Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring in Kitchen

Floors are usually the first thing people notice in a room when they enter. Like every flooring type, there are many pros and cons of laminate flooring in Kitchen. They have become so popular that even engineered wood flooring is being used in kitchens these days. Keep in mind the following points before choosing the right flooring for your Kitchen based on different parameters. The only way to know if it’s appropriate for your Kitchen is to consider its benefits and flaws. So let’s have a look at them.

What are the Pros of Laminate Flooring in Kitchen?

For people on a budget who want to improve the look of their Kitchen without spending too much, laminate is a popular alternative. Here are some pros of laminate flooring in Kitchen to expect.

1. You can Install Laminates Easily

Laminate flooring is the most straightforward to install of all floor coverings. This is due, in part, to the fact that laminate creates a floating floor, so it doesn’t have to be nailed, stapled, or glued to a subfloor. This means your Kitchen will only be off-limits for a short time.

2. You can Laminate Any Surface

Laminate flooring may be applied to various substrates, including concrete, hardwood flooring, plywood, oriented strand boarding, and previously installed vinyl flooring. Because it doesn’t expand and compress as real wood does, it’s the ideal flooring for use in places where hardwood floors aren’t practical.

3. Enhanced appearance is one of the main pros of laminate flooring in Kitchen

In today’s laminate flooring, real wood floors’ texture, colour changes, and distinctive traits are more faithfully reproduced. Granite laminates are also available in a tile format that is very similar to genuine stone. Manufacturers have also produced a relief method that gives the surface some texture, such as hand-scraped wood planks or well-defined grout lines in tiles. The resemblance to other goods may be startling.

4. Cost-effective

One of the most obvious pros of laminate flooring in kitchen is the price, which has become so popular among homeowners. Hardwood floors might be costly at $8-$15 per square foot; laminate flooring can be as little as $3 per square foot. Of course, everything hinges on the quality of wood and installation fees, but laminate could be your best bet if cost is your major concern.

5. Durability Factor

The intensity of foot traffic a flooring surface receives and how meticulously a homeowner follows manufacturer recommendations for care and maintenance contribute to its longevity. Most laminate floors’ outside layer is created by bounding melamine resins and aluminium oxide at tremendous heat and extreme pressure. The result is usually harder than natural wood. Laminate flooring is highly resistant to moisture damage, staining, and fading. The finish on many laminate products comes with a 10-25 year guarantee.

What are the cons of Laminate Flooring in the Kitchen?

Although tiles are better equipped than vinyl since they absorb sound well, laminate floors don’t offer the same sound absorption. This is because the surface of laminates reflects more sound than other flooring materials, making them unsuitable for rooms where you need to keep noise levels down. This brings us down to consider noteworthy cons of Laminate Flooring in the Kitchen.

1. Environmental Concern is one of the major cons of laminate flooring in Kitchen

Laminate isn’t the most environmentally friendly flooring option. The wear layer of laminate flooring is composed of plastic that does not degrade in landfills. Some types of laminate might be produced with formaldehyde or other harmful VOCs, according to environmental experts. However, stringent new EPA standards have helped limit VOC content in laminate flooring.

2. Difficult to Repair

Because a laminate floor is not sanded and polished, it does not provide the same level of beauty renewal. Instead, to restore the look of a damaged or worn laminate floor, its broken pieces must be removed and new ones installed. The new piece may not fit properly if the lightning and ageing have affected individual boards.

3. It can’t be Refinished

Because laminate flooring may not be restored the way genuine wood can, it will have to be replaced when it wears down. Check the warranty on the flooring you’re considering; high-warranty items are of higher quality and last longer. Avoid low-quality laminate flooring.

4. Susceptible to Damage

Even the greatest laminate flooring is susceptible to moisture damage. A moisture barrier should be used in installations on kitchen floors and slabs. If you’re careful while cooking, laminate flooring in the Kitchen is acceptable. Unless all edges are bonded during installation, and the perimeter is sealed with silicone caulk, it’s not going to be effective.

5. Laminate Flooring Doesn’t add Value to Your Home

If you’re considering selling your house in the near future or simply want to increase the value of your property, consider laminate’s lower return on investment compared with hardwood, tile, or stone.

Final Thoughts on the Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring

If you’re on a budget and want to save money by doing the installation yourself, laminate flooring may be ideal. Laminate flooring is one of the most cost-effective and simple-to-install flooring options available. While laminate flooring is very practical and attractive, it lacks the premium and additional real estate value that hardwood or stone tile flooring provides.