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Can Laminate Flooring Take The Place of Hardwood?
by Jane Smallman
Refacing Cabinet Columnist
For centuries, floors have been made from hardwood because of its natural durability and beauty, even though it needs regular maintenance. As an alternative, laminate flooring is a new product that is reputed to have the looks and toughness of hardwood, without the maintenance requirements.
There are three important questions most people ask when choosing a new floor:
- Does it look good?
- Is it durable?
- How difficult is it to maintain?
Hardwood floors score highly with regard to the first two questions but much lower on the third; laminate flooring, on the other hand, is said to be very low-maintenance while still providing the same good looks and durability.
How Does Laminate Flooring Compare With Hardwood?
Laminate flooring is a rigid plank product sold in click-together pieces. Each piece is decorated with a photographic image coated with several layers of a clear, hard resin. In looks, durability, and maintenance, laminate flooring compares very favorably with hardwood. By using photographs, laminate flooring can be made to look exactly like most types of hardwood flooring.
Maintenance is also easier with laminate floors, because unlike hardwood floors, they don't need to be polished or waxed regularly or refinished or sanded. However, laminate flooring does need to be cleaned regularly and protected from bumps and scratches to keep its looks and stay in good condition.
Durability
If well-looked after, laminate flooring is said to be very durable, although since it is a fairly new material (introduced to the U.S. in the 90s) there is no evidence yet that it can match hardwood's centuries of durability.
Laminate flooring is a low-maintenance, attractive alternative to hardwood, but whether or not it can really match the natural beauty and warmth of real wood is a matter of personal opinion.
About the author
Jane Smallman runs a mountain guiding business with her husband. Her early training was in hotel management and she has worked in the hotel industry in France, Holland, the US and the UK. Following this she worked in an administrative capacity for a number of not-for-profit organizations in the UK, including the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the Refugee Legal Centre. While doing this she earned a degree in Social Sciences through distance learning with the Open University. After graduation she progressed to the University of Sussex as a full-time student where she was awarded a Masters Degree in Social and Political Thought.
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