Laminate Flooring Tampa Bay – Advantages and Disadvantages of Hardwood Floors

Laminate flooring is durable and easy to install but it is not to be used in places where moisture may be prevalent such as: the kitchen or a full bathroom. Here are the different types of laminate flooring in Tampa Bay:

Standard Flooring

Standard laminate flooring is a tongue and groove type of flooring where the planks are clicked into one another and installed. The installation process for laminate flooring is typically called “floating” flooring because the flooring is laid over a foam or film sub floor. This is done to allow the floor to expand or contract as the need may be. This is especially beneficial in the every-changing climate of the Tampa Bay area.

Pre-Glued Flooring

Pre-glued laminate flooring is similar to the standard tongue and groove flooring. The major difference is that pre-glued flooring has had glue applied to the tongue and groove prior to installation. A thin plastic underlay has to be place between the laminate flooring and the sub floor to avoid having the glue stick to the sub flooring.

Snap and Lock

Snap and lock laminate flooring is the same as tongue and groove laminate flooring. This means that one side of the plank has a ridge into which the other plank will fit, like a puzzle piece. This is standard flooring and helps to make a smooth, solid looking floor.

Laminate Flooring Advantages

Perhaps the biggest and best advantage is the fact that laminate flooring is less expensive than any of the wood flooring materials. With the current rates of home improvement, having laminate flooring installed in your home will increase the value of your home and give you the warmth of a true hardwood floor.

Laminate floor maintenance is easy and needs only a dry mop. Should it need to be wet mopped, then only a damp mop should be used. Although laminate flooring, when it becomes worn, cannot be sanded and re-polyurethaned the way you can a hardwood floor, it will not need to be revitalized for many years. Laminate flooring has a long life and high durability.

Laminate Flooring Disadvantages

One disadvantage of laminate flooring in Tampa Bay is that it does not work well in areas with high moisture or wetness. It is not recommended that laminate flooring be installed in bathrooms, kitchens, or near entryways to pools. There are places where moisture is prevalent and laminate flooring should not be used. Even with an underlay to keep the laminate from lying directly on a sub floor it may not thrive well in these areas where moisture is prevalent.

Although laminate flooring boasts of being durable, like everything else, it has its weaknesses. Objects that are heavy or sharp can damage a laminate floor when they are constantly moved along the floor. Sharp objects can also damage a laminate floor; things like high heels, which can make permanent dents in the laminate floor, children’s sport spike shoes, cat and dog claws (if not regularly cut or clipped). Heavy pressures, dents, and scratches are the natural enemies of the laminate flooring in Tampa Bay.

Finding a hardwood flooring contractor in Tampa Bay is the next step of the process here and knowing what questions to ask to find a good one are mighty important. Visit the link above to discover the best questions that will weed out the chances of being scammed or taken advantage of.