She thought laminate floors were a much better buy in the long run. Her reasoning was they are easier to maintain, keep their look over the long run, are cheaper, and look just as good as hardwood floors if you buy the quality laminate.

Carrol explained that she has two dogs.  She has hardwood flooring and her dogs have scratched it up pretty bad.  That was her major know again hardwood.  Its scratches extremely easily.  All it takes is for you to have dogs or cats with any sort of claws to run over it, furniture being moved, or rocks in people’s shoes and your nice finish will be ruined.

She explained to me that if you do decide to go with solid hardwood flooring get a lighter shade because the darker your floors are the more the scratches will show.

Additionally, spills can stain hardwood floors.  This is something to think about if you have kids.  I did not know hardwood could stain but it can.  Laminate flooring on the other hand does not.

Laminates are really hard to scratch and do not stain.  Those were the huge selling points with her.  She said that while she does sell more hardwood than laminate they are almost neck and neck.  Laminate has become really popular these days and in her opinion it is better than hardwood. Many people still prefer the real thing though no matter what you tell them.

It was also mentioned that if you buy the quality laminate flooring it looks 99.9% the same as hardwood.  You cannot  tell the difference if you get the more expensive stuff. She showed me samples and I had to agree.  You can tell if a person has laminate installed if they buy the cheap material.  It just looks like a picture of hardwood.  But when you start paying at least $5 a square foot for the good material you get virtually hardwood flooring.  The only person who will know is you.  And it will last longer.

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 floor is made of a thin piece of paper which is a photograph natural wood. This is then combined with a very strong material such as melamine. This is used to strengthen the flooring material by making it resistant to damages from effects such as heat, scratches or cuts.

The base of laminate flooring planks is made of compressed wood composites which make look like real natural wood material. The planks are available as snap together or glue on. Adhesive material holds together the glue on laminate floor pieces and they are structurally stronger. This makes them durable than the snap on pieces.

Hard wood material and laminate floors are some of the most commonly used types of hard surfacing materials. The reason is that they have additives in their structure that make them suitable for this purpose. Hardwood material is strengthened by addition of a layer of aluminum oxide during its manufacture. Laminate floors are made more durable by including synthetic material to protect them from damage.

Lasts Longer

One of the benefits of laminate floors is that they are very durable. This is made possible by their structural composition which makes them very strong. The type of synthetic material used to manufacture the floor prevents damage such as scratches, heat, stains heavy traffic or cuts.

Resistance

The materials used to manufacture the floor make it resistant from effects that easily affect other kinds of surfaces. Laminate floors can withstand heat, stain, and scratch effects very well. This makes them favorable for use in high traffic areas in the house as they don’t wear out easily too. They are commonly used in kitchen and bathroom surfaces as they can withstand effects from moisture too.

Maintenance

Laminate floors are very easy to clean and look after. They are also easy to maintain as simply cleaning and periodic polishing keeps them in their best condition. The cost involved in taking care of the floor is very minimal as soap and water cleans out any kind of dirt or mess.

Easy Installation

Installing a new laminate floor in your house can take only a weekend and the job is done and is virtually the same as your typical hardwood floor installation. The material involved is easy to use and you can do it for yourself without the need to hire out labor. You can use either glue on or snap together laminate floor planks. As soon as the laminate floor is fixed you can start using it without causing any kind of harm to it.

Cost effective

The fact that the floor lasts for duration of ten to twenty five years makes it one of the most economical to use in the house. The type of material used to manufacture the floor makes it easy to install and maintain it. This helps to cut costs involved in using it as flooring material.