Timber floors have always been a popular choice, but, like carpet, they are prone to accidentally being stained. Fortunately, though, there is a way to preserve the rustic look of a timber floor without having to worry about your precious floorboards being tainted by spills and overuse.

Laminate flooring is scratch-resistant, which certainly makes it the ideal choice for indoor pets such as cats and dogs; furthermore, it is also more resistant to the growth of mould and bacteria. Nevertheless, there are some very sound reasons as to why someone might choose not to have laminate flooring. One of the primary reasons is that the artificial aesthetic of laminate floors isn't to everyone's taste and timber floors have more character and are often higher quality.

In addition, laminate floors aren't invincible to the ravages of time and use. Depending on the quality of the laminate used on the floorboards, your laminate floors may not last forever. Most manufacturers will give you warranty duration, so be sure that you find out this information as well as checking how long the company has been in business. Also, ensure to follow up on any conditions to the installation that might not be immediately obvious; if you fail to adhere to certain terms, your warranty may be voided.

There is also a potential environmental concern with laminated flooring. Some experts allege and investigative probes have determined that certain laminate materials are constructed from compounds that are made using formaldehyde. It is possible, they claim, that floors that are laminate could potentially release toxic chemicals over time, which can diminish the quality of the air in the affected rooms. However, this is much more likely to occur in products that are produced in countries where regulation is poor (such as China). In fact, an American 60 Minutes report discovered that laminated flooring available at Lumber Liquidators exceeded the strict standards which are set by the California Air Resources Board.

Nevertheless, despite these concerns, laminated flooring that is produced by a reputable outlet can be a great way to ensure the longevity and quality of your floorboards. The longevity of laminate flooring is also increased because of the ease in which spills and stains can be addressed with relative ease. A regular sweep and vacuum (plus the occasional mopping to reduce grime) is all you need to help strengthen the resolve of your floor's laminate coating.