Many homes use laminate flooring because they are sleek-looking, affordable, and don't need much maintenance. However, this doesn't mean they would last forever.
If you use laminate floors in your house or want to buy them, you'd likely wonder how long they will last. Worry no more, as we've done some digging and have the answer below!
How long laminate flooring lasts depends on its quality. Typically, cheaper laminates last 10-15 years, while high-quality ones could last for 20-30 years.
On the other hand, Pergo laminates could last up to 25 or, at best, 33 years. In addition, Pergo laminates mostly offer a warranty for up to 25 years in case your product gets damaged earlier than expected.
Even though laminate floorings are durable, how long they will last depends on how you take care of them. Before getting to that, you may ask what makes laminate flooring a good choice for your home. Stick around because we're here to help you out. Let's dive in!
![Wood laminated floor texture with reflection light, How Long Does Laminate Flooring Last? [Inc. Pergo]](https://homedecorbliss.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1How-Long-Does-Laminate-Flooring-Last-Inc.-Pergo.png)
How Durable Is Laminate Flooring?
Different factors determine how long a laminate flooring's lifespan could be, but it heavily lies on its quality. Generally, this type of floor lasts for 10-30 years, with those that are high quality and correctly installed lasting longer.
Its infusion process guarantees this durability, which involves a lot of heat for laminate flooring. You can even expect them to be hard and have high resistance to damage like hardwood.
Although concrete or wood are more high-resistant, laminates come close to their durability and are more affordable. This durability is a result of fusing its four layers:
- The wear layer is made of aluminum oxide and protects against scratches, stains, and fading.
- The design layer helps in making them look wood-like.
- The inner core ensures stability, sound absorption, and moisture resistance.
- The bottom layer is a moisture barrier to prevent the floor from warping.
You can use laminate floors in homes with pets or kids as they are durable. Aside from this, they also do not require heavy maintenance, making them a good choice for flooring.
Laminate Flooring Upkeep
It is not just quality that makes laminate last long; it is also how you care for them. It will help prolong their use if you care for them differently, even when they look like hardwood floors.
They are undoubtedly durable, but it doesn't mean that they cannot be damaged or stained.
Although most brands of this product offer warranty, knowing how to make them last would save you time and energy. To ensure that you're properly caring for them:
1. Clean Laminate Flooring Gently
To clean laminates, especially for brands like Pergo, only use a vacuum or a damp mop. Pergo recommends mixing one cup of vinegar or 1/3 cup of ammonia with a gallon of water for mopping.
Doing this ensures gentle cleaning for removing dirt on your floor. If candle wax hardened on your laminates, you could remove them with a burnt plastic paper.
On the other hand, you can use a clean cloth with acetone nail polish remover or denatured alcohol for stains that are hard to remove.
You can also use Pergo All-round Floor Cleaner for mopping your stained laminates. Make sure you don't use any sharp or course material for cleaning.
Check out this floor cleaning mop on Amazon.
2. Keep Your Laminate Dry
Laminates are from layers of composite wood, which may grow molds and mildew if wet. That is why you shouldn't expose them to moisture or in areas like the bathroom.
They may buckle, warp or swell when this happens. However, a few spills of water or any liquid aren't too much of a concern as long as you immediately wipe them off.
3. Give Your Laminate Flooring Extra Protection
Laminates do not easily get damaged, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't protect them. You could ensure extra care by putting mats on your house or room entrances.
Placing them encourages guests or family members to wipe off their shoes before entering.
For furniture, you can use felt protectors for their legs to keep them from grazing the floor. It's also a must not expose them to sunlight and keep your sharp objects or items like pointy heels away from them.
See these felt furniture pads on Amazon.
Does Laminate Flooring Scratch Easily?
Laminates are scratch-resistant because of the aluminum oxide used in their layers. Aluminum oxide offers strong protection against scratches on your floor as it is very hard.
However, damage can still occur even though laminates are less likely to be scratched.
It is especially true when debris and sharp items often graze them, so you should properly care for your flooring and keep anything sharp away from it.
See this Pergo floor scratch repair kit on Amazon.
Can You Put Heavy Furniture On Laminate Flooring?
Generally, laminate flooring can hold up to 300-500 pound items or furniture per square inch. The quality and the installation of your laminates would determine how much weight they call to hold up.
However, this weight limit isn't applicable for mechanically engineered hardwood laminate flooring as they can handle even heavier furniture.
If the furniture you put is too heavy for the quality and type of your laminates, it may cause cracks.
Of course, this doesn't often happen because of the product's durability. But if you hear squeaking noises from the floor's locks and joints, you probably put too much weight on it.
Do You Need To Seal Laminate Flooring?
Professionals do not recommend sealing laminate floors because the seal wouldn't give them extra protection and may make your floor slippery.
The seal may also not be able to penetrate the laminates and may peel off. In cases where it seeps through the gaps of the product, there's a chance that your floor will have warps or curls at the edges.
Laminates also already have a protective coating so sealing them isn't necessary.
Signs You Need To Replace Your Laminate Floors
Laminate floorings have an estimated lifespan proven to be accurate, but how do you know exactly when it needs replacement? The signs are pretty simple and easy to spot.
- This product is not water-resistant. If your laminates get wet often over the years, they may warp or swell because the water under the flooring has grown molds. If this effect is too severe and you cannot clean the water out of your laminates, you may need to replace them. You should change them if there is too much water under their layers.
- Not installing laminates right may cause cracks or gaps. There are two reasons for this: poor installation and abrupt changes in humidity or temperature. You can still fix minor cracks and crevices on your floor, but severe ones would need replacement.
Read this post for a related topic: How Much Space Between Laminate Flooring And Wall?
- Laminate flooring may start peeling over time. It happens because of too much water or heat. When this happens on your floor, it's hard to fix, so you need to replace your flooring.
Fixing damaged laminate flooring is still possible, but if it's too severe and is bothering you, it's time to hire a contractor to change your floor.
It is also important to note that if your laminates are still covered by a warranty when it's damaged, you should call your manufacturer.
To Finish Everything Up
Laminates can do the job if you need stylish, affordable, and durable house flooring. These wood-looking floors can last a long time, so to ensure that it does, you must also take care of them.
Of course, the maintenance for this product isn't hard to do at all. All you need is correct information, and you're good to go.
Laminates stay true to their expected lifespan, so you must know what signs they show that their time is up. Severe warping, cracks, gaps, or peeling can make you uncomfortable and could make your house look tacky.
When this happens, you should replace them. However, if they show these signs too early, you must check if it has a warranty. Laminate floors are certainly an excellent choice to install in your home; as long as you follow the details here, it will be long before you need to change them.
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