Bathroom | Abella Home Staging & Redesign

Laminated floors, what are the Pros & Cons?

July 28th, 2010

Laminated floors, what are the pros & cons? Laminated floors have exploded into the general public and with good reason. They are much more affordable then natural stone or wood and most homeowners can tackle the job themselves if they wish too.

So what are the pros?

Installation. Many have a “click-lock” design. It comes with glue already on it. You simply activated with water and wipe off excess. The new laminated stone tiles can be applied by using glue. You can even grout them so they look like natural stone.
Moisture resistance. They’re great for basement and even bathroom. Solid wood would expand and warp with moisture. Although neither solid wood or laminated floors can withstand pools of water.
No Defects. Unlike solid wood or natural stone which may come with defects, laminated wood or tiles do not.
Easy to clean. Laminated wood floors don’t need waxing or refinishing. Laminated tiles don’t chip like natural stone. They don’t need to be sealed either. Use damp mop and you’re good to go.
Durability. Unlike wood which will wear out and scratch, laminated floors don’t. Laminated tiles don’t crack or chip like natural stones.
Resist Staining. Laminated floors resist stains. If you have pets, that is a huge benefit. Imagine what pet urine can do to your wood floors!
Easy to replace.Tired of your natural stone look? Unlike laminated tiles, removing natural stone is a huge undertaking!!

So what are the cons?

Not real wood or natural stone. Lets face it nothing looks richer then real wood or the beauty of natural stone floors.
Resale value is not the same as real wood or natural stone.
Not Refinish-able. Unlike wood where you can sand the finish down and literally change the look by changing the color of the stain. With laminated floors you can’t.

When it’s all said and done, I think laminated floors are a great options to homeowners who want that look without the expense. Years ago if you couldn’t afford natural stone there wasn’t much choice.Today are so many options out there and the price is very reasonable.