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.

As I brought out earlier it can completely change the look of a house. One of the nice things about laminate, out of many, is that there are so many choices to choose from!

You can make your house look any style you want.  It can look stone, ceramic, or wood. And there are variations of all kinds of colors and styles within all of those.  The options for you to choose from can number in the hundreds.

This may be a little off topic but most theme parks utilize laminate pieces when they are designing themes and cues for certain rides or areas within their park..  Like the whole “Sword and the Stone” knight theme. Those stones are most likely not real.  They are laminate, although, you never would know it.

It is becoming more popular all of the time because this particular flooring is easy to install, affordable, and its durable also.

I am also a firm believer that its especially nice for families that have kids, pets, and just a lot of traffic in general. The reason for this is that also doesn’t fade in the sun unlike real wood floors and it resists water!  If or when you have kids you will really be able to appreciate that point.  Kids spill drinks all the time and you need a material that you can easily wipe up and not stain.

Good quality laminate has thicker cores and is treated with water repellent chemicals. That makes it able to sustain excessive amounts of water without swelling.  Many people only put it in the living and bedrooms but I think this point makes it  great for bathrooms or kitchens. The top layer is also very dense so it makes it very hard to scratch or even burn!

By the way a lot of companies that make laminate floors give warranties with their products, which make it a little more comforting for your purchase.  Most of them have a five year warranty of them against defects but the top quality ones will usually come with a ten year warranty.

I repeat, these types of floors are made to be easy to install for your typical homeowner with little prior knowledge.  There are so many different laminate flooring companies, with so many different styles, and they are continually coming out with more innovations to make it easier all the time for installing it.

Generally it has a tongue and groove interlocking system to install it, making it go together fast and easy. If you have any sort of carpentry experience at all you can honestly make putting a new floor in just a weekend project. Also all that you need underneath is basically any hard flat surface that is even. The sub floor can be plywood, concrete, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood floor, etc.

So go on ahead and get started! Quit dreaming and start shopping for the right style laminate floor for you!

There is an excellent article called Laminate Floor Basics that talks about this subject in depth but what I found out is that your typical laminate will go from $3.50 a square ft all the way to $5.00 a square foot.  The typical cost for oak hardwood is $10 per sq ft on the low end to $12 a square foot on the high end.

Now according to the National Association of Home Builders the standard home in the United States is 2,000 square feet with two full bathrooms, three living rooms, a dining room, two general purpose rooms, basement, garage, and fireplace.

Now obviously you are not going to have to upgrade the floors in all parts of the house like the basement so when doing the numbers I would say that a typical house will require 1000-1400 feet of laminate flooring.

This means that for the majority of the homeowners it will take $3500 to $4,900 if you install average quality laminate in your home by yourself or $5,000 to $7,000 if you install high end laminate in your home, again, by yourself.

You save a lot if you do all the work yourself and can expect to pay a couple thousand more than the prices I just calculated if you get a contractor or someone else to do it.

It is really is not that hard to DIY but you it does help if you have some sort of construction aptitude if decide you want to install this flooring in your home yourself.

I am going to tell you that Pergo makes the easiest to install.  They make their pieces to be installed like you would a puzzle and you just wet the dry glue on them and lock them into place.

Back to the costs.  I have found that if you really look around whether locally or on the internet you can get some decent laminate for even under $3.50 a square foot.

You have to remember that we are in a recession and there are way more houses on the market than people wanting to buy them.  Remember 2003-2007 when houses were springing up all over the place.

Large chains like Home Depot and Lowes could not keep this item on their shelves just a year and a half ago.  Now they are trying to unload it as fast as they can.

I have seen some laminate going for $.99 a sq ft on some sites.  That is bone cheap and I would avoid those sites.  That seems just way bellow market value and I doubt the quality at those prices.

Nevertheless if you look around the web you can find some decent stuff for $1.59 per piece without shipping.  Some will offer free shipping so I would check.

Hope this answered those e-mails I got.  Thanks.  Remember to read the article I just wrote about the pros and cons of going with this type of material as there are indeed negative aspects of laminate that follow the many positive things.

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.

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.

You can put flooring material on almost any old floor surface. Therefore it is an ideal product to use when upgrading your home or make long lasting changes. The floor is made of a thin piece of paper which is a photograph natural wood. It is made of four layers that have been strongly bonded together.

The top layer is made of aluminum oxide which offers resistance from such effects such as heat, stain or moisture. It helps to protect the layers beneath which is one of the reason laminate floors are very durable. This is then combined with a very strong material such as melamine. This is used to strengthen the flooring material and also provides the aesthetic part of the floor.

Kitchen, Bathrooms, Saunas Laundry Area

Laminate flooring is made of natural cellulose fibers which allow it to expand or contract depending on weather conditions. There are high quality planks which are manufactured by treating with water expellant materials to improve water resistance. They also have paraffin wax impregnated joints to enhance moisture repellent action.

This guards the inner core by preventing absorption of moisture which easily damages the material.  Such material is suitable for use in kitchen, bathroom area and other portions of the house that experience high levels of moisture.

High Traffic Portions

These might include staircases, corridors, living area etc. For these parts you can consider using entry level laminate wood flooring. It is designed for high traffic portions in the house. This type of floor is made of a thicker inner core to make it more stable and durable to prevent damage.

Living Area and Bedrooms

Laminate flooring is also available in a wide range of color, design and cost. One of its main benefits is that it is visually appealing as it looks like real hardwood. You can choose attractive or elaborate designs for these parts of your house. Depending on your liking you can select a color or design that perfectly fits the needs of these areas in your home.

For over thirty year the floor has become one of the most commonly used finishing in many homes today. It is one of the easiest floors to install as it can take you a few days to have it fixed. It is very easy to clean and maintain too.

Laminate flooring can last from ten to twenty five years if proper care and maintenance is used on it. This helps to cut costs on constant repairs or replacements when using it in your home. The type of synthetic material used to manufacture the floor prevents damage such as scratches, heat, stains, and wear from heavy traffic. This guarantees long duration no matter where it is installed.

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.

Common laminate floor manufacturers include brand names such as Pergo, Dupont, Mannington, Armstrong among others. As a synthetic material it is made from thin sheets of paper that have been chemically mixed with melamine.

The upper layer of laminate floor is actually a photograph of wood grain covered in a very strong transparent material. This ensures that it lasts long and preserves it from damages associated with denting, staining, fading or scratching.

The layer beneath the wood grain photograph is made of wood chip composite which is about a half inch thick in size. This material can be made of just about anything to make up a laminate floor. Usually the type of material used determines its cost. Laminate floor are available in thickness varying from six to thirteen inches wide. Thicker floors are more stable and look more like real wood.

This type of floor finishing is available as glue-on or snap-on planks depending on what you want to use. The glue on laminate planks has more defined structures and holds out moisture much better. Snap on planks are easier to install.

The floor is also available in different forms. An example is the entry level laminate wood flooring. It is designed for high traffic portions in the house. This type of floor is made of a thicker inner core to make it more stable and durable to prevent damage. There are others that are more suitable for kitchen or bathroom areas.

Effective laminate floors for such areas are available as high quality planks which have been treated with water expellant materials to improve water resistance. They also have paraffin wax impregnated joints to enhance moisture repellent action. This guards the inner core by preventing absorption of moisture which easily damages the material.

Laminate flooring is also available in a wide range of color, design and cost. This varies with different manufacturers as well as brands. This varies with different manufacturers as well as brands. You can get high quality laminate floor finishing for your house also manufactured to ensure longevity.

Since its introduction in the market in the early 1980s the floor has become one of the most commonly used finishing in homes today. Some of its benefits are that it is visually appealing as it looks like real hardwood. It is one of the easiest floors to install as one portion of your house can easily be done over a weekend. It is very easy to clean and maintain too. Another benefit is that it can last for a very long time when proper care is used on it.

Buying high quality laminate floor to install in your house is advisable as it guarantees to last for long duration. If you are planning to live in the house for a long time then this is a wise idea. It is also a cost effective measure as it saves you costs that would have gone on future repairs or replacing the floor.

Start by assessing the needs of your house before buying the floor. Kitchen and bathroom areas might need a different type of laminate floor from other areas. Check out for durable material to use on high traffic areas too. You can also choose different designs or colors for your living areas or private rooms. You also don’t have to spend so much on the floor as your house might not have extensive needs.

You can easily install the floor by yourself. Alternatively outsource labor to help you out with the job.

Clean the Floor

This is the first step when installing laminate floor in your house. Make sure you remove any trace of solid dirt, moulds, particles that may be lying around the surface. This might affect how fast laminate planks get fixed on the floor. Consequently you might consider repairing surfaces that are uneven or cracked. This allows you to work with an even surface.

Install

The next step is to fix laminate planks on the floor. If you are working on concrete floor, make sure you place a vapor barrier first. You can use suitable plastic material for this purpose. You can then layer the floor with the underlay. Place it out flat in rows without it overlapping in any place. Follow this by sealing the seams with duct tape

Lay the Planks

The best place to start is at the far end corner of your room. Lay the first plank by fixing the groove side towards the wall. Make sure the planks fit properly by cutting off the groove side if you see the need to. It is advisable to leave some space, about ¼ inches perimeter from the flooring to the wall. This is important as the floor expands and contracts during different seasons.

Joining the Planks

The easiest way to fix the planks together is by inserting the tongue in the groove at a high angle and then pushing them together. This allows them to click together and remain fast. You can use a hammer and a tapping block together to make sure the planks lock together.

Useful Tips

Do not use a hammer directly on the planks. Use a tapping block together with a hammer to avoid damaging the planks. It is advisable to use a saw with a fine blade to size down the planks to a desirable fit.

The floor is designed to withstand common effects that easily cause damage most surfaces. Laminate flooring easily withstands heat, stains, scratches and dents. The floor is made of synthetic material which makes it easy to maintain.

Most of the benefits associated with laminate flooring gravitate towards advantages associated with cost. 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 protects it from spoiling easily. You can use the floor for an average of 15 years or more without the need to replace it.

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.

While other flooring material spoil easily from such effects laminate surface is favorable for use in high traffic areas in the house as it don’t wear out easily. With proper care and maintenance you can make the flooring material last even longer thus reducing cost associated with repairs and replacements.

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. Real hardwood carpets or cement surfaces are expensive to maintain in the long run. The cost involved in taking care of the floor is very minimal as soap and water cleans out any kind of dirt or mess.

Using this type of material will cost you half the price of conventional hard wood or oak flooring.

The fact that the floor lasts for duration of up to twenty five years makes it one of the most economical to use in the house. It is an affordable material to use in a home with heavy traffic. If you have kids then this can help to keep your spending on house requirements at a minimum. 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.