Can Laminate Be Combined with Underfloor Heating? Can Laminate Damage Be Repaired? Is Laminate Harmful to Household Health? How Long Does Laminate Flooring Last?
When it comes to indoor flooring, one of the most popular choices is laminate. This material is available today in a variety of colors, patterns, and quality levels. Many manufacturers and retailers offer a wide range of laminate flooring types, classified by quality and design solutions, ensuring that anyone who chooses this type of flooring can find the ideal solution.
Naturally, classic hardwood flooring is equally popular. The fact that it is made from solid wood and is more massive often raises doubts about the quality of laminate flooring. From the questions we receive from readers, five fundamental misconceptions about laminate flooring have become clear:
Myth 1: Laminate Cannot Be Combined with Underfloor Heating
This is not only a misconception about laminate but also somewhat unfair because laminate can be a better solution than hardwood when it comes to underfloor heating. Classic hardwood flooring is not ideal for underfloor heating systems.
Solid wood is too massive and insulates too much, preventing energy flow, so thinner, multi-layered parquet that resists drying and cracking due to the additional heat source from below is used with underfloor heating.
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For laminates, these floors are a better choice with underfloor heating. You just need to buy a product from a reputable manufacturer to ensure that the type of laminate is designed for underfloor heating.
Myth 2: Laminate Damage Cannot Be Repaired
This is partially true. The advantage of hardwood flooring is that it can be sanded and refinished to look new. Laminate, on the other hand, cannot be sanded or refinished as this would remove the surface decorative layer and permanently damage the laminate.
However, minor repairs are possible, and you can learn more about them HERE. If you are well-organized and think ahead, you can always leave a few spare boards during installation, which you can use to replace damaged ones later if necessary.
In conclusion, quality-installed laminate is much harder to damage than hardwood because it is a very durable flooring.
Myth 3: Laminate is Not as Durable as Hardwood and is Only a Temporary Solution
The best and most expensive quality-installed hardwood flooring can serve generations without any problems, and in this regard, it is undoubtedly superior to laminate. The issue is that such hardwood flooring is incomparably more expensive than any laminate floor.
When comparing hardwood and laminate floors in similar price categories, laminate is practically equal in durability. The key is proper installation. The subfloor must be of high quality to ensure stability, without sagging or board movement. Quality-installed laminate is as durable as hardwood and significantly cheaper.
Myth 4: Laminate is Not Natural or Eco-Friendly and Therefore Not Safe for Health
Hardwood flooring is made from solid wood, while laminate is created by combining different layers of materials under high pressure and temperature, using various adhesives. This raises concerns about whether such flooring is safe for health in the long term. Formaldehyde is often mentioned, which is a significant deterrent for all industrial wood-based materials.
The use of formaldehyde is regulated by law, and laminate is classified into three categories: E1, E2, and E3. Class E1 is the highest quality and contains no formaldehyde. It is crucial to buy products from reputable manufacturers who provide guarantees and certifications for their products. Remember, hardwood flooring is also fixed to the floor with adhesive, and its surface is lacquered. How “natural” is that?
Myth 5: Laminate Produces Noise When Walking, Making It Unsuitable for Apartments
Poorly installed laminate can indeed produce noise when walking. It can be acoustic, sag, creak, and any object falling on it creates a loud, not muffled sound. Whether laminate produces noise depends least on its quality. Thicker laminate will acoustically resemble hardwood more, while thinner boards will produce more noise.
However, the key factor in whether laminate will produce noise is the quality of its installation. If installed correctly, noise will not be an issue. While acoustically, laminate may not match hardwood, it is far from being an objective problem for the household or neighbors below your apartment.
Photo: Freepik, Tarkett