Is Laminate Flooring the Best Option for Indian Homes?

Don’t we just love the seamless elegance of hardwood flooring? Its timeless beauty has always been the paradigm of classy interiors. However, hardwood flooring is mostly a design feature from the West, where it is cold and not so humid. You must have wondered if hardwood works for a tropical climate, or is laminate flooring in India a better choice.

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate is basically tiles with a wood effect. It looks similar to wood but has different properties. Made up of separate layers, laminate is a type of composite flooring. It is made to endure damage while enhancing the appeal and value of your house.

What’s the Composition of Laminate Flooring?

The flooring is composed of three layers – a high-density fiberboard or plywood core to offer the material strength and stability, a photo-realistic layer that typically imitates wood and a strong, protective wear layer that offers protection.

Also Read: Which is the Best Type of Flooring for Indian Homes?

Laminate Flooring, India: Pros and Cons

Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about this flooring design option to make an informed choice. 

Where Can Laminate Flooring Be Installed?

This flooring option is rather easy to install. In fact, with the right guidelines, you could do it yourself! It does not require glue and isn’t too tough a material to cut. Wastage is remarkably less as compared to hardwood flooring, wherein you may have to discard pieces that do not fit into your floor plan.

Verdict: Pro

Can Laminated Flooring Replace Hardwood Flooring?

Functionally, laminated flooring works well for the elderly and children because it is not as tough as marble, granite or tiles. So if you fall, the chances of a serious injury are less. Moreover, laminate floors have some amount of air gap that other forms of flooring don’t. Hence, they tend to be more springy and easier to stand on for longer periods of time. But in the interest of caution, it is best to ensure that your wood-effect tiles have an anti-skid layer.

Verdict: Pro

What’s the Aesthetic Value of Laminated Flooring?

It is a well-known fact that floor lamination is an easy way to get the elegant look and feel of real hardwood flooring. But, like all imitations, this type of flooring too has its limitations. From a distance, wood-effect tiles look like a perfect copy of hardwood flooring. But on closer inspection, its surface does not seem nearly as seamless.

Verdict: Con

Also read: Which Flooring Is Best for the Kitchen? Here Are 10 Durable Kitchen Flooring Options To Consider

What’s the Cost of Laminate Flooring?

There cannot be any comparison in the cost of actual hardwood flooring and laminate flooring. The latter is much cheaper and also more sustainable, considering it does not actually involve felling of trees. However, in case you are selling your home, laminate will not fetch you big bucks, as its valuation comes to almost nothing.

Verdict: Pro

What’s the Durability of Laminate Flooring?

Unlike wooden flooring, laminate does not get damaged easily. For example, it is not prone to denting. However, on the flip side, it also cannot be fixed or retouched once it is damaged. Wooden flooring can be sanded and repaired. But laminate, once damaged, must be replaced for good.

Verdict: Con

How to Maintain Laminated Flooring?

Laminate has a huge benefit compared to hardwood when it comes to moisture. It does not absorb moisture as fast or easily as wood. Hence, its maintenance is much easier. Also, laminate does not get stained easily. And if it does, all you have to do is wipe it with a wet cloth.

Verdict: Pro

Laminate Flooring Pros and Cons Summarised

Pros

This flooring option is easy to install and does not even require glue. It isn’t too tough a material to cut and creates less wastage. Laminated flooring works well for the elderly and children because of its anti-skid properties. It is much cheaper and also more sustainable. It does not absorb moisture as fast or easily as wood, that’s why it is easy to maintain.

Cons

We know wood-effect laminate flooring is cost-effective than hard wood flooring but on closer inspection, its surface does not seem nearly as seamless. Also, unlike wooden flooring, it also cannot be fixed or retouched once it is damaged. It needs to be replaced.

Conclusion: Is Laminated Flooring the Best Choice for You?

We’ve listed the pros and cons for you considering the options available in India. Even though some of the best laminate flooring can last three times as long, it won’t last as long as the real wood options, but it may still fit into your budget and lifestyle better. Additionally, when compared to some of the best vinyl plank flooring, it can provide a more cosy, realistic and environmentally-friendly option.

If you found this piece informative, also read Types of Flooring in India. 

How Can Livspace Help You?

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FAQs

1. Is Laminate Cheaper Than Wood?

Including maintenance costs, laminate flooring is substantially more economical than hardwood floors. The price of installing laminate wood is typically 50% less than installing hardwood. Each square foot costs between Rs. 120 and Rs. 1,200.

2. Which One Is Better: Laminate or Vinyl Flooring?

The laminate planks feature various wear layers that add thickness and sheen for a more realistic appearance while still maintaining the same materials and composition as regular vinyl. Laminate is therefore unquestionably superior to traditional vinyl.

3. What Is the Downside to Laminate Flooring?

One significant drawback of this flooring is its inability to be refinished and sanded. Since laminate flooring cannot be polished or refinished like real hardwood, it must be replaced if it is severely damaged, deeply scratched, or grooved.

4. Is Laminate Flooring Wood or Plastic?

Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product. It is intended to resemble real wood in appearance. It is purposefully made to be both inexpensive and durable.