Choosing laminate floors for a child's bedroom
Laminate is a fairly durable flooring material that can be a great option for children’s bedrooms. It’s a particularly good option for parents looking for a wood-like finish for their child’s bedroom floor, but without the expense of hardwood.
What is laminate?
Laminate is a synthetic flooring product made from several layers of compressed materials. The core layer is made of high-density wood fibreboard strengthened with resin. On top of this sits a decorative design layer with a printed image, which is then sealed with a transparent overlay. There’s also a base layer, which prevents moisture from penetrating the core of the laminate board.
Benefits of laminate flooring in children’s bedrooms
Pros of using laminate flooring in children’s bedrooms
• Easy to install
• Easy to clean
• Affordable
• Available in many designs
Easy to install – Parents can usually install laminate floors themselves and have new flooring in their child’s bedroom in under a day. At Tarkett, our laminate floors come with two easy-to-use profiles that allow glueless installation: ANGLE LOCK or UNIFIT®.
Easy to clean – Keeping laminate floors clean in your child's bedroom is easy. Wiping up spills, and vacuuming or sweeping dirt and dust ensures a hygienically clean floor for children to play on. A damp mop with warm water and a mild cleaner can be used for tougher stains.
Affordable – Laminate’s affordability, especially when compared to alternatives such as solid and engineered wood, makes it an attractive option for homeowners looking to install flooring in their child’s bedroom on a budget.
Available in many designs – Laminate, like vinyl flooring, comes in a range of styles and designs, including designs which mimic natural materials such as wood, ceramic tile and natural stone.
Drawbacks of laminate flooring in children’s bedrooms
Cons of using laminate flooring in children’s bedrooms
• Hard
• Noisy
• Difficult to repair
Hard – Laminate is considered to be a relatively hard floor, even with a foam underlayment. This may not be the best choice in a children’s bedroom, where there is the potential for trips and falls.
Noisy – Laminate floors don’t offer sound protection in the same way that carpet does, and the hard surfaces tend to be noisy underfoot. A good quality underlayment will help to absorb the sound, and the use of area rugs will also help keep the sound of children’s running and playing to a minimum.
Difficult to repair – If the constant play of kids results in significant wear and tear of your laminate floor, they will be difficult to repair. Whereas hardwood can be sanded back and refinished several times throughout its lifespan, laminate flooring cannot be refinished. If your laminate floor becomes damaged or worn, you will need to remove and replace the damaged planks. However, it's difficult to remove individual planks without disturbing the integrity of the installation and in most cases, the entire floor needs to be removed and replaced.