How Long Can I Expect My Laminate Floor to Last?
Laminate flooring looks and feels like a hardwood floor. However, it is a picture of hardwood printed on a durable plastic film and covered with a clear melamine laminate layer that is infused with aluminum oxide, the second hardness substance behind diamonds. It is more durable, less expensive, and easier to install than Hardwood flooring, allowing you to have the look of hardwood flooring at a more reasonable price.
Laminate flooring is more difficult to damage than most other flooring materials. However, there are certain elements that can shorten the lifespan of laminate floor. If shown the proper level of care and maintenance, laminate flooring can last for many years.
Read on to learn some recommended maintenance practices for extending the life of laminate flooring from Rugworks, expert flooring contractors near you.
What Is the Expected Lifespan of Laminate Flooring?
An average lifespan of laminate flooring is expected to be between 15 and 25 years. The longevity of laminate flooring can be improved with proper maintenance and care.
Let’s have a look into the major factors and maintenance that you can perform to help extend the longevity of your laminate flooring.
- Use Dry Mopping
Use a dry mop or a vacuum to clean the dust from laminate flooring. Do not use wet mops. They frequently contain too much water which may seep into the layers of your laminate and cause water damage. Additionally, water that seeps into your flooring may create bubbles or cause the laminate to slowly detach from the floor. Use a mist and mop approach: Misting an appropriate cleaning solution onto your mop head and then clean the floor making sure to remove all signs of moisture, much like cleaning a window.
- Avoid Sharp Objects
Keep sharp pointed objects like knives, forks, nails, screwdrivers, etc. away from laminate flooring. Avoid moving heavy items like beds, chairs, and tables across the floor without a protective layer to minimize scratching or scuffing. If you do need to move furniture or other heavy objects across your laminate flooring, lift the object or use moving pads under the legs or object to avoid damaging your floor.
- Cleaning Tough stains
Laminates can handle most common household chemicals that you can never use on other flooring materials. Try something gentler first such as the recommended Laminate floor cleaner or vinegar and water. If that doesn’t work products such as mineral spirits or acetone may be used to get rid of stubborn stains. Make sure to only use in a well-ventilated area. Remove any other cleaners you already tried. Put the cleaner on a clean white cloth, not directly on the floor. After removing the stain, clean the floor with the recommended cleaner to remove any film left behind.
- Buy High-quality Laminates
Always install laminates from trusted manufacturing companies and installers. Along with its long-lasting durability, high-quality laminates look better and have better warranties. They may cost more, but they will perform better and last longer than a cheaper product.
- Damage to Laminate Floors
As hard as you try, you will eventually damage your laminate floor. Luckily Today’s laminate floors are using glueless locking systems that allow you to dismantle a portion of the floor and replace the damaged piece or pieces with a new board. Make sure that you have a carton or two of extra materials as there are no guarantees your floor will be available in the future. If damage occurs call your installer to come out and take care of the issue. It may cost a few hundred dollars, but it is much cheaper then replacing your entire floor!
These are some important factors that decide the lifespan of laminate flooring. Rugworks offers a wide range of services to help transform your house into a home. If you are looking for laminate flooring contractors near you, stick with the experts at Rugworks! Contact us at our Rohnert Park store at (707) 584-7847 or our Sonoma store at (707) 935-0648 to experience the best flooring installers around.