Archive for June, 2011

What Are the Benefits of Laminate Flooring?

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
laminate flooring

laminate flooring

If you are thinking about replacing your flooring or if you recently moved to a new home, you should consider installing laminate flooring. This type of flooring resembles natural wood flooring but it is actually made up of compacted layers of paper covered with very strong protective material to make it last longer. You might not like the idea of installing flooring made of compacted paper but this material is very strong and durable.

When installing this type of flooring, you can treat is as a DIY project or you can ask a professional installer to do it for you. If you decide to DIY, you have to make sure that you know what you are doing, unless you want your flooring to look uneven or become damaged shortly after installation.

There are some reasons why many people choose laminate flooring instead of traditional flooring like wood, carpeted, or tiled. Check out the following paragraphs to learn about the benefits of this type of flooring.

  • Laminates are cheaper than other types of flooring. This is because the materials used for making the flooring called paper boards are inexpensive. One square foot of laminate planks can only cost you around $1 to $5 while installation of each square foot is about $2 to $3. Installation costs can be more expensive than buying the flooring which is the main reason why many people prefer to install the flooring themselves. If you decide to install the flooring yourself, you have to ensure that you follow the instructions included in the package and make sure that you have all the necessary tools and equipment for installing the flooring.
  • Without the expensive price tag, this type of flooring looks very much like hardwood flooring that costs about hundreds or even thousands of dollars, including installation. You can definitely save a lot of money especially if you have a big floor area to cover. You can install laminates on all parts of your house—kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom, hallway, and so on. Since this flooring resembles wood, it could transform your home into an elegant abode for your family.
  • Another benefit of this type of flooring is the ease of installation. You do not need to hire a contractor or be knowledgeable about home installations if you want to install the flooring yourself. You just need to read the instructions carefully and follow the steps to a tee. Even newbie DIYers can install this flooring at home. Some types of laminates even snap easily into place, which makes the whole installation process a lot easier.
  • Laminates also last for a very long time, about 10 to 25 years depending on how much wear and tear the flooring has to endure. By this time, you are probably ready to replace your old flooring and install a new pattern or style to make your home look brand new.

Now that you know the benefits of laminate flooring, you should go to the nearest home improvement store and choose among the numerous designs, patterns, and colors that would look great for your home.