I can’t deny that wood floors are lovely to look at, warm and inviting, but the same effect can be obtained with laminate wood for a lot less money and headaches! And in many cases, laminate wood may be the better choice. Not only does it look like “wood”, under most situations it will out-perform real hardwoods…
Since the very beginning of laminate wood floors, improvements have already been a constant endeavor with manufacturers, like Alloc, Mannington, and Dupont, to produce this flooring material a “perfect” product. The “wear” (prime) layer is made of aluminum oxide, a shield about as robust as steel and penetrating it is near not possible.
With hardwood flooring not much has changed since the 70s to improve its tolerance of normal living conditions. Other than developing a new type of finish to give it more protection, there’s not much that can be done to change its profile. This is a beautiful natural product.
But let us be honest, there are some areas where any kind of wood flooring products is not the best choice. There is risk involved if you use wood in a kitchen or bathroom. If the flooring is porous, like hardwoods, it is a fort for harboring bacteria and germs.
Waterproof or Not?
When I hear the word “waterproof” I think “unaffected by moisture”, do not you? Effectively, that’s not the case with either hardwoods or laminate wood. Flooring suppliers marketing and advertising their wood flooring supplies as “waterproof” is really a selling point, and why not they are within the business enterprise to “sell”, but the truth is wood and water/moisture usually do not mix.
The factor with hardwoods or laminate wood is neither a single is entirely waterproof. Too substantially exposure to moisture and hardwoods will expand, and because it dries it contracts. This type of action will cause all sorts of problems with completed hardwood floors.
Laminate wood tolerates moisture a great deal far better than hardwoods. The HPL (high-pressure laminate) is constructed with sealed waxed edges, this really is in addition to the Aluminum Oxide surface coating, that increases water resistance. But if exposed also extended to moisture/water it is going to buckle.
But between the two, laminate wood tolerates moisture and bacteria far better than hardwoods.
The Affect From Impacts
As really hard and challenging as hardwoods are, they are basically dinged from impacts! Tough to assume, but precise! Drop a sharp-edged object or heavy pan about the hardwood floor and it really is going to leave a mark.
Do the identical challenge with laminate wood and it is not going to faze the flooring at all. The Aluminum Oxide surface coating on laminate is normally when compared with steel. Definitely really hard as a rock!
Scratching The Wood
Hardwood floors scratch very easily. You have to be very careful when moving furniture, or anything of considerable weight or with a rough bottom, not to drag it but to lift it, unless you have floor guards on the bottom of whatever object you want to move. Outside grit will scratch the wood, too, so it is very important to keep it swept up and use entryway area rugs to prevent bringing outside grit inside.
Laminate wood will scratch, but not so easily, and as with hardwood floors, putting rugs in front of outside entryways is a smart way to protect your flooring. My laminate wood kitchen floor is 7 years old and there is certainly not one particular scratch on it. Once once again the surface finish is what delivers such superior protection.
Staining
Hardwoods are porous and could absorb a stain like an ink blotter if not cleaned up quickly, even using a very good finish around the wood you have got to become pretty cautious to not let a thing like wine or blueberries just sit, they must be wiped up swiftly to stop staining.
Laminate wood is not porous but will stain, too, but the stains can usually be removed with a small amount of acetone or denatured alcohol and a clean, preferably white, cloth. When staining occurs on this type of flooring it is the protective surface finish that is stained
Maintenance
Hardwood floors are easy enough to sweep or dust and so is mopping, but it requires cleaning products made for hardwood floors. Eventually, hardwood floors will need refinishing or even sanding and refinishing but can be sanded much time over. Maintenance can be fairly costly if the floor needs a new finish. If it is necessary to replace any of the floorings it can be done on board by the board without replacing the whole floor.
Laminate wood floors don’t require much in the care and maintenance department. Just sweep often and light mop when needed. No special products are necessary. Swiffer products are perfect for laminate floors. Another issue with laminate wood is you can replace single planks without the need of replacing the whole floor.
