Have you always dreamed of having wooden floors in your home, but are unable to afford it? Wood-look flooring is the most inexpensive way to get the wood-look without spending a fortune. Few flooring materials are as visually appealing as wood. A lot of traditional solid-wood flooring is still being installed, but many homeowners are opting for one of the alternatives to solid wood because it usually costs less.
Great Alternatives to Wooden Floors
Vinyl
The most inexpensive way to get the wood-look is with sheet vinyl. It comes in patterns that mimic a wood-strip or parquet floor. Vinyl is a real bargain and it can be a good choice in a sunroom or family room, but, it is not nearly as durable as other options and it doesn't quite look like the real thing. There are some patterns you have to touch to see whether they are the real thing or not, but for the most part, this flooring has a plastic look.
Engineered Wood Flooring
A second option is to install an engineered wood floor. This flooring comes in strips the same width as traditional wood, but it is about half the thickness. It is laminated wood, like plywood, with a top veneer of whatever wood species you want. The flooring is glued directly to a concrete slab or wood sub-floor. Because it is unfinished, this type of flooring is recommended when the homeowner wants to match an existing wood floor.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind if you decide to go with this flooring. For one, the surface veneer is relatively thin, so you have to be careful when sanding. It can also be a challenge to install this flooring because it is thinner than traditional wood flooring. On some jobs, adjustments need to be made to the floor framing, another layer of sub-floor needs to be added or a slightly thicker slab needs to be poured so that old and new floor levels meet. Planning ahead is essential with this option.
Laminated Flooring
The third choice is one of the best - laminate flooring. This flooring is growing in popularity and many homeowners love their durability and the way they look. This flooring has a very tough top layer that resists wear and is nearly impervious to stains. It is typically installed over a thin foam pad which helps to make the finished floor quieter while smoothing out minor imperfections in the sub-floor. Unlike other types of flooring, this one is not nailed or glued to anything but itself: the tongue-and-groove joints are glued together and the whole floor floats on top of the foam pad.
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