Laminate floors have several advantages over hardwood floors. That is why it is currently more popular with consumers. Laminate flooring is made up of four different layers. One of these layers is the design layer, which determines the appearance of the floor. The design layer has a photographic image that allows laminate flooring to look very similar to natural wood flooring down to its grain, color, and knots. Because the appearance of laminate depends on a photographic image on the design layer, laminate can have many more design options than hardwood. But there are still differences between the appearance of the two. The same grain patterns are repeated throughout laminate flooring. On the contrary, there is a bit more variation in the grain patterns of wood floors. This means it is easier to find replacement laminate planks that do not contrast with existing planks.
Laminate floors are about 25 percent cheaper than hardwood floors. This means that you can get a floor that has the visual appeal of a hardwood floor at a much cheaper price.
Laminate flooring is much easier to install. The reason for this is due to the invention of glueless laminate flooring. Because it uses a locking tongue and groove design, you can install glue-free laminate flooring by joining the laminate planks together. This is much easier than using glue or nails to install hardwood floors. It is also much easier to clean after installing laminate flooring. Using a locking tongue and groove design instead of glue also means you can use your flooring immediately after installation is complete because you don’t have to wait for the glue to dry.
Laminate flooring installation will also happen faster than hardwood flooring. This is because the planks used for laminate are wider than the planks used for hardwood.
Laminate floors are more durable than natural wood floors. It is about fifteen times stronger. Hardwood is much easier to damage than laminate. Hardwood will not tolerate heavy foot traffic as well as laminate. This is why you will find that laminate often comes with a ten or fifteen year warranty. The warranties for hardwood are much shorter. However, if necessary, you can re-sand and touch-up a hardwood floor as many times as necessary. This will allow your hardwood floor to last for many years. Due to its design, the laminate cannot be sanded or refinished.
Another advantage of laminate flooring is that it provides ultraviolet (UV) protection. This gives laminate flooring the ability to block the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which will prevent the floor from fading. Since hardwood floors do not provide UV protection, you will have to spend a lot of money on maintenance costs to make sure the hardwood floor looks as good as it originally did.
Laminate flooring is much easier to maintain. Since it does not trap dirt, daily laminate maintenance would only require the use of a brush or mop. If water gets on the laminate, you can clean it with a sponge, paper towel, or mop. Cleaning hardwood floors takes longer and typically requires the use of relatively expensive cleaning products.
