From its invention in the 1970’s, laminate has gone from strength to strength and still remains to this day one of the most popular flooring choices available on the market. This is thanks to its many qualities that make it such a great choice whatever your circumstances, whether you’re a busy family or live on your own. But like anything, it has its negatives too. We’re here to go through what makes laminate great and like anything, its draw backs.
Durability
It’ no secret that laminate is very durable. It will last for many years after installation and is perfect for rooms such as the living room which sees lots of foot traffic. It is also resistant to scratches, stains and water however we’d always recommend cleaning up any spillages as soon as possible. As well, as soon as a scratch does appear on laminate, it’s likely that you can’t remove it and the only solution is often to get a new floor entirely. Whereas with wood flooring, damage can be sanded away and the floor refinished. So, despite laminate having impressive durability, it is worth considering this when you’re deciding where to lay it.
Low cost
One of the most attractive features of laminate flooring is its affordability. This makes it great for those who are on a budget and first time buyers who need a cheap fix but without sacrificing style and durability. However, like anything at a cheaper price it doesn’t tend to last as long as the more expensive options such as solid wood, so just be aware of this as you might need to replace it a lot sooner!
Practicality and Maintenance
The good news is that you don’t need to worry about a ridged cleaning routine with laminate. It only needs a sweep and a mop whenever you feel necessary and doesn’t need any special cleaner, just soap and water will do. However, as mentioned previously we’d recommend picking up any stones or debris by hand to avoid any scratches.
Appearance
Although we can’t say laminate is going to live up to the beauty of real wood, it’s a pretty good contender. Laminate replicates natural products such as wood and stone so well that often it’s hard to tell them apart. Coming in many designs, you can pick exactly what it is you want without having to pay the luxury price for wood or stone, with easier maintenance too.
So there we have it, all you need to know about laminate! We haven’t pretended laminate is perfect and there are things you need to be aware of, but if you’re prepared for these then there’s no reason you can’t be very happy with your gorgeous new laminate flooring and it’ll serve you well!
