While hardwood is to floors like granite is to countertops, laminate flooring has been increasing in popularity over the past few decades. Whether you’re replacing a worn out floor or want to change the aesthetics of your home, laminate is an excellent choice and has many benefits.
Hardwood Appearance
The trouble most Durban homeowners have with hardwood is that it is challenging to take care of and maintain. It usually requires special cleansers and must be stained and resurfaced periodically. Laminate comes in many finishes, colors, and styles, and you can find laminate floors that mimic almost all hardwoods. Therefore, if you have your heart set on hardwood and don’t want to deal with the hassles and expense, there is an alternative.
Quick Installation
While you should always hire a professional to install your flooring, you may find that laminate is much easier and faster to install. It can usually go over the current flooring system, as long as the subfloor is secure and level. It can also be placed over tile, hardwood, and vinyl. Therefore, you don’t necessarily have to rip out the old floors to put the new one down. It can save a lot of time and cost less to install the flooring.
Maintenance
As mentioned earlier, hardwood can be challenging to maintain, but laminate is much easier to clean. You just have to sweep it periodically and mop it to get up the stains. Plus, you don’t need any special cleaners to clean the floor. However, you can find products designed for laminate, and that might be more suitable to ensure that the laminate keeps its sheen and keeps its condition longer.
You can also use nail polish remover (though sparingly!) to remove stubborn stains, such as ink, lipstick, marker, paint, or oil, making it easy to get up stubborn stains.
