Many people who are renovating their floors would also want to replace the flooring in all other rooms as well. However, if they have a bigger budget for renovations, they could try living with one room first and see how it turns out before deciding whether or not to renovate the rest of their house. This is because this project requires a lot of time and effort, if not more than any renovation project you would do at home. The idea here is that by trying it out yourself, you may know what works for your family and if it can provide value for money spent on it over time.
Whether or not you decide to choose between bamboo flooring, laminate flooring or even choose hardwood flooring, depends on your family’s lifestyle and how long you plan to stay in your current house. If you want to renovate your home because its price has depreciated over time (and it needs an urgent facelift), then choosing either solution would be practical since they can both give a new look to your property, albeit at different costs.
Difference Between Bamboo and Laminate Flooring
The number one thing that comes up when talking about bamboo flooring versus laminate flooring is durability. No matter how many times you would have heard or read about bamboo flooring, you may always come across the same fact over and over, that bamboo floors are more durable than laminate floors. However, there are varying degrees of durability among manufacturers of both laminate and bamboo, with some even surpassing one another in terms of toughness.
Clearing up the Confusion
Some types of laminate and bamboo flooring use a variant of the strand-by-strand construction found in bamboo while others incorporate technologies that would make their boards extra tough. So, if you’re reading this and have been confused about which one to pick, it’s important to read manufacturer product descriptions so you can narrow down your choices from there.
Find Affordable Options
Finding affordable options for either flooring type isn’t really a problem because they both offer reasonably priced items on the market. In fact, some homeowners who want an all-out renovation end up using both types simultaneously just because each compromise gives them another option that may provide additional benefits. For instance, if laminate flooring is too plain looking for a particular area, a homeowner can install bamboo flooring instead since it has a wood grain texture, which is very similar to hardwood flooring. Another example is if bamboo floors feel too soft for a high-traffic area, the owner can try out laminate floors instead which are sturdier.
Laminate vs Bamboo Flooring
However, most people who are already set on getting either one of these two types of flooring don’t seem to mind spending more money just so they can get their hands on the best product available. The difference between cheap and expensive ones mostly lies in durability, with the latter being able to last longer than cheaper alternatives even when installed at the same place. So if you plan on living in your house for more than ten years or so, it would be wiser to invest in pricier items since you know they won’t need replacement anytime soon anyway. That’s why most people consider the flooring installation, bamboo flooring or laminate flooring, depending on the estimated foot traffic.
Difference Between Laminate and Bamboo Flooring
The other big difference between bamboo flooring and laminate flooring is their installation process, as well as the kinds of tools needed to do it. With laminate floors, you don’t need any adhesive for it but just a few nails here and there to keep its boards together. Bamboo flooring on the other hand requires heavy-duty adhesives which you can rent from hardware stores. This means that if you’re not familiar with this kind of installation, it might be better to hire a professional who knows what they are doing so your bamboo flooring may turn out looking good if not perfect. Strand woven bamboo or even engineered bamboo planks require professional assistance.
Cost Comparison of Laminate Flooring & Vinyl Flooring
Cost is the other thing that you need to consider before choosing between boh bamboo flooring and laminate flooring because there are laminate floors out there that cost half as much per square metre ( or per square foot ) as flooring bamboo planks. This often comes down to the kind of materials used, with some manufacturers using recycled wood particles and plastic or MDF resins instead of natural components. If your priority is getting something durable for your money, then you might want to shift your attention towards different brands that use better raw materials in their products.
Maintenance Comparison of Laminate Flooring & Vinyl Flooring
Another difference between these two types of flooring involves how easy it is to maintain them. Laminate can be scrubbed clean using water and soap while bamboo can be cleaned using just a microfiber cloth and a solution of distilled water. This only implies that bamboo is more vulnerable to stains and mildew than laminate, so it’s best to either leave your shoes at the door or use mats in high-traffic areas.
Are They Really Different?
But then again, if you think about it, this difference between bamboo and laminate flooring isn’t really that great because there are now companies that produce cleaner designed for these types of floors as well. However, since bamboo needs strong adhesives to keep its planks together (which also means you can’t remove any of them without causing damage), it would be wise to make sure they won’t peel off before getting any cleaner or sealer on them. Some manufacturers include installation instructions with their products but some still don’t bother with them, so it’s best to do some research first before making a purchase.
Water Resistance for Each Type of Flooring
One thing that engineered bamboo floors and laminate floors have in common is their water resistance so you might even be able to use the same cleaner for both kinds of flooring. However, it’s still best to read up on specific cleaning instructions for your chosen water-resistant product because some materials require special cleansing agents while others take high pH levels well. Some people say that bamboo floors have a higher tolerance for humidity which is why they clean up very easily but this isn’t true as laminate flooring can also handle such conditions pretty well too.
Saying Goodbye to Squeaky Floors
Also, if you’re switching from natural wood, hardwood floor or other natural material to either of these two types of flooring, you also need to say goodbye to those annoying squeaky floors because neither one produces any sound when walked upon. This might be because the components used in these flooring are denser than those found in normal woods, or maybe it could have something to do with the way its surfaces are treated. Whatever the reason is, laminate floors and bamboo floors are just as silent as carpets when people walk on them so you don’t need to worry about any disturbance disrupting your everyday tasks.
What Future Holds for Bamboo Flooring?
As for what bamboos hold for your home’s interior design, there’s a lot of potentials there especially if you think outside the box. As mentioned earlier, there are now plenty of designs available out there that can be either handcrafted or machine-cut depending on their manufacturer’s preferences. This means that manufacturers now include exotic patterns and even more exotic woods in their products so you can get the exact look you want for your house.
What about Laminate Flooring?
Laminate floors are also getting a lot of attention nowadays because there are now laminate planks that take on the appearance of hardwood or stone. Wood-grain patterns are everywhere lately but they still make this list because it’s much cheaper to produce them in large sheets rather than cutting individual planks out for them. This is why laminates are gaining popularity in major construction projects, especially when it comes to flooring.
Bamboo vs Laminate
The last difference we’re going to talk about is probably the biggest one and that’s the overall price per square metre ( and per square foot ). Rich homeowners would obviously go for bamboo flooring since it’s a better quality product compared to laminate flooring but what about those who don’t have enough cash to spend on such an investment?
Is Cheaper Better?
Laminate flooring has been proven as a cheaper alternative, both in terms of initial purchase and maintenance expenses, so this might be the main reason why most people choose it over any other type of product available today. That doesn’t mean it’s exactly cheap because some brands (mostly those made from recycled fibres) cost as much as high-end options from different manufacturers. It just means that laminate flooring may never drain your wallet as much as fewer popular brands, so it’s a more practical choice for those who are on a budget.
Laminate vs Bamboo
In terms of how long they last, you can expect both laminate and bamboo flooring to work just fine even after years of use. However, you could know that bamboo flooring is more delicate than laminate so it might not stand up as well against everyday wear and tear.
Bamboo Flooring to Help Reduce Alergies
The good thing about the bamboo flooring kind of wood is that it helps reduce allergens inside your home, the same effect you would get with carpet or rugs. This means that if you or any member of your family has breathing problems like asthma, then using bamboo flooring could help relieve some symptoms without having to pay for an expensive operation (or using medicine).
Bamboo Flooring vs Laminate Flooring
There are homeowners who argue that both bamboo and laminate are pretty much the same when used in real-world conditions. While laminate flooring is more suitable for high-traffic areas because it’s cheaper and easy to clean, bamboo flooring can still match its durability if you get the expensive brands that use pure components. As long as the planks are properly glued together, there shouldn’t be any noticeable difference between a bamboo floor and laminate flooring, not unless you’re just very sensitive about visual aesthetics and unlikely problems for your floating floor.
Laminate Flooring vs Bamboo Flooring
There’s something we need to remember here, bamboo as a flooring material isn’t just another type of wood. Bamboo has some specific characteristics that distinguish it from other species but this doesn’t mean that those properties may automatically transfer themselves to every manufacturer out there. In some rare cases, some companies decide to skimp on bamboo quality (usually to save up some money) so their bamboo floor planks are inferior compared to the competition.
Read Reviews about Bamboo Flooring and Laminate Flooring
Make sure you read reviews about different brands before purchasing any bamboo material (the same can be said for laminate) because there are still a lot of fly-by-night companies putting out low-quality options just to make a few bucks. If bamboo flooring is good enough for your wallet, then laminate might be even better because it’s not as expensive but retains similar functionality. So if you’re looking for something cheap yet elegant, then go with laminates. But if you want something that looks better and lasts longer, try buying high-end variations of this amazing type of wood, it could be worth every penny.
The Verdict… Bamboo Floors or Laminate Floors?
The conclusion that you can draw from all of this is that bamboo and laminate flooring are definitely not the same things although they do have several things in common. If you’re looking to get something durable with an interesting look, then either of these two may do just fine but if your priority is getting something affordable yet still eco-friendly, then bamboo might be the right option for you.
As long as corners are cut during installation, either of them could last for many years without getting damaged or stained which makes both pretty good options if you want to make your house feel like new again at an affordable price.
