In the last several years we have seen a huge spike in people wanting laminate flooring for their homes.  This type of flooring does a really fantastic job of reproducing the look of any material be it real wood, tile, or stone.  In addition to this laminate is insanely easy to install with a little help and basic know how.

So everyone should be jumping on board this trend, right?  Well, as much I am a huge fan of laminate flooring I must admit that along with the great benefits there are indeed cons. I want to take the time to explore the different aspects.

CONS

Some people are Just Into the Real Thing

While laminate is 99% the same, as far as look and feel, as conventional hardwood flooring its nevertheless a replica.  There is in fact some wood in laminate but its more of a base layer and still not genuine.

When you are trying to sell your house real hardwood floors will increase the value on paper a lot more than laminate flooring will because of this. In a recent conversation with a realtor in Georgia, I learned that in Atlanta hardwood floors are a big selling point for many home buyers.  Again, its mostly all a mental thing but then again would you want a real diamond or a cubic zirconium.  They both look and feel the same!

This material is Really Slippery

By many accounts laminate flooring is a lot more slippery than real hardwood flooring.  I cannot tell you why but if you have kids or toddlers, and especially if the floor is wet, you can expect people to slip and fall. This is not to tell you that you are walking on ice, and I doubt this would be a deal breaker, but just be forewarned.

Not Refinishable or Sandable

This is an actual huge drawback to this type of flooring for someone who is looking at the long term payoff versus one with  short term mindset.

When you have a grooved, scratched, or just worn down piece of hardwood you can sand it down and it will look like new.  You cannot do that with laminate flooring.  You have to totally replace the piece.

Overtime your wood flooring, no matter which kind, will have wear and tear.  So one type allows you to fix the problem while the other type (laminate) obligates you to replace it.

PROS

Costs Less

There are several different companies that make laminate flooring including Armstrong, Wilsonart, and Pergo and the cost you will pay will vary.  You get what you pay for like anything else.  But generally speaking the best quality laminate flooring will be less expensive than the best solid real hardwood flooring you can buy.

Very Easy to Install Laminate Flooring

If you have a friend you can install a couple hounded feet of laminate especially if its Pergo because you will not have to glue the pieces together.  The newer ones like have a click lock design almost like connecting puzzles together.  The glue is already in the product (its dry) and all you have to do is wet it to activate it.  Its a piece of cake!

More Durable

Because laminate flooring is made from synthetic material it usually cannot be scratched or dented easily.  The have a wear layer that is good at stopping that from happening.  Most of the companies that make this particular type of flooring give you at least a five year warranty on the material.

Extremely Easy to Clean

You can use an average broom or vacuum to clean laminate wood floors.  Its that simple.  You can also mop it if you would like.  Hardwood needs to be waxed every so often for it to keep its look.

Laminate also does not stain.  If you spill a drink on it just get a paper towel and wipe it off.  The same cannot be said all the time about hardwood.

So I have presented all the main angles to you.  You now know exactly what you are getting into if you deciding whether to go with the real thing or its shadow.  But let me tell you that I personally think the shadow is a pretty good option.

The last couple months me and my friend have been getting a few nice jobs installing laminate flooring for some people.  One of these jobs only takes a day, maybe two, to complete if you have all the materials.  I put an ad in the local newspaper and Craigslist and I have been getting a couple calls every month.

When people call me and ask for my opinion I tell them that there are a couple of things to consider before the installation process even begins.  They are:

1. What species of wood grain would you like to use?
2. Would you like to use plank style or tile style?
3. Would you like to install a glued down floor or a snap together floating floor?
4. What type of floor are your putting laminate flooring over, and what would be the best style of laminate for the that floor.
5. What type of laminate flooring do you want to use ) ie. a direct pressure laminate or a high pressure laminate)

So I try to talk with the customers to see if we can figure this out because at this stage they are usually very confused.

You may not realize this but floor installers make great money.  Especially so if they know what they are doing and know how to get jobs done right.  All it takes is for a person to do a fantastic job for one person and he or she tells all her friends and they want it done.