Pros and Cons of Hardwood Flooring and Wood Laminate Tiles
Flooring is one of the most important parts of home design. Wood flooring is one of the materials that is most sought after because it has a timeless and elegant look. This is perhaps one of the reasons why many people like buying old homes as they usually feature hardwood floors. With this in mind there are also newer homes that have wood laminate tiling installed that gives floors the same elegant look for less. If you're thinking about installing hardwood flooring or laminate wood tiles, here are some things you should know about them.
Pricing
Wood laminate tiles are obviously cheaper than hardwood flooring. The laminate tiles are made from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures. It is cheaper wood but stained and laminated to look like real wood. Natural wood however is harvested from jungles as far as South East Asia making which costs higher due to the distance in transportation and cost in raising and felling hardwood tree species. In general, hardwood is more expensive to buy and install.
Durability
Both wood tiles and hardwood floors are highly durable. Laminated wood tiles can last up to 50 years with proper care. The same is true with natural hardwood flooring. The thing to remember when installing these kinds of tile is to keep them away from moisture and water. Even wood laminated tiles can buckle and suffer damage if water and moisture seeps into the wooden core of the tile. Hardwood is more sensitive so make sure that they are kept dry and resealed every couple of years to prevent moisture seepage.
Repairs
At some time during the lifespan of your flooring, it will need not only maintenance but also repairs. Floors see a lot of impact from traffic and dropped objects as well as spills. It's no wonder that floor suffer damage from time to time and will need repairs. Between the two, hardwood is easier to repair. For scratches and nicks you just need to sand and buff out the damage. Laminate on the other hand can be trickier to repair. However the snap on planks are easier to replace. Simply take off the damaged plank and replace with a new one. Depending on wear and tear and exposure to sunlight the change can be a bit obvious.
Installation
Hardwood is long lasting but needs professional help for installation. They are hardwood varieties that are harder to cut than other species so special tools may be needed if cuts need to be made. Hardwood also needs to be sanded and buffed to make sure that the surface is needed. Grout or sealant also needs to be applied carefully around the perimeter and joints to make sure that moisture will not seep in. Wood laminate tiles on the other hand are easier to install especially the snap-on plank variety. They are also easier to cut. They can be put right on top of the existing flooring making renovating easier and faster.
Maintenance
Both types of floors are easy to maintain. For wood laminate tiles and hardwood flooring, frequent sweeps with a broom or vacuum cleaner will keep the floor shiny. Hardwood will need regular buffing to keep it shiny. There are special products that will bring out the wood's natural shine that can be applied periodically to refresh the sheen.
All homes can benefit with floors that look like wood. The only main difference between hardwood floors and wood tile laminate is that the latter is cheaper than the former. With proper care these two types of floor can last many years.
http://www.ehow.com/how_7603883_install-laminate-square-tiles.html
