Most homeowners shy away from using laminate flooring in their bathroom and kitchen because this type of material isn’t as water resistant as the rest of the options sold in the market today. Compared to vinyl or tiles, laminate absorbs water faster. As such, it easily gets stained if not cleaned right after a liquid gets spilt on it. However, it does add a unique charm to the room thanks to the distinct wood grains.
Waterproof laminate flooring is worth considering, especially for your bathroom or kitchen. Here are the advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of using laminate flooring
Unlike vinyl and tiles that can get chipped or cracked by falling objects like shampoo bottles, spoons, knives and pans, laminate flooring can stay intact for years. Being made from several layers of thin materials pressed together means that laminate flooring can stay in one piece for more than 20 years. As such, it makes a perfect addition to any busy part of the house. Just make sure to maintain the flooring material properly.
It’s super easy to install laminate flooring, so you don’t need to call a handyman to assist you. It’s perfect if you want to start on a DIY home renovation project. You only need to tear up the old flooring, tidy up the subfloor, apply the underlay and install the laminate flooring according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. It’s unlikely that you’d mess up the installation procedure.
You also have the option to play around with the design. Laminate flooring manufacturers produce plenty of styles, colours and designs. As much as possible, we recommend picking a shade that best compliments the walls.
Laminate flooring disadvantages
While laminate flooring can surely amp up your interior design, it does come with slight disadvantages. For one, laminate flooring is only water resistant to some extent. While it’s absorbent, it won’t get soaked if you immediately wipe it clean. Otherwise, the liquid will leave lasting damage on the material.
Laminate requires a lot of maintenance, so if you don’t have time to grab the mop, then it might not be a good fit for your house. If you want to clean laminate flooring, you should always use a dry mop. Never use a wet mop.
Another disadvantage of laminate material is that it quickly becomes slippery when wet. As such, you must keep it dry at all times to prevent accidents. As much as possible, avoid spilling water so that you can keep the flooring dry.
Laminate flooring is a beautiful material that can improve the design of any home interior. In choosing between tiles, laminate, vinyl or other types of flooring materials, you must consider a lot of factors. Make sure you fully understand the pros and cons of installing each kind of flooring material before you proceed with your project. Making an informed decision is best to get the most value for your money.
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