Laminate Flooring in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

From warm and humid summers to cold and dry winters, homes in the Sioux Falls area have to be ready to handle busy family life all year round. Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring which delivers durability and affordability while realistically mimicking wood plank, stone and tile designs evoking natural and earthy tones.

Laminate flooring consists of a clear wear layer on top, which prevents scuffs and scratches, a design layer featuring the texture and color of choice, a core layer which provides stability and a backing layer to protect against moisture accumulation and warping.

If you're ready to realize your laminate flooring vision for your home, reach out to the friendly experts at Sioux Falls Carpet One today!

What are the Benefits of Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is an affordable, resilient alternative to stone or hardwood, offering superior moisture resistance and ease of upkeep for years at a time. Due to its ability to withstand heavy foot traffic, laminate is popular in living rooms, hallways, offices, and households with children and pets.

Some laminates also have watershield technology, which adds a layer of liquid and moisture protection, providing an ideal flooring for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and entryways.

Laminate is also simpler to install than most flooring options, with a click-lock floating floor design.

What Styles of Laminate Flooring are Popular in Sioux Falls?

Homeowners and designers in the Sioux Falls area have been combining Midwestern practicality with modern farmhouse and Scandinavian-style design, using laminate flooring to craft a cozy charm to offset the long cold months of a South Dakota winter.

Light Oak tones are a prominent feature in recent Sioux City area projects, with colors like hazelwood, sand oak and natural oak being used in flooring to craft a softly brightened interior.

Greige (gray and beige) has also been a popular choice for its earthy, muted tones that compliment both rustic and contemporary design styles.

Wide-cut laminate planks are a popular choice, to give the impression of a larger interior and mimic high-end hardwood flooring.

What is the Difference Between Laminate Flooring and Luxury Vinyl Planks?

Laminate and Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP) are two popular options for flooring, each with their own characteristics and advantages.

Laminate flooring is generally the more affordable option, and can accurately imitate hardwood flooring grain, texture, and depth. It also feels firmer underfoot and has strong scratch resistance for furniture, children, and pets.

Luxury Vinyl Planks offer superior water and moisture resistance and can come in a variety of wood and stone patterns. LVP is softer underfoot and quieter to walk on, which combined with its moisture resistance makes luxury vinyl planks a popular choice for kitchens, bathrooms and mudrooms.

How Can I Maintain My Laminate Flooring?

• Frequent sweeping or vacuuming goes a long way to keep laminate flooring looking its best, and clearing allergens like dust, pet fur and plant fibers off the floor. A microfiber dust mop or soft-bristle broom is ideal for this, as they won't damage the boards.

• Clean up spills immediately. Even if the laminate is specifically meant to be waterproof, prompt cleanup of spills prevents the mess from drying onto the floor. Standing water can damage laminate over time.

• When mopping a laminate floor, use a damp mop and if necessary, apply cleaning sprays directly to the mop rather than onto the floor. Mats and area rugs can also help prevent salty and wet boots from tracking the Sioux Falls winter onto the floor.

• Use felt pads under chairs and heavy furniture to keep the legs from scratching or denting your laminate floor. Keeping pet claws trimmed can also prevent scratches during the occasional bout of zoomies.

How is Laminate Flooring Installed?

Professional installation of laminate flooring ensures the sublayer and new flooring are placed properly and can help to prevent costly headaches later.

Before installation can begin, the installer will clear the previous flooring and check the subfloor for damage, and make sure the subfloor is dry, sturdy and level. The laminate boards will be delivered before installation, to be given time to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the space.

When the subfloor has been prepped and the boards have been acclimated, an underlayment is placed to help shock absorption and noise reduction, and the installer takes the dimensions of the floor and decides on the orientation of the planks.

When the first row of boards is placed, spacers will be added to allow room for the boards near the wall, fireplaces, vents, and adjoining rooms to have an expansion gap. For Sioux Falls area homes where humidity and temperature vary from season to season, the expansion gap is especially important. Once this has been done, the rest of the boards can be installed.

After the installer has placed most of the boards and cut around obstructions, the final boards will be adjusted for width and length if necessary, and the spacers removed. Then, baseboards and transition strips are added, completing the installation.

The crew at Sioux City Carpet One is also backed by the Beautiful Guarantee, to ensure you love your new laminate flooring.

The friendly professionals at Sioux City Carpet One are ready to help every step of the way, from expert advice on choosing your laminate flooring to offering our own installation experts.