Laminate Wood Floors

Laminated floor is the cheapest solution if you want a wooden floor look. Laminates look OK in magazines and brochures – but in reality they look cheap and artificial. They just don’t have the woody feel (or even look!) to them. I generally advise people against using laminates. You should only use them if you want a quick and/or short-term make-over of an unacceptable space or you want to sell your home and need to stage it… otherwise spend a bit more on a proper wooden floor..

 I find it shocking when people renovate their houses and spend a fortune on expensive curtains and gadgets – but budget a minimum amount for their floor. If you don’t already have a proper wooden floor or old floorboards, you should really spend effort and money on your floor. Why? Because a floor is very important – not only on an aesthetic and practical level but also on a sensual level. Have you ever walked barefoot on a proper hardwood floor? If not – try it! I’s warm and stable and just so yummy. Walking on laminates on the other hand feels cold, slippery and spongy.

 I admit there are now some laminated floors that look more stylish than the cheap ones but they cost about the same as engineered flooring, so you might as well get something that at least has a layer of proper timber!

But if you must have laminated floor this is what you should know about it:

 Laying laminated floor is certainly a DIY job. Laminates come in planks and need to be glued or snapped together. Remember, you need to have to have underlay. The new laminated floor is not attached to the sub floor, but floats on the top of it. This makes it easy to remove.

Some manufacturers claim that damaged sections can be replaced and that laminates are hard-wearing and scratch-resistant. Not in my experience. They actually chip very easily. If glued, you can’t replace the damaged bits. If you spill water over it, the edges curve up…it looks awful! They are actually a nightmare if they get damaged. They’re OK in areas of little (or no) traffic. Laminated floors are very suitable for kid’s room! But don’t just get a boring wood-looking laminated floor – have fun and go for some bold patterns or funky colours! You can wipe off paint and crayons and stains easily and after a couple years just exchange the floor to a better one. But remember, laminated floor is slightly slippery – think of toddlers!!!!

Laminates are not suitable for bathrooms or kitchens. When people (even builders) lay laminated floorboards they often forget about the gap between the wall and the floor. This is essential for expansion and shrinking. Then you have to cover the gap with skirting or edging.

I hope I’ve put you off using laminated floors in your home. If you’re unsure why don’t you read a bit more about wooden flooring,  floorboards and proper wood floors? Or discuss wooden floors in the DIY Network.

In the last part of my flooring article I’ll be writing about alternative solutions to floors – such as rubber, tiles and concrete… see you there!