THE ADVANTAGES OF LAMINATE FLOORING

1. Affordability

Most people learn of laminate flooring due to its cost-effectiveness. Because laminate flooring is made mostly from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures, it’s considerably more affordable than natural timber, which can be quite expensive depending on how exotic the tree is.

For example, the most affordable laminate available right here from Carpet Call is $26 per square metre, compared to $50-$150 per square metre for solid hardwood floors.

2. Extreme resilience

Not only is the composite timber material of laminate flooring hard-wearing, but the uppermost layer of laminate also offers fantastic scratch resistance. The top coating of laminate floorboards will survive high traffic, rowdy kids and pet’s claws. UV resistance also means the colour of your floors is less likely to fade over time.

3. Beautiful appearance

Developments in laminate flooring technology mean the difference between natural timber and laminate is much harder to distinguish today. Many laminate floorboards feature unique embossing to accurately mimic the appearance and texture of natural wood.

4. Simple maintenance

Laminate flooring is easy to keep clean. Spills and marks can simply be wiped away with a soft microfibre cloth and it’s easy to sweep or vaccum away any dirt and dust.

5. Easy installation

As a type of floating floor, laminate flooring typically features a simple lock-together system which is very easy to use, so DIY installation is possible.

Read the Carpet Call hard flooring buying guide to learn more about laminate and other great alternatives.

THE DISADVANTAGES OF LAMINATE FLOORING

1. Cannot be refinished

One popular function of natural timber flooring is that it can be sanded back and refinished to renew its appearance over the years. Laminate flooring’s top layers are designed to protect against wear and create a convincing timber illusion. These cannot be sanded down, as doing so may bare the photographic layer and destroy the resilience of the floorboards.

2. Not moisture-proof

Being made of wood, laminate flooring is not impervious to the effects of moisture. Therefore, it’s not suitable as a hard flooring for bathrooms and should be used with caution in kitchens or laundries. Light surface water for cleaning shouldn’t cause issues, but saturation must be avoided.

LAMINATE FLOORING FOR YOUR HOME

Laminate flooring is a fantastic, cost-effective option for your most high-traffic areas, but no flooring is perfect for everyone. If laminate sounds right for your home, shop the range of floorboards here on the Carpet Call website or come in-store to discuss your options with our flooring experts.