In this article we will try to go through the most important pros and cons of laminate flooring.
1) First of all, flooring has to be durable. So how durable is laminate floor?
Laminate floor has a durability grading system that goes all the way from not very durable (AC1 or 21 grade), used only for low traffic places, like a house where occupied by people only one month per year. On top of that, nowadays it’s hard to find AC1 grade laminate. On the more durable side, the highest grade (AC5 or 33 grade) is designed for high-traffic commercial areas such as stores, showrooms and public buildings. So, laminates can be extremely durable, depending on the grade. The best choice for homeowners with moderate traffic is AC3 and AC4 for heavy traffic.
2) Where laminate flooring can be installed?
Laminate flooring is made of high density fiberboard, which means that it’s not super friendly in high moisture areas. Every manufacturer states that their laminate boards are covered with a layer of waterproof material, which is true in most cases, but let’s consider this – you can install laminate floor without cutting material… This means that all the sides of your house, where the laminate meets the wall, is necessarily exposed to water-damage. In addition to that, people damage material during its use. So the bottom line is this – avoid using laminate material in areas exposed to high moisture and water leaks. Best places to laminate flooring are bedrooms, living rooms and closets. Risky areas for laminates are kitchens, basements and bathrooms, where other materials should be considered to avoid possible issues.
3) Can I save money by choosing laminate flooring over other flooring types?
Definitely. First of all, some handy people manage to install laminate flooring themselves. All you need is a table saw to cut boards, chisel to take baseboards off and a hammer to nail it back. Hiring contractor to install laminate flooring is also an inexpensive and, considered the cheapest option. You don’t have to move out for too many days – in general most of the projects can be done within day or two. There is no need to move furniture outside or to the pod – it can be moved within the house during project completion. Material is also affordable and reasonably priced, although some high-end laminate options can be more expensive than hardwood.
Here is a short paragraph from homeflooringpros online blog regarding pros and cons of laminate flooring:
Laminate is cheap because it’s a largely synthetic flooring that’s easily mass produced using low-cost materials. It’s easy to install because most laminate uses click and lock assembly which means no nails or glue and you can float it over most existing sub floors. And finally it’s easy to clean and care for because of the thick and clear wear layer that covers the surface of the flooring.
To summarize here is a short pros(on the left) and cons(on the right) of laminate flooring: