Alok Bhagat
Architect
Picture Courtesy : Pixabay

Laminate flooring is a hybrid floor covering made of particleboard wood. It is the best of many worlds. It installs much like real hardwood since it has a modernized tongue-and-groove style of joining boards. It is commonly used in decks and bedrooms nowadays. Before you make any purchase for your home, here is some tips to take a look at :

  1. Know the installation

    Pro

    Its installation is relatively easy as it is a synthesized creation, it can be fit together as it have fold/lock design which is an upper hand over older sticking of pieces together. Also, the low cost look awfully tempting.

    Cons

    While designed to be easy, the click/lock or fold/lock design often does not work as well as it should. It appears very consistent but can't exactly capture the classiest of all floor coverings while the top layer of flooring is tampered, it decrements the moisture resistant capacity of floor significantly which can happen if the sides of the boards aren't connected properly.

  2. Cleaning

    Pro

    It is very easy to clean with vacuum or broom with the floor cleaner. No floor waxing is even necessary in the upgraded version of the product.

    Cons

    The floor cleaner should be picked carefully as wrong laminate floor cleaner can cause the swelling and hence degradation of quality of flooring.

  3. Moisture

    Pro

    It can manage semi-moist conditions with ease like kitchens, rooms where occasional moping is done given the boards are attached properly.

    Cons

    It cannot tolerate the still water or heavy moisture conditions like areas which remains in constant contact with water or areas prone to water leaks like bathrooms and swimming pools. For heavy moisture, you can replace laminate flooring with vinyl or porcelain tile.

  4. Durability and maintenance

    Pro

    The durability aspect is where the laminate flooring shines. Wood can dent while the laminate flooring is almost immune to dents and scratches. It is easy to clean.

    Cons

    Though, which should be done on regular basis as the deep scratches and grooving can't be sanded or refinished and needs an entire new replacement.

  5. Functionality

    Pro

    Underlayment should be done with the lamination. The laminate is hard to stand on so to add more of a springy feel to the floor which is comfortable to stand on for prolong duration.

    Cons

    The underlayment layer's selection should be done with proper examination as traditionally the laminate flooring is very slippery with impulse of creating static electricity.

  6. Appearance

    Pro

    The looks of laminate flooring focuses heavily on replicating the natural materials like stone, wood without the inconsistency among the pieces regarding the quality and appearance.

    Cons

    The pattern repetition can give a dull look as it is restricted to only five to ten designs when it comes to board. The installation requires extreme consideration as the repetition of pattern can become too doltish if the pattern repeats side-by-side.

  7. Know more better
    The laminate flooring production has improved a lot from past years in terms of textures, graphic reproduction and micro bevels to match itself with the wood flooring. Even if you want to discard the flooring, based on the condition, hardwood. It can be resold at higher price range. Now-a-days, most manufacturers produce flooring contain an antimicrobial resin which provides hygienic environment.
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About the author
Alok Bhagat
Architect

Creative thinker from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, this young designer believes architecture as a character which gives people a different way of looking at their surroundings. He has devoted significant time on the main deck assisting senior architects from the very beginning.Currently working on a follow-up to his upcoming designs, Alok Bhagat does not like being limited or defined by a particular style and his design style is intuitive and changes with every project.

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