| Laminate flooring has several advantages over | | | | wait for the glue to dry. |
| hardwood flooring. This is why it is currently more | | | | The installation of laminate flooring will also occur |
| popular among consumers. Laminate flooring is | | | | more quickly than with hardwood flooring. This is |
| composed of four different layers. One of these | | | | because the planks used for laminate are wider than |
| layers is the design layer, which determines the look | | | | the planks used for hardwood. |
| of the flooring. The design layer has a photographic | | | | Laminate flooring is more durable than natural |
| image on it that allows laminate flooring to look very | | | | hardwood flooring. It is about fifteen times stronger. |
| similar to natural hardwood flooring right down to its | | | | It is much easier to damage hardwood than laminate. |
| grain, color, and knots. Because the look of laminate | | | | Hardwood will not tolerate heavy foot traffic as well |
| depends on a photographic image on the design | | | | as laminate. This is why you will find that laminate |
| layer, laminate can have many more design options | | | | often comes with a ten or fifteen year warranty. |
| than hardwood. But there are still differences | | | | Warranties for hardwood are much shorter. |
| between the way the two look. The same grain | | | | However, if it is necessary, you can resand and |
| patterns are repeated throughout the laminate | | | | refinish a hardwood floor as many times as is |
| flooring. In contrast, there is a little more variation in | | | | necessary. This will allow your hardwood floor to last |
| the grain patterns for hardwood flooring. This means | | | | for many years. Because of its design, you cannot |
| that it is easier to find replacement laminate planks | | | | resand and refinish laminate. |
| that will not contrast with the existing planks. | | | | Another advantage of laminate flooring is that it |
| Laminate flooring is about twenty five percent | | | | provides ultraviolent (UV) protection. This gives |
| cheaper than hardwood flooring. This means that you | | | | laminate flooring the ability to block UV rays from the |
| can get a floor that has the visual appeal of a | | | | sun which will prevent the flooring from fading. Since |
| hardwood floor at a much cheaper price. | | | | hardwood flooring does not provide UV protection, |
| Laminate flooring is much easier to install. The reason | | | | you will have to spend a lot of money on |
| for this is because of the invention of glueless | | | | maintenance costs to make sure that the hardwood |
| laminate flooring. Because it uses a locking tongue and | | | | flooring looks as good as it originally did. |
| groove design, you can install glueless laminate | | | | Laminate flooring is much easier to maintain. Since it |
| flooring by attaching the laminate planks together. | | | | does not trap any dirt, the daily maintenance of |
| This is much easier than using glue or nails to install | | | | laminate would only require the use of a brush or |
| hardwood flooring. It is also much easier to clean up | | | | dust mop. If any water gets on the laminate, you |
| after installing laminate flooring. Using a locking tongue | | | | can clean it up with a sponge, paper towel, or mop. |
| and groove design instead of glue also means that | | | | Cleaning hardwood flooring is more time consuming |
| you can immediately use your flooring right after the | | | | and usually requires the use of relatively expensive |
| installation is finished because you do not have to | | | | cleaning products. |