Moisture can easily deform laminate floors. Particleboard is highly susceptible to damage caused by exposure to moisture and water. Without an extra step to seal laminate floors and without quick cleaning of spilled liquids, individual pieces of a laminate floor can deform and cause voids and other visual defects. The biggest drawback of laminate flooring is the fact that it is not Genuine wood.
It may look and feel like real hardwood, but in the end it doesn't increase or increase, for example, the resale value of your home. On the bright side, the low maintenance of laminates can be a great advantage for families with children and pets looking for a home. Keep in mind that many laminate flooring brands require the use of transition moldings or the warranty will be void. Laminate can withstand heavy traffic with minimal damage, can offer UV resistance and can be waterproofed.
Laminate floors are DIY friendly and very easy to install, saving you more money on installation costs. An advantage of this floor is the ease of installation done by yourself, however, the incorrect installation of the laminate can also lead to problems. Laminate floors can match the look of any design or style you have in mind, at a fraction of the cost. Today there are laminate flooring options that are designed for areas exposed to moisture, but at the time of my installation, those options were not available. Laminate floors are sensitive to water, so unless your floor has been waterproofed, try to avoid regular scrubbing and stick to a schedule of once a month or every other month.
I was struck when you mentioned that today there are laminate flooring options that are designed for places exposed to moisture. With the development of new technologies, some laminates come with 24-hour moisture protection to help prevent damage related to accidents. Laminate floors are a common solution for flooring across the country and, as with any product, they have advantages and disadvantages. I would use laminate again, but would probably leave the installation in the hands of professionals for a large job.
Unless I buy the new variety of moisture-resistant laminate, I wouldn't install it in a full bathroom with a shower or bathtub. While waterproofed laminate floors are becoming the norm, it's important to be careful, especially if water gets under the floor. Laminate floors are a popular way to achieve the look of wood or stone floors without paying the price of such floors. Everything from the repetition of patterns to how the floor sounds and feels underfoot (a laminate wood floor will be louder, for example, than a hardwood floor) are indicators that a laminate floor is, well, laminate.
