| I can't deny that wood floors are lovely to look at, | | | | a sharp edged object or heavy pan on the hardwood |
| warm and inviting, but the same effect can be | | | | floor and it will leave a mark.. |
| obtained with laminate wood for a lot less money | | | | Do the same thing with laminate wood and it won't |
| and headaches! And in many cases laminate wood | | | | faze the flooring at all... The Aluminum Oxide surface |
| may be the better choice. Not only does it look like | | | | coating on laminate can be compared to steel. Hard |
| "wood", under most situations it will out-perform real | | | | as a rock! |
| hardwoods... | | | | Scratching The Wood |
| Since the very beginning of laminate wood floors, | | | | Hardwood floors scratch very easily. You have to be |
| improvements have been a constant endeavor with | | | | very careful when moving furniture, or anything of |
| manufacturers, like Alloc, Mannington and Dupont, to | | | | considerable weight or with a rough bottom, not to |
| make this flooring material a "perfect" product. The | | | | drag it but to lift it, unless you have floor guards on |
| "wear" (top) layer is made of aluminum oxide, a shield | | | | the bottom of whatever object you want to move. |
| about as strong as steel and penetrating it is near | | | | Outside grit will scratch the wood, too, so it is very |
| impossible. | | | | important to keep it swept up and use entry way |
| With hardwood flooring not much has changed since | | | | area rugs to prevent bringing outside grit inside. |
| the 70s to improve it's tolerance of normal living | | | | Laminate wood will scratch, but not so easily, and as |
| conditions. Other than developing a new type of | | | | with hardwood floors, putting rugs in front of outside |
| finish to give it more protection, there's not much | | | | entry ways is a smart way to protect your flooring. |
| that can be done to change its profile. It is what it is, | | | | My laminate wood kitchen floor is 7 years old and |
| a lovely, natural product... | | | | there is not one scratch on it. Once again the surface |
| But lets be honest, there are some areas where any | | | | finish is what provides such good protection. |
| kind of wood flooring products is not the best choice. | | | | Staining |
| There are risk involved if you use wood in a kitchen | | | | Hardwoods are porous and may absorb a stain like |
| or bathroom. If the flooring is porous, like hardwoods, | | | | an ink blotter if not cleaned up quickly, even with a |
| it is a fort for harboring bacteria and germs. | | | | good finish on the wood you have to be very careful |
| Waterproof or Not? | | | | not to let something like wine or blueberries just sit, |
| When I hear the word "waterproof" I think | | | | they need to be wiped up quickly to prevent staining. |
| "unaffected by moisture", don't you? Well that's not | | | | Laminate wood is not porous but will stain, too, but |
| the case with either hardwoods or laminate wood. | | | | the stains can usually be removed with a small |
| Flooring manufacturers marketing their wood flooring | | | | amount of acetone or denatured alcohol and a clean, |
| materials as "waterproof" is a selling point, and why | | | | preferable white, cloth. When staining occurs on this |
| not they are in the business to "sell", but the truth is | | | | type of flooring it is the protective surface finish that |
| wood and water/moisture do not mix. | | | | is stained |
| The thing with hardwoods or laminate wood is | | | | Maintenance |
| neither one is totally waterproof... Too much | | | | Hardwood floors are easy enough to sweep or dust |
| exposure to moisture and hardwoods will expand, | | | | and so is mopping, but it requires cleaning products |
| and as it dries it contracts. This type of action will | | | | made for hardwood floors. Eventually, hardwood |
| cause all sorts of issues with finished hardwood | | | | floors will need refinishing or even sanding and |
| floors. | | | | refinishing, but can be sanded may times over. |
| Laminate wood tolerates moisture much better than | | | | Maintenance can be fairly costly if the floor needs a |
| hardwoods. The HPL (high-pressure laminate) is | | | | new finish. If it is necessary to replace any of the |
| constructed with sealed waxed edges, this is in | | | | flooring it can be done board by board without |
| addition to the Aluminum Oxide surface coating, that | | | | replacing the whole floor.. |
| increases water resistance. But if exposed too long | | | | Laminate wood floors don't require much in the care |
| to moisture/water it will buckle. | | | | and maintenance department. Just sweep often and |
| But between the two, laminate wood tolerates | | | | light mop when needed. No special products are |
| moisture and bacteria far better than hardwoods. | | | | necessary. Swiffer products are perfect for laminate |
| The Affect From Impacts | | | | floors. Another thing with laminate wood is you can |
| As hard and durable as hardwoods is, they are easily | | | | replace single planks without replacing the whole floor. |
| dinged from impacts! Hard to believe, but true! Drop | | | | |