Laminate flooring is a rather budget-friendly flooring that still has relevance today. Being a cheap and durable flooring seen in many homes, it’s important to inspect its makeup and quality to see how it stacks against the competition. So, just how long can laminate flooring last?
Laminate floors can last a very long time if they’re used properly. In fact, most laminates have a warranty that lasts between 25-40 years. You can make sure it lasts as long as possible by making sure it’s properly protected and maintained.
Taking care of laminate floor can be a bit of work, but is absolutely necessary when maximizing its lifespan. After all, the longer your floor lasts, the less you’ll have to spend on repairs.
Why should you Buy Laminate floors?
Many people like the look and feel of real wood but don’t want to deal with the hassles that come along with it, such as sanding, refinishing, or staining.
Another advantage of laminate flooring is that it is moisture-resistant. Simply ensure that you buy underlayment with a vapor barrier and that spills are cleaned as soon as possible.
Today there are many laminates on the market to choose from, each with different warranties and styles. Depending on where you live and what type of warranty is offered by the manufacturer, laminate flooring could last anywhere from 12 to 25 years or more. Keep reading for all of the details on how long laminate lasts.
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How Long Does Laminate Flooring Last?
Laminate lasts a very long time. Sometimes it can be as low as 10 years or as high as 30 years, depending on the quality of the planks purchased.
Which Laminate Floorings Last the Longest?
The thicker the laminate planks are, the longer they will last. This is due to their increased durability, as it’s much harder to break through thicker boards as opposed to thinner ones.
However, thicker boards can be more expensive, which may be an extra factor in deciding a purchase between these and thinner boards.
What Type of Warranty Does Laminate Come With?
Most laminate floors come with some kind of warranty to cover manufacturing defects and problems such as peeling or bubbling. The type of warranty offered depends on the manufacturer as well as what you purchase. In most cases, this will be printed directly on the box so you’ll know exactly what your warranty covers before opening it up at home.
TIP: In general, it's best to purchase a laminate floor with at least 25 years of warranty coverage. Without this type of warranty you'll have very little protection if something goes wrong with the flooring.
Can Laminate Flooring Chip or Scratch?
Laminate Flooring can scratch but it’s unlikely that will happen if your flooring is installed properly according to manufacturer specifications. Laminates are made of a thin layer of high-density fiberboard that sits above a plastic base that’s printed with various designs. This means scratches are usually superficial and minor chips are uncommon unless someone accidentally hits the floor with something heavy.
Laminate floors are very durable and can even withstand heavy use in high traffic areas, but they’re not indestructible! One of the best things you can do to prevent damage is to maintain and protect them well.
TIP: Read my post Is Laminate Flooring Easy to Scratch?
How Can I Extend the Life of My Laminate Flooring?
Even the most durable of Laminate flooring can show signs of wear over time. This guide offers some tips on how to extend the life of your laminate:
Hire a Flooring Professional
This is probably the easiest and best way to extend the life of your flooring. Professionally installed floors will stay looking brand new for longer than those installed by homeowners themselves. Finding a professional in your area with experience installing this type of flooring will ensure that it installs correctly and lasts as long as possible before requiring any repair or replacement work.
Select the Right Location for Your Flooring
Before any installation begins, make sure you carefully consider where you’re laying down your laminate floor. Avoid placing it by a door that will be opening and closing all the time, as this will subject the floor to more wear than other areas.
You should also avoid installing in rooms with extremely high traffic or moisture-prone areas like bathrooms or kitchens.
Take Care Not to Scratch the Surface of Your Flooring
In order to protect your investment from costly damage, you should take care not to scratch or scuff your flooring as this will result in permanent marks that often cannot be repaired.
When moving heavy furniture around, be sure to lift rather than drag and ensure all pieces are properly aligned before applying any pressure so they can easily slide into place without issues.
Use Protective Products on Your Floor
You can extend the life of your laminate by using protective products like furniture pads underneath couches or chairs and placing felt protectors on the bottom of higher traffic pieces of furniture to reduce wear.
Use floor mats in your office
Floor mats are much more niche by comparison, as they are mainly used as protection against chairs.
While specifically designed for office chairs, they can do just fine for any other type, as their job is to protect against damage caused by sliding chairs across the floor.
TIP: Read My post: Do Office Chairs Damage Hardwood Floors?
Clean Your Floor Regularly
A clean laminate floor can keep away a lot of damage. While it’s pretty obvious you’ll want to regularly clean, it bears repeating.
Dirt, dust, leftover liquids, just about anything can cause damage over time if they aren’t cleaned. Any one of these can eat through the protective layering if left to their own.
Be Gentle When Cleaning Your Floor
When mopping or using any other cleaning product on your floor, make sure to only blot rather than rub which can remove the protective finish more readily. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before allowing any standing water to dry.
Avoid Using Acidic Liquids
Do not, under any circumstance, use ammonia or vinegar to clean laminate.
Acidic liquids will eat away at the flooring’s protective layer, making it easier to damage the floor over time. For this same reason, you will want to avoid spilling any other acidic liquids at all costs.
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Use a Rug Under Heavily Used Furniture
If you have furniture pieces that get a lot of use, consider placing an area rug under them so they aren’t resting directly on top of your new laminate.
This will help protect it from being scuffed and scratched with each use while extending the life of your flooring in the process.
Trim Your Pet’s Nails
If you have pets, you know the importance of keeping their nails trimmed. Laminate floors are very sensitive and nicks in the surface can be almost impossible to repair even by a professional, so keep your pet’s nails maintained at all costs!
Buy from Trusted Brands
While not necessary, you want to keep an eye out for trusted brands. Most people buy from the most trusted brands for a reason, and that’s due to their assurance in quality. Specifically, you will want to keep an eye out for warranties that guarantee high quality for the best quality possible.
Related Questions
What Should I Clean my Laminate Floor With?
As pretty much every cleaning agent around is too acidic, use cleaning products specifically made for laminate flooring.
How Much Water Should I Use When Cleaning Laminate Floor?
Only use the minimum amount of necessary water. Too much can damage the protective layer. Also be sure to clean any leftover water, just to be safe.
Can I steam clean my laminate Flooring?
Only professional steam cleaning is recommended for high traffic areas although most manufacturers recommend against this entirely since it can warp or water-damage plastic components if done too often or improperly.
Read Next
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- Can You Put Laminate Floor Over Tile?
- How to Choose Laminate Flooring Thickness?
- Is Laminate Flooring Flammable?
- Can you install Laminate Flooring Over Carpet?
- Is Laminate Flooring Good for Dogs?
- How to Protect Laminate Flooring
- How to Repair Laminate Flooring
- Best Robot Vacuums for Laminate Floors
