Although laminate flooring may look almost exactly like a real hardwood floor, there are several differences between the two. It's difficult to tell the difference at a first glance, but looking closely you will notice repeated features throughout your laminate flooring, such as the same knots and grain. While this can provide a more uniform look, some people prefer more variations in the pattern of their flooring.

The biggest difference between laminate flooring and hardwood is probably the price. Laminate flooring can save you about 20-25% when compared to real hardwood floors; however hardwood floors may increase the resale value of your home and be better for you in the long run if you don't plan on living there long-term.

Another important difference to note is the longevity of your flooring. Laminate flooring can stand the test of time much better than hardwood, which can be subject to sun and water damage as well as wear-and-tear caused by traffic. Some people consider this fact of hardwood floors appealing, as "weathering" can give a floor (and in turn, a room) more "character". However, laminate flooring can withstand the heavy traffic of a modern family home without as much weathering or damage a whole lot better.

The cost of maintenance and upkeep of your floor is also something to consider when you are choosing between genuine wood or laminate flooring. Hardwood floors can require a lot of time, money and effort to keep in top condition, and you can expect to re-sand and refinish real hardwood floors periodically. With laminate flooring, on the other hand, your floor will need much less maintenance and remain gorgeous for a fairly long time with minimal upkeep.

Laminate flooring is created by bonding many layers of various fibres together, treated in several ways to protect your floor against weathering and wear. Your floor can keep the same colour for years, unaffected by sunlight and moisture. This makes it easy to replace a single damaged tile and maintain the uniform colour and pattern of your floor. With hardwood however, replacing a single plank after years of wear can be impossible without contrast to the surrounding boards. If one area becomes stained or damaged, it's often necessary to replace the flooring of the entire room.

Installation is also a topic to discuss before you decide whether to buy real hardwood or laminate. If you choose hardwood, you can expect to pay experienced professionals to complete the installation perfectly. Doing this job yourself as a homeowner is not in any way fail-safe and there are many risks involved with taking on such a big project. It would take time, effort and extensive knowledge to install real hardwood floors correctly.

The installation of laminate is much simpler. You actually have a few different options for installation, but it's far more reasonable to install laminate flooring without professional help. You can choose flooring that comes pre-glued, that you must glue yourself, or even laminate flooring that requires no glue at all. It's also unnecessary to remove your old flooring when you install laminate tiles or planks; they can usually be installed on top of your existing floor.

Choosing between laminate and hardwood flooring is a personal decision. You want to consider your family lifestyle and pick appropriate flooring based on affordability and durability, as well as style. There are many options however, so you can easily find the perfect flooring for your home.

How To

How to Clean a Wood Laminate Floor

Cleaning a wood laminate floor is easy.

Wood laminate floors are less expensive than hardwood floors and are much easier to install. Since wood laminate floors can be installed over virtually any surface, most homeowners install wood laminate floors themselves. For this reason, wood laminate floors are a great alternative to installing hardwood floors. Cleaning a wood laminate floor is just as easy as long as you have the right cleaning supplies. Here's how to clean a wood laminate floor:

• soft bristle broom and dustpan
• swiffer sweeper dry and wet cloths and handle
• dry towels
• damp towels
• wood laminate floor cleaner of your choice

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Sweep the wood laminate floor. Sweep the wood laminate floor to remove any dust and debris before you start to clean it.

Step2

Dust the wood laminate floor. Dust the wood laminate floor with a swiffer sweeper dry cloth. This will help clean up any remaining dust and debris you didn't get with the broom.

Step3

Spray it with a wood laminate floor cleaner. Spray it with a wood laminate floor cleaner and wipe it clean with a damp towel. You can purchase a wood laminate floor cleaner at your local home improvement store. Make sure it is marked clearly for cleaning wood laminate floors. You need to avoid using soapy cleansing agents. Armstrong makes a great wood laminate floor cleaner and is pictured at left.

Step4

Wipe up any remaining moisture. Use dry towels to wipe up any remaining water on the wood laminate floor. Now your floors should look brand new!

Step5

Be sure to check out the Resource links below for more floor and home improvement projects.

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