One of the most important aspects of furnishing or renovating your home is choosing the right flooring. There is a wide range of flooring choices: laminate, oak parquet, vinyl. So how do you choose something that is durable and stylish for the modern home? We’ll discuss all the pros and cons of these flooring options, so all you have to do is decide which flooring is right for your home.
Laminate is made of high-density fibreboard covered with a photographic plastic and melamine film. These materials give the visual impression of a wooden floor, but when you walk on it, it feels like plastic, which doesn’t give off the warmth and strength of real wood flooring. The most important thing for buyers who choose laminate is the significantly lower price compared to oak parquet. It is cheaper for a clear reason: the materials from which it is made are not natural. Since laminate flooring is based on fibreboard, according to experts, it is susceptible to fluctuations in humidity, which is why rooms where laminate flooring is laid must have a relative humidity of 50-65% and a temperature of 18-22 degrees. When the humidity is too high, the laminate expands and wavers. Laminate for kitchens should be water-resistant and therefore more expensive, otherwise the floor may need to be replaced quickly.
Oak flooring is made from natural materials, so nature lovers can choose it to feel a bit of nature in their own home. If you choose parquet, you can enjoy a floor that is full of life, natural and unique. Walking on a real wooden floor gives you a greater sense of comfort, cosiness and warmth. It also adds solidity to your home interior. In addition, the sound of footsteps when walking on parquet flooring is muffled, which makes it more pleasant for many people than when walking on laminate or vinyl flooring. Natural floors make the air in your home healthier and do not collect dust and dirt, making them ideal for people with allergies. Oak flooring is one of the most durable types of flooring, so it doesn’t need to be constantly replaced, just refinished by sanding the top layer, and will last you a lifetime. However, unlike vinyl flooring, oak flooring is softer and less resistant to scratches and wear and tear.
Vinyl flooring: an extremely stable, quiet, warm and robust floor covering. A polyurethane top layer protects the surface of vinyl flooring from scuffing, scratching and fading, so it will look like new for a long time. Depending on the class and intensity of use, vinyl flooring can last 20-25 years.
This flooring is highly resistant to moisture, with a water resistance of up to 72 hours. If water gets on the flooring, it will not swell or delaminate.
Vinyl flooring is hard enough to be resilient at the same time. It is pleasant to walk on because it springs back a little and at the same time you can be free from indentations from furniture legs or high heels. It is also much warmer and more pleasant than laminate.
Vinyl floors have a less hard surface than laminate or tile, so they absorb noise and dampen the sound of footsteps. This creates acoustic comfort for both you and your neighbours.
One of the main advantages of vinyl flooring is the unlimited design possibilities. Vinyl flooring can imitate different types of wood (oak, ash, birch, walnut) and different types of stone (granite, marble or concrete).
However, vinyl flooring is quite thin (2-5 mm) and the subfloor on which it is laid must be perfectly smooth. Vinyl flooring is damaged by rubber, and furniture with rubber wheels or a mat with a rubber backing must not be used. Vinyl is also an unnatural material, so if you’re into naturalness, it’s unlikely to suit you.
