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Laminate Or Hardwood Flooring - Which To Choose? - What To Use?
By homejack | May 3, 2008
Hardwood floors can certainly be beautiful. The finishes of today remove the waxing and upkeep of yesteryear. The choices of style and color can satisfy almost any desire. So, why wouldn’t everyone want a hardwood Floor?
Hardwood floors can be very expensive. Choose certain grains, board sizes and finishes and watch the $$$$ add up. Not only that, we haven’t even started the installation. Normally, this is not a do-it-yourself venture. Professional installation is usually needed.
Even so, hardwood is still the popular choice for the more expensive home. Hardwood has a long-lasting reputation for its beauty and appearance. It helps increase a home’s value more than laminate, lasts a long time, and actually improves with age under proper conditions.
Well, hardwood has a few drawbacks. If you have pets or small children, consider the fact that it will scratch. Areas of high traffic, pet nails, and children’s toys can play havoc with the floors.
Hardwood in not recommended for high-humidity areas such as bathrooms and basements. Some include the kitchen due to water and liquid spills.
Difficulty can also occur when going from hardwood in one room to
carpet or tile in another.
Back to the good news. Hardwood does not have to be replaced when worn or badly scratched. It can be refinished or recoated and does look better with age. The new finishes of today make daily care and maintenance easy.
High-quality laminate flooring today can match hardwood and in some cases even be more durable. This presents a real problem when choosing which type floor to install.
For the do-it-yourself type and most remodeling jobs, the choice is pretty clear - laminate. Consider the following.
Laminate is much less expensive to buy and install. In fact, it can easily be installed by a beginner.
Laminate can be found that looks like wood, tile or stone. It is very durable, easy to care for and has practically no maintenance. It is great for those pets and small children.
Laminate is made from recycled materials, can easily be matched room to room with other types of flooring, and lasts 15 to 30 years.
Wow! So why doesn’t everyone choose laminate? Well, guess what.
Laminate also has a downside.
When it finally begins to show wear, laminate cannot be refinished as can hardwood. It has to be replaced. Nor can one or two boards be replaced and finished to match like hardwood.
Laminate adds a little less value than hardwood to the home in today’s market. Also, if not properly installed, it can make a swooshing sound, especially if the underlament is not level.
Whatever you choose to use, traditional hardwood or less expensive laminate, you’ll be pleased to know your flooring choices are greater than ever before. The final choice will depend on the type of family, lifestyle and budget as much, or more, than the availability or quality of the materials.
Topics: General |