Modern laminate flooring is ideal for high traffic areas, families with kids, and is more economical than hardwood floors. Hardwood floors require much more care and maintenance than a laminate floor.
With a 10 to 25 year warranty and varying core sizes the perfect flooring for your setting is available in a wide range of colors and styles. Laminate flooring comes in 6mm to 12mm cores, with the 12mm core providing better traffic wear and a hardwood like feel when walking on it.
Cleaning Laminate Floor Solutions
• Sweep with a vacuum cleaner (no beater bar) or indoor broom • For light cleaning simply use hot water and mop with a terry mop (don't soak the floor!)
• Use 1/4 cup of vinegar in a 30 ounce spray bottle to dampen a terry mop for more difficult stains
• Spot clean by hand with nail polish remover or alcohol
Caution
• Rocks and grit like sand can scratch your floor eventually making it look dull
• Never soak your floor with any liquid
• Never use abrasive cleaners, scouring powder or steel wool
• Don't apply wax or polish to any laminate flooring product
Hardwood vs Laminate Floor
Hardwood flooring typically requires buffing and waxing or polishing to maintain its beauty. This type of flooring is not very durable in high traffic areas and often strategic positioning of rugs are used for protection. Direct sunlight can fade hardwood flooring rapidly.
Laminate flooring is not made of wood. It includes numerous materials bonded together under high pressure. It contains high density fiberboard, a moisture resistant layer, and an extremely thin layer containing a high resolution image of wood or other materials on top. So what you see is a pictorial representation of natural elements.
Some advantages of laminate flooring over hardwood floors:
• Can be installed above or below grade
• Easy installation
• Less maintenance and cleaning
• More durable than hardwood
• Less Expensive
Installing laminate flooring is an easy do it yourself option for many people that can be a fun and rewarding home project providing beautiful results.