There is a range of ways to laminate your floor, and with prices ranging to suit most budgets it could be worthwhile considering the merits of laminate over more traditional carpets or other types of flooring.
Adding value?
One of the first questions to ask about laminate flooring is whether it will add value and convenience to your home. As a modern style and with lower maintenance levels than carpet, many householders find there is a distinct appeal with laminate floors. They look smart and functional, and there is an immediate choice if you miss the soft warm feel of carpet as rugs and mats work exceptionally well laid out over laminate floor.?
The downside is that it is not real wood. It's actually a photograph or image of wood glued to high-density backing board. Choose the wrong type of laminate flooring and you could find that it looks a bit 'tacky', almost as if you're trying to make something look like wood when it blatantly isn't. Vinyl floors with a 'wood effect' finish can also suffer from the same problem. Choosing cost over quality could be counter productive when you're trying to add value and appeal to your property, so always go for the best quality laminate or vinyl flooring you can afford.?
But if you're trying to add value and appeal to your home, laminate floors can be a more affordable home improvement than a real wood floor. Like vinyl, they are easy to maintain and relatively cheap to install. But if you've already got a quality carpet then it might be worth ditching the idea, as on balance a good quality carpet could have just as much appeal as a fake wood floor.?
What's under the carpet??
The whole point about improving your floor is adding style, functionality and visual appeal. An old scruffy carpet is going to look far worse than a brand new laminate floor, but try taking a look under the carpet. Before you spend money on a new vinyl or laminate floor it could be worth checking that you don't already have a great looking wood floor underneath your existing carpet. It might be in need of a bit of sanding and varnish, but you could already be standing on what would otherwise be a very expensive and valuable wooden floor.?
A mix of carpet and laminate or wood flooring can often be a good option, with wood or laminate flooring on the ground floor, and carpet in the bedrooms. This way, you can save money and put the wood or laminate flooring in the areas where they're most likely to be appreciated, and valued. Rugs can be laid over the wood flooring where necessary.?
Essentially, the choice between carpet and laminate is down to individual style. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but while a wood floor always looks better than laminate, it's a question over what is affordable and whether you're really going to get value for money.
