Laminate flooring has surged in popularity over the past decade, allowing homeowners to enjoy the look of wood or stone at a fraction of the cost. While laminate is renowned for being wallet-friendly and low-maintenance, it’s still an investment worth protecting. With some simple care and prevention tactics, you can keep your laminate floors looking their absolute best for years and years to come.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through all the tips, tricks, and insider secrets for maximizing the longevity of your laminate floors. From installation best practices to daily cleaning routines to dealing with scratches and stains, you’ll have everything you need to make your floors stand the test of time. Let’s get started!
Understanding Laminate: More Than Meets the Eye
On the surface, the best laminate flooring planks boast a remarkably realistic look that skilfully mimics the natural beauty of hardwood, stone, or tile. But beneath that printed design layer lies a high-density fibreboard core that imparts durability and moisture resistance to the laminate. The top layer is a clear plastic laminate coating designed to protect against wear, scratches, fading, stains, and burns. It’s this wear layer that will largely determine how many years of life you can expect from your floors. The thicker and more resilient this layer, the better protected your laminate flooring will be over the long term.
While you can find bargain laminate products claiming 10-15 year lifespans at the low end, higher quality options built for heavy traffic can last 25–30 years or more with proper care. Of course, foot traffic patterns and subflooring conditions will impact longevity as well.
A Foundation for Lasting Success
You’ve picked the perfect laminate to suit your style and needs – now it’s time to install it properly to get the maximum lifespan out of your new floors. Skimping on prep work or installation is a surefire way to run into problems like planks separating, edges peeling up, or the floors becoming uneven over time.
Start by ensuring your subfloor is completely level and clean. Any debris or bumps can cause the planks to become uneven or separate from the locking mechanisms. Level floors with a layer of self-leveling underlayment if needed, sweeping or vacuuming thoroughly. Next, consider investing in a premium underlayment designed for enhanced moisture protection and sound control. Basic underlayment is usually adequate but upgrading can lead to longer floor life.
Installing laminate is a fairly straightforward DIY job thanks to the click-lock installation method. But following the manufacturer’s directions to a tee is critical. Leave the recommended expansion gap around the perimeter, use only laminate-approved adhesives or moulding, and span any floor vents or openings with stability strips. Improper installation can void warranties and set you up for premature wear and damage. The latest figures show that over 50% of laminate floor issues like buckling, separating, and seam damage result from inadequate or improper installation and subfloor preparation.
Daily Care Made Easy
Ask any flooring expert and they’ll tell you the #1 enemy of laminate longevity is dirt and debris. Those tiny particles act like sandpaper each time they’re stepped on or dragged across your floors. Left unattended, they’ll gradually grind away at the protective surface, leaving your laminate vulnerable.
That’s why regular cleaning is paramount for preserving the laminate’s like-new look and delaying wear patterns as long as possible. Sweeping or vacuuming (with hardwood attachments) at least once daily will prevent grit from accumulating and scratching the wear layer.
When it comes to laminate-safe cleaning products, you have options. Choosing from the various residue-free floor cleaners designed specifically for laminate is a wise move, but plain old vinegar and water a highly effective and affordable cleaners as well. Microfiber dust mops make quick work of routine cleaning while lifting and trapping particulates.
Whatever you do, avoid harsh detergents, ammonia-based cleaners, powdered abrasives, steel wool pads, and excessive moisture that can dull the floor’s finish or become trapped between planks. When the laminate does get wet, blot up the liquid ASAP with a dry cloth or paper towel.
One surprising statistic: Reports show that floors receiving only occasional cleaning show signs of dulling and wear after just 12 months. Whereas with proper daily cleaning, laminate can retain that just-installed look for 3-5 years or more!
Scratches, Dents and Dings? Don’t Panic!
No matter how diligent you are with cleaning, wear and tear is inevitable on laminate floors. What sets laminate apart from solid hardwood is that surface scratches and dents cannot be sanded away or refinished.
Luckily, minor surface scratches and scuff marks often buff right out of the protective laminate layer using a plastic scratch remover product. Or you can use a DIY trick of rubbing a smear of toothpaste over the scratch with a soft cloth.
For deeper gashes, chips, burns, or gouges that go all the way through the wear layer, you may be able to carefully replace the individual plank section if extra pieces were saved from the installation. This labour-intensive plank swapping should only be attempted for damage in a high-traffic area.
If the scratches and marks are light and widespread though, you may be able to resurface the entire floor with a laminate renewal product. These specialized finishes apply a fresh, clear topcoat that fills in imperfections and brings back the original sheen. It’s a far more economical way to revive faded and traffic-worn floors versus a full replacement.
Preventing Damage From Moisture, Sunlight, and More
While laminate is designed to shrug off some moisture, it’s not waterproof. Puddled spills that seep between planks can cause swelling, peaking, and damage to the core layers over time. Use rugs or mats in high moisture areas like bathroom entrances, and wipe up any spills immediately. Windows allowing prolonged, direct sunlight exposure may also cause fading and discoloration. Drawing curtains or blinds during peak afternoon hours helps prolong the floor’s vibrant look.
For scratch resistance, strategic area rug placement in high-traffic pathways works wonders. Going a step further with a transparent surface protector like a runner or furniture pads under heavy furniture legs will save your laminate from the brunt of impact damage too.
Finally, maintaining a consistent indoor humidity level of 30-50% along with 65-85 °F temperatures will prevent the laminate from expanding, contracting, or warping over seasonal weather shifts.
Summary
With simple, consistent care, quality laminate floors can retain that rich, new-installed look for 10, 15, or even 20 years or more. While laminate does require some special handling compared to solid wood or tile, the life cycle savings are unbeatable. From installation prep and daily cleaning to preventing scratches and moisture exposure, a bit of extra effort yields huge dividends in extending your floor’s peak performance and aesthetic appeal. Laminate is truly an investment that keeps paying off year after year when maintained properly. Put these expert tips into practice, and you’ll have stunning laminate floors that
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This post brought to you by Catherine M.
Photo: iStock