Although people talk about getting hardwood floors or new homes with wood flooring, many of these floors are actually laminates. Laminate flooring is incredibly durable and looks a lot like hardwood, as mentioned; many people can’t even tell the difference.
Even though laminate looks like hardwood, there actually isn’t really any wood involved in the making of this product. Laminate is produced by combining several materials together under high pressure. This process gives laminates a resilience and durability that real hardwood just doesn’t have. Most laminates also have a moisture resistant layer which increases the durability. So if this is your primary concern, then you’d probably rather go the laminate flooring route as opposed to the hardwood option.
Another benefit of laminate is related to the construction but focuses on the top layer, a resin-coated cellulose compound that is applied over the photographic representations of actual hardwood. This protects your surface appearance and is very, very easy to clean. Real hardwood finishes can easily be scratched and water damaged. If you’re thinking about installing your flooring in a high traffic area or a kitchen or bathroom, then a laminate might be a more effective product for you.
A big factor in interior decorating is budget, very few people have unlimited budgets when it comes to renovations or decorating a new home and laminate flooring is one way to cut the bills without changing the overall appearance too much. Laminate is simply much less expensive than solid hardwood floors and laminates do not need to be refinished whereas hardwoods do need refinishing once in a while. Location and places don’t matter in renovation job, no matter you are looking for Luxury Accommodation in Byron Bay, hardwood flooring matters a lot.
If you’re a do-it-yourself fan, then you’ll love the ease in which laminates snap together, providing you with an even less expensive alternative that gives you a great sense of pride. You’ll also appreciate the fact that laminates can be installed both above grade and below grade and most hardwoods are only recommended for above grade (above ground level) applications. Laminates can also be installed over virtually any existing floor surface, except of course carpet.
The green trend is growing slowly across the country and will definitely be with us for a long time, in fact the future promises to hold more and more eco-friendly options for interior and exterior decorating. Laminate flooring is actually a bit more environmentally sound as it uses less wood fiber in its construction and the fiber it does use is used in more efficient manner.
Basically the only real benefit solid hardwood floors have over laminate flooring is that they actually are made of wood and that does carry a bit of clout. Laminates provide users with an attractive, less expensive and incredibly durable alternative that is a bit more eco-friendly. So, rather than assuming real hardwood is the only option, take a look at the laminate alternatives and you may be pleasantly surprised.