There is no equal to genuine hardwood flooring, but laminate flooring comes pretty darn close and has some of its own distinct advantages. Laminate flooring is easier to install, easier to maintain, more resistant to scratches and stains, and more affordable. In fact, homeowners frequently choose laminate flooring as a less expensive option when they want the look of hardwood flooring.
Laminate Flooring: Austin, TX
Austin homes are no strangers to hardwood, and once you've seen and felt hardwood floors, it's hard to convince yourself laminate flooring is going to come anywhere close. It's important to realize that it's not an either/or situation. You can enjoy hardwood floors in your bedroom, for example, where even a small change in ambiance can make a big difference. In high traffic areas (such as kitchens, entryways, living rooms, etc.), a flooring material more able to withstand nicks and spills is probably the way to go. Laminate flooring is also a lot easier to repair. Individual planks can be replaced with relative ease. Many homeowners buy a few extra planks during installation in case a repair is ever necessary.
Austin Laminate Flooring Installation
Some homeowners choose to install their own laminate flooring. It's by no means impossible, but make sure you know what you're doing. Laminate flooring, like any flooring option, is only as good as its installation. Austin laminate flooring contractors will not only ensure a professional installation, they can also help you choose the laminate flooring that's right for your home. With over 30 laminate flooring companies offering different lines of products, it can be difficult to know what's what. Some companies offer unique laminate tones and texturing. Others offer higher grade laminate. Contractors will help you find the right design for a reasonable price.
Cost of Austin Laminate Flooring
ServiceMagic tracks laminate flooring projects, as well as any home improvement project you can imagine all across the country. Our data tells us the average cost of a laminate flooring installation is about $4,000. The numbers we see coming from Austin laminate flooring suggest your project may be a little less expensive than this. We've even seen installations run as low as $1,500. Of course, you may end up paying more than $4,000 if you have a larger flooring project in mind and/or choose a higher-end laminate material. On average, you'll be saving more than a thousand dollars by choosing laminate instead of hardwood.
Project Length of Austin Laminate Flooring Installation
Plan on your laminate flooring installation taking a couple days to a week, depending on scheduling, the extent of the project, and the amount of furnishings that need to be moved. Try not to be in too much of a hurry. It's better to hire an Austin laminate flooring contractor who may be a little backed up so long as the job is done with expertise and care when the contractor becomes available. Hardwood flooring, by comparison, usually take more than a week to install and most be completed methodically to allow the wood to adjust to humidity levels in your home. In fact, much of the savings laminate flooring promises comes in the form of reduced labor costs. Be sure to talk to several contractors to find someone you can trust and to find the most reasonable bid.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.