Hardwood floors are beautiful. This type of flooring always adds to the aesthetic value and interior design of your home. However, hardwood floors can also be quite expensive in Melbourne. Hence, it is not an option that is available to every homeowner in Melbourne who dreams of having one.
To still reach the design options of homeowners, laminate floorings are in place as a cheaper alternative to using hardwood floors, which also offer the same design style. If you are looking forward to use laminate floors, here are some tips to help you in choosing one for your home:
Installation process
If you are planning to DIY the flooring of your home, do remember to ask about the process of installation. Laminate flooring is a particular type of floor that also has its pre-preparation steps, which the sales representatives from the hardware shop can tell you about, or help you with.
Do not take the installation process for granted because remember that although laminates are cheaper than using original hardwood, using it for your whole house can also be quite expensive. You cannot make room for any mistakes.
If the hardware shop in Melbourne offer free installation with your purchase, then do take advantage of this offer as well. If you want to know more about the types of laminates, click here.
Thickness
Not all homes need the same thickness of laminate flooring. Hence, before purchasing one, have an expert go to your house and show them where you want to install the laminate flooring. The thickness of the laminates will depend on the following factors, for example:
- Uneven areas in your sub-floor
- Reduction of noise in your house
The typical thickness of floor laminates run from a minimum of 7 millimeters to a maximum of 12 millimeters. Before you even head out to your trusted hardware store in Melbourne, you can visit the manufacturer’s website to learn more about the thickness that they offer.
Budget
As with any other home renovation project, one of the most significant considerations that you should have in mind is your budget. Once you have a budget in mind, do your best to stick to it, even if you may have any extra cash to cover up for the amount that goes way beyond the budget that you‘ve set. When you are comparing various options, do check the price at all times.
Even if the difference may only be a dollar, remember that once you multiply this difference with the number of square feet that you are going to install the flooring, this difference can mean hundreds to thousands of dollars. This difference in the price could’ve been used for other home improvements as well, or kept as additional savings in the bank.
Appropriate finish
Laminate floorings have various finishes, as well. These finish options are meant to mimic the natural hardwood floors, in the most realistic way possible. When you are choosing among various options, therefore, select the finish that best goes along with the rest of the design in the room, or your whole house.
Examples of laminate finishes include the following:
- Cherry
- Maple
- Oak
- Chestnut
- Walnut
- Hickory
Here is a video of sample timber flooring installation and finishes, to give you a quick guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbF1Eh0CPBg
Durability
Original hardwood floors are incredibly durable; there is no doubt about that. Hence, if you are going to choose laminate flooring instead, be sure that you mimic not only the finish but the durability as well. Most laminate floorings are quite durable, too, and have very high resistance to scratches. To increase the durability of the floor then you have use vacuum for laminate floor.
The durability of laminate floors is measured by Abrasion Criteria (AC). The higher the AC number, the more durable the floor laminate is:
- AC 1, perfect for parts of the house with lesser foot traffic, such as the bedrooms
- AC 2, excellent for parts of the house with medium traffic
- AC 3, perfect for parts of the house with high traffic areas, such as welcome rooms, foyer, living and dining area, and the kitchen
- AC 4, ideal for high traffic areas, and can even meet commercial standards
- AC 5, used only for commercial areas, such as restaurants
Warranties
Manufacturers in Melbourne offer very attractive warranty options, as this is one factor that can easily entice customers to purchase their laminate flooring. Do ask about these warranties, so that you can make the best choice possible for you. Warranties are meant to cover any of the following:
- Stains
- Scratches and dents
- Fading
- Moisture damage
Conclusion
Remember that in the process of building your house, choosing the right floor is one of the most significant decisions that you can make. Your flooring brings everything together in your home, and it can make or break the whole aesthetics of your house as well. If you are keen on having wooden floors, but you do not have the budget for it, going for laminate flooring is the way to go for you.
