If you hear the term laminate floors and your thoughts drift to that old laminate kitchen you
mom or grandmother may have had, stop! Today’s modern waterproof laminate floors are
nothing like what you remember.
Today’s modern laminate flooring has all the features Jensen Beach, FL homeowners are
looking for. Let’s start with the visuals. Laminate floors look amazing. Modern printing
techniques have allowed high-quality laminate vendors such as Mohawk RevWood, Quick-Step
and
Pergo, to offer a wood-look product that’s nearly indistinguishable from real hardwood.
Many of the newer laminate floors look so real, you won’t know it’s not a hardwood floor
without bending down to touch it. You’ll also find desirable hardwood floor type features in
quality laminate floors like wide and long planks and textured finishes.
When you compare laminate floors to other hard surface floor coverings such as luxury vinyl or
hardwood, you’ll find laminate floors have more features, better warranties and a more
budget-friendly cost. Take scratch resistance as an example. Hardwood or vinyl floors can’t hold
a candle to laminate wood floors when it comes to scratching. This is especially important for
those Jensen Beach, FL homes with children, pets or high-traffic areas. In fact, laminate floors
are as much as 6 times more scratch-resistant than luxury vinyl floors.
When we say laminate floors are durable, we mean a lot more than scratch-resistance. Quality
laminate floors are dent resistant, fade resistant and stain resistant. Laminate floors also carry a
durability rating called an AC rating. Laminate floors with an AC rating of AC4 and AC5 are the
recommended choice.
Jensen Beach, FL residents are often shocked to learn that many laminate floors are
waterproof. Waterproof means that the laminate floors will be impervious to water. Contrast
that with water-resistant laminates that can withstand water for some period of time and if left
that way, can damage the floors.
This is where things start getting a little tricky. While the
laminate flooring may be waterproof,
what’s around it is likely not. If moisture seeps down into the subfloor, which is not waterproof,
the damage could occur from the bottom up. Other things like the baseboards or quarter round
and drywall are not waterproof; in fact, they will act as a wick to draw water into them. With so
many products claiming to be waterproof, you’ll be best served looking for products that also
warranty your subfloor. We have laminate floors that offer a Lifetime Surface and Subfloor
Waterproof Warranty from RevWood, Quick Step and Pergo.
A point we can’t stress enough is that there is no such thing as a floor that is flood proof.