Why Choose Laminate Flooring Over Wood For Your Home?

If you are looking for a new floor, you may find yourself in a state of uncertainty when you consider the different options. After all, there are lots of choices out there when it comes to both materials and design.

However, it is not as hard as you might think to make a decision. By carefully assessing what your home needs and how a particular kind of flooring may fit with your lifestyle, you can decide what is likely to work best for you.

Among the choices you may make is between laminate and hardwood. This will be for any room, or hallway, that you won’t be laying a carpet on and is not a wet room (neither wood nor laminate are suited for that).

On the face of it, a natural wood floor has a lot going for it. It is traditional, warm, robust, stylish, organic and should be sustainable (you should certainly check that it is anytime you choose wood for any flooring or furnishing).

However, laminate flooring can offer the appearance of wood (unless you look very closely) and is also hard, but also brings several advantages too.

The first and most obvious is cost, as laminate is a less expensive option. So if budget is a concern, this is a big tick in that box. It is also very easy to install laminate, as it comes in kit form and you can admire your DIY work afterward, whereas wood usually requires a professional fitter.

Laminate is also a better bet in some particular circumstances. For instance, it works better with a radiant heating system because it has a high level of heat resistance. It is also easier to clean, which is useful if you have pets, who can make a mess in a variety of ways from shedding hair and accidents to bringing you little presents.

In addition, laminate tends to be softer underfoot, due to its foam underlays, which can be more pleasant if you walk around barefoot at home.

The fact that laminate can even be talked of as an alternative to wood highlights the strides this option has taken as design has improved over the years. It started out as a material used in offices and commercial buildings rather than homes, enabling a basic resemblance of wood to be established.

However, as technology improved, this appearance has been enhanced. Techniques included the use of heat and pressure to fuse together all the layers of the laminate, creating a much higher-quality material. Digital printing has meant more patterns, textures and shades can be created.

None of that is to say wood is without its advantages. Compared with laminate, it lasts longer. Unlike laminate, it can be resurfaced and this gives it a far greater resale value. This also adds value to your home if you plan to sell it.

Nonetheless, the age in which laminate was a poor relation has passed. There are now pros and cons for either choice, but there is no doubt that to choose laminate now is to select a far more attractive option than it was in years gone by.