Laminate Wood Flooring -- Four Advantages over Traditional Hardwood Floors

Laminate wood floors may bring to mind the words "cheap", "fake" or "plastic". And, yes these adjectives do describe (in a way) what laminate flooring is. Laminate flooring is an inexpensive alternative to traditional hardwood floors. Laminate floors actually bond 'pictures' of wood to under-layers, so in a sense they are indeed, fake. Finally, laminate wood floors feature a layer of melamine over the image of the wood. Melamine is a kind of plastic that is extremely strong and durable. But look a little further into the kinds of products that are available today and you will be pleasantly surprised at how much variety, quality and good looks you can find in this affordable choice in flooring.

Laminate Floors are Economical

Because these floors are made of less expensive materials than solid hardwood floors, the cost can be considerably lower and save the homeowner a good amount of money right at the onset. Both the cost of the materials and the cost of installation is cheaper than all but the lowest grade of solid hardwood flooring. Expect to pay from $7 to $11 for laminate flooring (installed) and $10 to $15 for solid hardwood (installed). Prices given are per square foot.

Laminate Wood Flooring Offers Great Variety

Advances in technology have made it possible for floor manufacturers to mimic just about any surface imaginable that is used for floors. Laminate flooring can give you the appearance of the most exotic hardwood for a fraction of the price. New techniques are also employed to texturize the floor so that the subtle graining you would expect from real wood is also present in laminated floors.

Laminated Floors are Durable

Because of the technique of bonding the flooring's surface with melamine, you get a finish that is almost indestructible. Melamine has been used for decades in the making of highly durable plastic items and is widely used in institutional dishware, for example. Those indestructible bowls on your hospital tray? Melamine.

Maintenance is Easy for Laminate Wood Floors

With a solid hardwood floor, there are some real maintenance concerns. Water is the number one enemy for a hardwood floor's ongoing good looks. Kids, dogs and traffic can scratch a hardwood floor's finish and necessitate some costly repairs.  Laminate wood floors can be mopped just like any other type of floor such as tile or linoleum. Water will not damage the surface of laminate floors. The denseness of melamine and its resistance to scratches and dings make this kind of floor very family friendly.

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About the author

John Beck is an expert in all things related to wood flooring. Whether your choice is oak flooring, bamboo floors, or maple wood floors, John's done it all.

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