We have talked in detail about laminate flooring on our blog, what are its benefits/pros, what are the best times to use it, how you can add wood stains to improve laminate’s appearance. Continuing with that trend, we will be looking towards some of the cons i.e. few things you should know about using laminate flooring in homes or offices and how to avoid any pitfalls. You should be taking extra precautions that will allow your laminate flooring to last longer.

Cons

Not Real Wood

No matter how beautifully laminate can replicate the look of a natural hardwood floor, it is not hardwood. It is faux-wood aka synthetic which can rub some purists the wrong way since laminate flooring in homes is not as pristine and valuable as the real thing. But since it objectively looks great, you can install it in offices without any issue.

Hard Surface

Even though modern laminate floor planks come with underlying softening pads preinstalled within them, most laminate floors are still rather hard compared to cork floors or carpets. If you have seniors in your home, they may find it extra hard. Laminate may not be suitable for toddlers who are prone to fall down quite often. However, the presence of an underlayment can neutralise the hardness of the floor.

Less Insulation

Compared to other flooring options, like hardwood or carpets, the temperature of laminate floors tends to fluctuate a tiny bit more during extreme weather conditions. Therefore, you need to take extra insulating actions if the weather becomes too extreme. Ask the flooring company about wall insulators and insulators that are installed under the floors.

Low Long-Term Value

Laminate doesn’t do anything at all to increase the resale value of any house. Since it is cheap and easy to install, it has no long term effect on your property’s value. If you want an increase in the resale value of the house for the future, you will have to go with a more expensive flooring option.

Refinishing Not Possible

Sanding and refinishing of laminate flooring is homes is not possible like with hardwood floors. If your laminate floor somehow gets worn out, you will need to replace it. However, that rarely happens, if ever. The best way to avoid such a scenario is to regularly maintain your laminate floor.

Low Moisture Tolerance

If you ask any flooring expert about laminate and moisture, you will get the answer that it is best to avoid installing laminate floors in laundry rooms or bathrooms as it has a tendency to catch moisture if left exposed to it for long periods. It is better to install laminate in dry areas. However, if you want uniformity throughout your household then you can add a protective coating. It would lessen the effects of moisture.

Conclusion

While laminate flooring has a long list of pros, some people might not be too much of a fan of its cons. Which is why it is important that you know all its characteristics when you are going for laminate flooring in homes or offices. For more information, visit PrestigeFlooring-UK.com.