Deciding to renovate your home is a huge step that we are more than happy to help you with. The most important goal when renovating is to get the look you are going for at the price you want. Cheap laminate flooring has some features that are important to consider. Here are the top 5 things you need to know before you buy laminate wood flooring
1. What is laminate wood flooring?
Simply put, laminate wood flooring is just laminate flooring that is made to look like hardwood. You get a similar look to a hardwood floor, but minus the cost of hardwood. Laminate flooring consists of a few layers. A wear layer or finish layer on top, a core layer, and a bottom layer. The main Core to look at is its HDF core. The HDF core is made from softwood fibers that are broken down, combined with wax and a resin binder, and formed into panels using heat and pressure. For a more in-depth answer visit our blog: what is laminate flooring. Laminate flooring was very popular in rental homes before LVP flooring became affordable. Laminate flooring offered an inexpensive flooring option that withstood the high traffic and abuse of the property management industry. Even in the lower quality laminates their durability far exceeded carpet or vinyl tiles, making laminate flooring the #1 choice for landlords and rental property owners, as well as the diy segment.
Having a wide plank laminate floor made of recycled hardwood fibers for its composition means water is an arch enemy to this floor. Laminate floors are not waterproof and because the fibers are waxed together, there isn’t a strong binding agent to prevent standing water from ruining the floor. Treat laminate like a traditional solid hardwood floor, don’t install it when you live in a high humidity area.
2. Should I buy cheap laminate wood flooring for my home?
If you’re asking for our opinion, we’d say maybe! Cheap laminate wood flooring gives you a similar look that a solid wood floor has. A living room or dining space can look great when you choose laminate wood flooring. If you’re looking for great-looking flooring that is durable, waterproof, and pet-proof you’ll want to shop our luxury vinyl plank floors for some cheap vinyl plank deals from COREtec, Shaw floors, Mohawk, etc.
3. Does laminate wood flooring have to be cleaned a certain way?
Not at all. We can still use Pine-Sol or whatever cleaner you usually use on your floors. You will be able to sweep and mop cheap laminate wood flooring the same way you would tile. You can even use a vacuum to pick up any dirt instead of sweeping it if you want to. People are able to save money on cleaning supplies when they choose these kinds of floors because you won’t have to invest in any expensive cleaners.
Stay away from oils, waxes, or furniture sprays. Straight ammonia cleaners or heavy alkaline products are a no-no as well. If a cleaner is advertised as an abrasive one, maybe back off on purchasing that one as well. We don’t want to hurt the finish on these floors.
4. Are laminate floors pet and kid friendly?
It is better than carpet when it comes to pets. You don’t have to worry about their fur settling into it, and it will be much easier to clean their hair up off of laminate than it would be off of the carpet. Hard surface flooring is found to be more hygienic in general. Laminate will claim water resistance but it isn’t waterproof, so if your pet leaves an accident on the floor when you’re not home, you could find the spot ruined by buckling or bubbling up fibers from the HDF core. You cannot refinish laminate like you can solid hardwood floors. So keep that in mind when you have pets in your home. It sounds redundant, but luxury vinyl plank is a cheaper alternative to hardwood and laminate with waterproof construction and a textured experience similar to hardwood.
5. Where can I get the best deal on laminate wood flooring?
Most online and local flooring stores stock laminate flooring. We believe laminate is the wood-look flooring of the past. There are plenty of other options to go with than laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is priced similarly to luxury vinyl plank products. When an LVP floor offers the big waterproof feature, it’s hard to recommend laminate. Since a majority of our LVP floors are stocked all across the US, we cut down on shipping costs leaving you with an amazing price you can’t refuse! Learn more about LVP in our blog What is Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring? where we break down the construction, the claims, and the annoying supply chain origins.
Are there Cheaper and Better Options than Laminate Flooring?
Our cheap laminate wood flooring alternative is Luxury Vinyl Plank. LVP is the perfect fit for your space, and has taken over the cheap flooring market. Appropriate to almost all areas of your home due to its waterproof capabilities, LVP whether in a plank or tile visual offers the look of real wood and tile in a vinyl flooring that does everything well. While this might seem like hyperbole, I can assure you that rigid core materials have taken the lion's share of budget flooring over the last few years and there is no sign that anything will change in the near future. Available in a wide range of species, colors, and textures, LVP flooring gives you the options that you need for your home or commercial project. So start browsing our products and plan your next renovation today!