Drawbacks of Laminate Flooring
1. Not Authentic
Although a quality laminate flooring may look and feel like hardwood, in the end, it’s not and will not be as genuine as real wood timbers. For example, it doesn’t provide sound and heat insulation or feels hot underfoot degree as the same as natural wood. Besides, unlike timber flooring, laminate flooring will not increase the resale value of your home.
2. Not 100% Moisture-Proof
While laminate flooring is resistance to spills and moisture it’s not completely water-proof. Long-time exposure to excess water and spills could seriously damage your flooring. Therefore, laminate flooring is not suitable for installation in a room with high humidity content such as an unventilated attic or where water spills are found everywhere like bathrooms, kitchens or laundry rooms. Vinyl flooring which is 100% water-proof would be an even better option for these rooms.
Taking benefits of the newer manufacturing technology, now some laminate floorings come with a 24-hour protective layer which helps to avoid accidental damage to the flooring. This is a big step in a good direction but doesn’t guarantee that your flooring will survive from a flood of water.
3. Prone to Wrapping
Unlike vinyl flooring that you can submerge in water for weeks without being affected by the moisture, even the best-quality laminate flooring is not immune from water damage. Made from compressed sawdust, layers of laminate flooring swallow when coming in contact with water. Consequently, the flooring will wrap. This may lead to the need to replacing the floorboard or even a complete reinstall of the flooring.
4. Cannot be Refinished
One popular feature of the timber flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished several times to renew its look and appearance. Although laminate could mimic natural species it lacks a veneer layer and thus cannot be sanded and finished. It has only a high-resolution image protected under a water-resistant layer.
5. Noisy (if installed improperly)
While being DIY-friendly improper installation of laminate flooring could lead to problems. For example, when installed without underlayment the flooring can be noisy and make a hollow sound. Luckily, there is a sound-reducing option to help overcome this issue.
6. Lower return on funding
Because laminate flooring is not real wood, it’s not going to add much, if any, to your home resale value. So, if you are searching for and beautiful and affordable flooring for your home you just moved in, laminate flooring is probably your most dependable option. However, when you want flooring that pays off in a long-time, timber flooring may be a better solution for you.
Summing Up
In a nutshell, laminate flooring is a cost-effective, versatile and durable flooring solution that is allergy and maintenance-free as well as family/commercial friendly. On the other hand, laminate is not real wood and therefore cannot be refinished. It also not considered a wise investment option in flooring and doesn’t contribute to the resale value of the home.