An economical option for finishing your office floor is laminate, or a ‘floating floor’.
Laminate flooring is a man-made product that can imitate the look and texture of either wood or stone. It’s often used in domestic settings, but can be utilised in office design.
This type of flooring offers a number of benefits, being that it is an affordable and practical material to install.
However, it comes with negatives too, due to the fact that it is a cheaper option and doesn’t have the same design adaptability as concrete or wood.
Below, we’ve taken a closer look at utilising laminate flooring in your office.
Pros
Easy Installation
Laminate flooring can be installed quickly and with minimal tools, which makes it a popular DIY option for homeowners.
With most laminate systems, the planks simply click into place with each other and lie on top of a foam underlay. They can be glued if necessary, providing more stability.
The ease of this process makes laminate very cheap to install, with minimal fuss.
Affordable
Laminate is a very affordable material to purchase, especially in bulk.
Prices can start at about $20 per square metre, and there are many suppliers in Sydney, which removes the need to ship materials from overseas.
Recyclable
The composition of laminate flooring means that it is easily recyclable.
Being mostly made of wood, roughly 80% of laminate can be returned to the manufacturing process if recycled properly.
Low Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, laminate is relatively simple to keep in good condition.
Many types of laminate flooring are scratch and spill resistant and it is a durable material. A regular vacuum and sweep with a damp cloth keeps laminate floors clean.
If a single plank is damaged beyond repair, it’s relatively easy to remove and replace.
Cons
Not Authentic
Unfortunately, laminate flooring is not an authentic wood floor finish.
Therefore, you don’t get the same look as actual polished solid wood. The print on laminate can be repetitive, without the unique patterns that appear on genuine wood.
As a consequence, a business that finishes their office floor with laminate may look a little ‘cheap’ compared with an office finished with a refined oak floor.
Water Damage
While laminate flooring is designed to withstand small spills, it can be susceptible to water damage if not installed correctly.
This doesn’t apply to specialist products that are designed for bathrooms and other wet areas, as they will withstand plenty of water exposure.
However, water can cause some laminate to expand or crack, which means you’ll need to replace the affected boards – they cannot be repaired.
Warping
Despite its easy installation, laminate flooring can be prone to warping.
The planks can move out of shape due to a lack of expansion space, or by moisture getting between and beneath planks.
Furthermore, long planks are more susceptible to curving or rising than short ones, so it’s advisable to avoid planks longer than about 12 metres.
Not Adaptable
Laminate flooring can’t be sanded or refinished.
If you want to change the style or colour of your laminate floor, you’ll need to remove the planks and replace them completely. This process can be a headache.
Therefore, whilst it’s a cheap option and easy to install, it’s not exactly a dynamic option.
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