Homeowners, and indeed landlords and those refurbishing commercial places, probably ask this question. This is because laminate flooring has been around for a while now and the number of alternatives available has increased, such as SPC click flooring (which is a type of LVT flooring). Those acronyms by the way spell Stone Plastic Composite and Luxury Vinyl Tiles. Whilst we will explain more about these in another article, the focus here is answering the question of whether laminate flooring is still popular.
The long and short of it is yes, laminate flooring is still popular. This article will look at the reasons why, including affordability and durability, thanks to advances in manufacturing technology. Nothing is ever 100% though, and so this article looks at why if you’re looking for true versatility then other options might be more suitable, as well as some tips on what to look out for when purchasing your next flooring.
Affordability
When considering whether a flooring type is affordable, you must consider three things: the material cost, the labour cost to install, and how much use you’ll get out of in the long run (i.e. durability for the price you’re paying).
In terms of material cost, laminate flooring is still one of the most affordable, especially when you compare actual wood flooring (referred to as hard wood), stone flooring and types of LVT such as SPC. Laminate is generally cheaper per square metre than any of those alternatives. One of the main advantages of laminate is ease of installation; generally speaking, most homeowners install themselves – it is easy to measure, cut and lay the planks especially if they have a renowned click method (such as the trademarked UNILIN click technology). Paying more for hard wood or stone flooring involves an additional higher cost of paying for labour to cut and install.
Advances in manufacturing technology means buyers now they can get low maintenance laminate flooring in endless colour shades and patterns, competing with realistic wood texture and feel (the latest technology being Embossed in Register which usually attracts a higher premium cost). The next section touches on durability, making the point that even though laminate flooring is an affordable option, they can be bought in high wear specification meaning they last longer.
Durability
Laminate flooring can be very durable, and some manufacturers now give 20 year warranties. The most durable are those with a wear rating of AC5, referring to the abrasion class. The higher the abrasion class, the more durable the laminate flooring is. Whilst most sellers stock AC3 and AC4 class laminate flooring, we urge customers to seriously consider AC5 (rated for heavy domestic and commercial) because prices are only minimally more (perhaps £1 or £2 per square metre) but ensure that your flooring will last for more years. You might be spending thousands of pounds, so it’s logical to make sure you get as many years as possible out of the flooring.
The one downside though, linked to durability, is versatility. Whilst laminate flooring is excellent for most rooms including living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, study rooms, storage spaces, and more, it’s not great in areas where water can be present. Therefore, we don’t recommend laminate flooring in bathrooms. There are items advertised as ‘water resistant’ but buyer beware, this is different to being waterproof. Genuinely waterproof flooring will include the likes of SPC click, vinyl, etc.
Ultimately, yes, laminate flooring is still popular and we highly recommend those manufactured with Embossed-in-Register texture and AC5 wear rating – this will compete with sold hard wood flooring (especially if the laminate flooring is 12mm) at a fraction of the price.
