The grains and warm tones of timber flooring make it popular. However, wooden planks have their drawbacks. Not only are they expensive, but they're complicated to install. Enter other options, such as laminate planks, which give the floor a faux timber look. Here are some reasons to go with this flooring option instead.

Appearance

If you've ever looked at laminate faux timber planks across a floor, you may find it hard to tell they're not solid wood as they look so realistic. This authenticity is due to their structure. Laminate planks have a core made of a manufactured wood product such as MDF. This is then covered with a photograph of timber before being coated with a hard plastic film.

The photograph layer can feature blackbutt, jarrah, or Tasmanian oak. Laminate planks can also feature exclusive timbers from overseas. After all, it's much easier to photograph expensive and sought-after wood species than it is to get them as solid timber floorboards. This really opens the door when it comes to laminate planks, as they come in a wide range of tones and species. You can choose from blonde, deep brown, grey, and many other timber shades.

Resilience

Laminate boards are resilient as they're covered with a hard plastic layer. Thus, you don't have to fuss over them with regular resealing as you have to with some floors, such as stone tiles. This helps to keep the cost of laminate flooring down as the initial installation won't be added to overtime.

However, you need to be careful about spilling water on the laminate, as the moisture can seep into the core board and cause it to swell. Check if the planks you're purchasing are water-resistant or waterproof. Water-resistant planks can withstand some moisture if it's wiped promptly, while waterproof laminate boards are hardier.

Tactile Nature

Another reason for installing laminate planks is that they feel like hard timber boards. Other faux-timber options, such as vinyl planks, are spongy and don't mimic the feel of wood. However, the core MDF board inside the laminate gives it a wooden feeling as you walk on it. Thus, it will look and feel like wood, giving your floor an authentic feel.

Easy to Install

Finally, installing a solid timber floor is a messy business. Typically, the boards have to be attached to a subfloor, which is time-consuming. They can't often be installed directly over a concrete slab.

Laminate planks are much more hassle-free. They come in click and lock designs that can be pieced together and placed on an underlayment on concrete or another subfloor.

For more information on laminate flooring, contact a company near you.