| Carpeting is a lot less popular these days, as more | | | | Since the hardwood is only a thin veneer on the |
| and more people replace their carpeted floors with | | | | surface, it can buckle if it gets wet, and can easily be |
| wood. People are realizing that carpet is hard to | | | | scratched through. If either of these things happen |
| clean, tends to hold allergens, and can mildew or | | | | on a laminate floor, the affected area has to be |
| grow mold. Carpet must also be replaced periodically. | | | | replaced. |
| Comparatively, wood flooring is simple to clean, | | | | The other choice in wood floors is traditional solid |
| hypoallergenic, and lasts the life of your home. It's no | | | | wood. This kind of floor can be purchased either |
| wonder more and more people are changing to wood | | | | prefinished or unfinished. If you're hoping to replace a |
| for their floors. | | | | floor in a home that you're already living in, |
| Once upon a time, wood flooring meant only one | | | | prefinished floors will prevent you from having to live |
| option. Now, however, you have two major choices. | | | | with dust from sanding and fumes from finish |
| They both have their own advantages and | | | | materials. You also won't have to wait for the finish |
| disadvantages. Here's some information about the | | | | to try. Solid floors are more durable than laminate |
| basic types of wood flooring. | | | | flooring, which means that they last longer, but also |
| There's laminate flooring - made of a pressed wood | | | | are harder to install. Each piece must be nailed in place |
| product and covered in a thin laminate. This flooring is | | | | with a special tool. This tool can also be easily rented. |
| inexpensive, and simple to install. Laminate flooring | | | | If you've installed an unfinished hardwood floor, you'll |
| costs between $1.99 per square foot and $5.00 per | | | | need to use a floor sander to even it out. This |
| square foot. Laminate flooring can easily be installed | | | | generally involves using a wide belt sander in the |
| over existing floors. You can probably even install | | | | center of the floor, and a smaller sander around the |
| laminate flooring yourself, since only one special too, | | | | edges. Then, you can stain the floor if desired, and |
| a chop saw, is required. This tool can be easily rented | | | | finish it with a clear urethane. Advantages of a solid |
| for a small charge, allowing you to install an average | | | | wood floor include durability, and the ability to refinish |
| sized-floor in a single day. | | | | damaged areas without replacing the floor. |
| Disadvantages of laminate floors include the fact that | | | | Disadvantages include cost and more time required |
| they do not tolerate moisture well, and scratch easily. | | | | for installation. |