When we are redecorating our homes, we often focus on aesthetics and style and forget about practicality. If you are thinking about reflooring, you should start looking for the perfect option that will balance the style you want, and the ease of maintenance it requires. Picking the right type, design, and color of flooring is an overwhelming task, due to all the available options out there.
You might be tempted to go for the hardwood; however, you should take some time before deciding to go over the available options, and understand the differences between different types of flooring. Available alternatives to hardwood nowadays are easier to clean, are more durable, and are most importantly, much cheaper. These options can provide you with the natural wood style you want without the hassle of going for hardwood. Take a look at these options, and how can you choose between them.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring consists of different layers that are 100% synthetic. Usually, the middle layer is topped off with a surface layer to create a decorative pattern, and then another layer of protection is added. All these layers ensure style, durability, and practicality within the same flooring option. There are endless vinyl flooring options that offer different advantages. With numerous alternatives in the market offering different types of floorings, including laminate and hardwood, this can make the right decision become even harder.
To limit the confusion, you can check the most innovative and popular option that people opt for to weigh the pros and cons of all the available alternatives and to be able to decide what they may need. Loose lay vinyl flooring is maybe the hottest flooring trend nowadays. But, before making any decision, you need to learn about this type of flooring and the pros it offers from thickness, and the ease of cleaning and maintenance, to its affordability. This vinyl flooring option is considered to be the best among other available alternatives in the market today.
Pros:
- Vinyl floorings are considered better than laminate, due to their water-resistant nature. They can be a good choice for higher-moisture areas. This makes them ideal for bathrooms.
- They can be used on top of any flooring type, such as laminate, concrete, cement, or any other flat subfloor.
- All the layers that go into the making of vinyl flooring add a lot to its sturdiness. This means that they are better at withstanding heavyweights, and heavy foot traffic.
- They are easily cleaned, maintained, and even installed without seeking the help of professionals.
- Vinyl flooring can be very durable.
Cons:
- They can look synthetic when compared with other natural materials.
- With heavy UV exposure, the floor might start to change its colors, and show discoloration.
Laminate Flooring
This flooring is made of high-density fiberboard, which is coated and covered with plastic laminate. Laminate flooring is a much cheaper option than hardwood, and it comes close to looking like natural wooden flooring. This type of flooring is easier to be cleaned, maintained, and even installed without any professional help. However, unlike hardwood flooring that can be repaired, sanded, and refinished, laminate flooring isn’t easily repaired. Yet, both of them offer endless options of designs, styles, and different colors for you to pick. This gives you the option to choose the perfect design that will complement your rooms, and add an aesthetic sense to your house. Choosing between laminate and hardwood depends on certain factors, the first of which is your budget. Laminate flooring is definitely the cheaper choice here; yet, the cheaper you go, the less natural the floor tends to look.
Pros:
- If you think about redecorating and changing your floorings in the future, then laminate flooring is best due to its high resale value.
- Even though laminate flooring is hard to be repaired, they come in scratch-resistant options.
- They are easy to clean.
- This type of flooring is thick and comfortable to walk on if you chose to go with a modern minimal look without any carpets.
- They can be installed easily without any hassle.
- They are a better option for semi-moist areas like kitchens.
Cons:
- They are not waterproof, which means that they can be damaged, and are susceptible to warping from water.
- They are louder to walk on.
The choice of faux wood is limited between vinyl and laminate. While both options are similar in appearance, the way they radiate heat, and their installation process can differ. There is a difference between the pros and cons that each option offers. These pros and cons should be weighed carefully to choose what suits best the rooms that you are reflooring. You can always mix and match both options, or choose a specific theme and type for the whole apartment.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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