schedule this at least twice a year and ensure to use the right cleaning products. You should avoid normal detergents at all costs as they tend to make the floor dull. Most cleaners specially formulated for hard surfaces will come in handy. Don’t forget to protect your hands from the harsh chemicals. The floor might be delicate, but not as much as your hands!

Don’t Ignore Spills

The reason as to why your floor is dustable is to give you ample cleaning time. This, however, doesn’t mean you can assume spillages for long. Whether it’s water or juice, wipe it off immediately. Laminate floors might be resistant to dampness, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t feel the impact especially with prolonged and constant spills. If you are too lazy to clean up, then don’t spill. And if you have a pet, ensure you have a specific protected spot where they can feed and drink their water. Use a soft sponge or piece of cloth for wiping purposes.

Go For Quality

Yes, there are fake products out there in the market. Keep your eyes open to the authenticity of your dealer and all other floor cleaning products you might purchase. There is nothing more heartbreaking as spending so much money on a product only to have destroyed by a single avoidable mistake.

Wrap Up

Even with several similarities, it’s obvious that the differences between other types of floors and laminate floors are quite visible to any keen eye. The flooring market offers a wide variety of both options, which gives you the opportunity to make the perfect choice for your home. No matter the type of decor you’re currently working with, you can always be confident to find something suitable. And when it comes to normal wear and tear issues, you can trust the laminate floor to give you the best service.