Laminate flooring looks like wood but is more durable, easier to clean and less expensive.
While you know it’s time for home improvements, you don’t know what to do with your flooring. Hardwood? Bamboo? Cork? Rubber? Laminate? While all of these choices have benefits that may appeal to homeowners, the choice usually comes down to a personal preference for a certain look and feel in flooring.
Some like carpeting. Others like wood. There are even some who won’t use anything else but natural stone. That’s fine, but what do you want to do inside your home? Depending on the room, the amount of traffic it receives and your tolerance level for cleaning, you may want to choose laminate flooring.
Laminate is a synthetic material that looks like wood but is considerably less expensive. It is easy to clean, so if you have kids, this might be an option you want to consider. And if you are thinking about installing it on your own, this is a good DIY project that won’t end in catastrophe.
There are just a few things you need to know before making a final decision about laminate flooring. First, keep your floors clean, because if there is dust, dirt and grime on them, it will get ground into the floor and may scratch it. Second, keep the floor dry. If you leave moisture on laminate flooring, the planks may warp, so wipe all spills quickly. Also, if you have water that is as hard as nails, washing the floor may leave a white chalky residue, so check out special laminate floor cleaners to avoid this. Finally, if you re-arrange the furniture a lot, invest in felt pads for the feet so they don’t scratch the floor.
Laminate flooring is a great choice for consumers who want the look of hardwood but the durability of a synthetic material.
Dean Dupre is with Champion Tile, a Clearwater Flooring, Tampa Flooring, and tile installation company. To learn more, visit Champtile.com.
