Wider Laminate Is Better

The wider the plank the less stable the floor.

Wider laminate is better.

A wide plank floor in arizona where it is uniformly dry year round or on the georgia coast where it is usually humid will almost never have problems. That said most wide plank flooring performs best in environments with stable humidity. And although this may be a perk for some people the wider planks can mean a greater likelihood of knots in the wood which can interfere with a more polished vibe. Laminate can be installed in rooms where you typically would not put hardwood.

Browse our wide selection of quality laminate for the kitchen and bathroom basement laminate flooring and stylish laminate for every level of the home. Laminate flooring also has come advantage when it comes to heat resistance. The less expensive versions have thin 1 4 inch thick backing. Depending on the quality laminate flooring ranges from 1 to 7 per square foot.

It s not likely that the very wide planks will last long but a reasonable 8. Skinny laminate flooring planks are ideal for rooms that want a more dramatic or bold look. Farmhouse dining room by durham architects building designers linton architects hardwood vs. This style has caught on that even manufacturers seem to be outdoing each other to come up with the widest planks.

The durability of laminate is found in the top wear layer. My general rule is to install flooring that is no more than 4 inches wide. While a wide plank floor in chicago where humidity levels fluctuate widely may be temperamental. Solid wood flooring comes in standard plank widths of 2 1 4 inch 3 1 4 4 5 and 6.

And stability can be a problem with the solid planks. That case is not so true while laminate is offered in many different thicknesses it does not describe the products durability. Better types feature backing that s 3 8 inch thick or thicker and realistic top layers that are hard to tell apart from real wood and stone. The idea that many people believe is that a thicker laminate is better the thicker the more durability the product will be.

Wide planks give the illusion for a bigger room and are perfect if you are looking for an elegant expensive and modern design. Neither laminate nor solid hardwood flooring is ideal flooring materials for truly wet locations but laminate is somewhat better for humid locations such as installation against concrete slabs. In small spaces the wider flooring can make the room feel cramped.