Whether your style is modern, traditional, boho, or minimalist, luxury laminate flooring provides some of the most versatile and residential-friendly flooring options available on the market. Before you visit your local flooring store, you will want to save these five need-to-know pros that will cut your shopping time, get your money’s worth, and spare you the hassle of countless showroom visits.
You will discover the following:
Unique Characteristics
Attractive Styles
Durability
Maintenance
Cost
Laminate Flooring Pros
1. Laminate is Versatile
Firstly, waterproof laminate flooring is an upgraded version of laminate designed to resist water contact, not water damage. As with most flooring types, water pooling for an extended period can cause damage to the floor and subfloor beneath it.
Like other flooring types, regular laminate flooring can swell when it absorbs water. However, waterproof laminate features a water-repellent seal that keeps moisture from its core.
Additionally, some luxury laminate flooring features bevels that wrap over the plank’s edges to protect against water contact at the joints. Should water seep through both of those features, the waterproof laminate’s high-density fiberboard core layer will resist moisture better than regular laminate.
2. Laminate is Durable
While vinyl flooring has higher durability, especially in rooms prone to large amounts of moisture, laminate is a close second. It has waterproof options with a water-repellent seal that can resist moderate water spills.
Of course, each person’s criteria varies. That is why we recommend our showroom patrons reference the manufacturer’s abrasion criteria rating assigned to each product, which details the specific usages they’ll hold up best under.
The higher the AC rating, the more durable the product will be:
AC1—moderate residential use (like bedrooms and closets)
AC2—general residential use (like living rooms and kitchens)
AC3—heavy residential use (like bathrooms)
3. Laminate Somewhat Fade-Resistant
Depending on your home, you may have large windows with open curtains or shutters that let in lots of natural light onto your floor. If that is the case, laminate flooring may not be the best choice, or you may need to draw the shades during certain hours and use rugs in areas with constant and intense sun exposure to avoid fading. However, if the spaces in which you will be installing the laminate have moderate to little sun exposure, laminate is perfect and can be purchased in lighter shades to make your rooms appear brighter.
To help you decide and to provide peace of mind, it is worth knowing that most laminate flooring manufacturers offer extensive warranty protection against stains, fading, and moisture damage.
4. Laminate is Mild on the Maintenace Side
Laminate is a favorite amongst those searching for easy-to-care-for flooring. Aside from routine sweeping or vacuuming, it can be spot treated or carefully cleaned with a flat mop (not a wet mop), plain water, or a combination of water and a laminate-safe cleaning detergent, such as Rejuvenate All Floors Cleaner. Most laminate and vinyl flooring manufacturers include a list of approved cleaning methods and agents along with their products or via their website.
5. Laminate is a Cost-Effective
Compared to other wood-look choices on the market, such as vinyl and engineered hardwood, laminate has a substantially lower price tag, averaging at about $6 to $14 per square foot, the latter being a more high-end caliber.
