Deciding on the kind of flooring you want in your homes or any other place can be a task. Despite being practical about the cost and maintenance, you also want it to look pretty. Two common choices for floors are Laminate flooring and Hardwood/Softwood flooring. In this article you’ll know more about a particular kind of wood- Walnut flooring.
Laminate Flooring:
First let me tell you about the more common one- Laminate flooring. Laminate floors are good imitations of wood, stone etc. It is a common choice for homes these days as it is an economical option. The biggest advantage is that it is really easy to install. Its tiles come with the click lock technology which makes it very easy to lay without professional help.
The benefits of laminate are many. It also has a very durable surface. It comes with a ‘wear layer’ on its surface which makes it resistant to almost all dents and scratches. Laminate tiles usually come with no defects like real hardwood. Laminate seems to have become pretty resistant to moisture over the years. It can be installed in kitchens. But that still does not protect it from a lot of moisture- like in a bath.
Maintenance is a breeze with this one. Just do your regular broom or vacuuming routine. Mop with a damp cloth. This will get rid of most of the stains if any. Hence laminate is a very convenient choice.
The disadvantages are that laminate is not real wood. It can feel hard under the foot. A little underlayment will help but that does not solve the problem fully. Laminate floors can also be very slippery and so not a good choice for bathrooms. They also do not have much of a resale value. The biggest disadvantage of laminate is that it cannot be refinished or resurfaced. Once it is dented, it just has to be replaced. That is a lot of additional cost.
Walnut Flooring:
Walnut floors come in a variety of softwood and hardwood floors like Black Walnut, American Walnut etc. However, they are all slightly softer and are very prone to denting. It is something that is inherent with this kind of wood. They usually come in darker colors. Walnut floors are admired for their beauty and hence are mostly used for dining halls or living rooms. It is also rather expensive.
Maintaining this one is not easy. Because it is so prone to dents, you will have to have a rug or a runner to protect it. All furniture will need to have pads at the legs to prevent scratches. If you have pets, trim their nails regularly. If you broom the floors you risk scouring it with small bits of sand and grit. Hence always go for vacuuming and do it regularly. Any spill on the floor will have to be mopped up immediately or it will leave a stain.
Hence, the choice is yours. If you are looking for aesthetics and don’t mind spending a little more, go for Walnut floors. But if you want convenience in maintaining your floor and an economical option then laminate is the floor for you!
Walnut floors come in a variety of softwood and hardwood floors like Black Walnut, American Walnut etc. However, they are all slightly softer and are very prone to denting. It is something that is inherent with this kind of wood. They usually come in darker colors. Walnut floors are admired for their beauty and hence are mostly used for dining halls or living rooms. It is also rather expensive.
Maintaining this one is not easy. Because it is so prone to dents, you will have to have a rug or a runner to protect it. All furniture will need to have pads at the legs to prevent scratches. If you have pets, trim their nails regularly. If you broom the floors you risk scouring it with small bits of sand and grit. Hence always go for vacuuming and do it regularly. Any spill on the floor will have to be mopped up immediately or it will leave a stain.
Hence, the choice is yours. If you are looking for aesthetics and don’t mind spending a little more, go for Walnut floors. But if you want convenience in maintaining your floor and an economical option then laminate is the floor for you!