The Pros: Ceramic
Ceramic tiling is the strongest flooring option available for your home. Because of its durability ceramic has been used in the floors and walls of many ancient civilizations such as Rome and Egypt–in fact, the ceramic tiling in many ancient buildings remain intact to this day.It’s a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms because of the durability and because it is water resistant. It’s also incredibly easy to clean when compared to other flooring, all you need is a vacuum and a mop and any messes will be gone forever–at least until the next spill. Ceramic doesn’t attract dirt, which makes it allergy-friendly.
Ceramic is also one of the few flooring options that can be installed on your own, without the help of a professional.
The Pros: Laminate
Modern laminate is made with “click-and-lock” technology, which makes it the easiest flooring to install on your own. Laminate is softer than tile, so if you have an awkward corner in your home, it’ll be easy to cut the laminate to fit that corner.Like ceramic, laminate is also easy to clean requiring only a broom and a mop to clean up spills. Laminate is also designed to withstand moderate moisture, which makes it the ideal flooring for your bathroom. Most laminate flooring is also impervious to scratching and other damage caused by moderate wear-and-tear. Most manufacturers will also offer generous warranties with purchase should harm befall your flooring.
The Cons: Ceramic
Ceramic is a hard surface, which makes it uncomfortable to stand on for extended periods of time. It can also be jarring to put your bare feet on during the winter when the tile remains cold even with the heat turned up.And although you can install tiling without the help of the professional, it’s something you may want to consider because you’ll need an assortment of tools, grout, and mortar to do the job well. Ceramic tiling can also get expensive, running at roughly 3 to 10 dollars a square foot. You also run the risk of buying a pattern or a hardness you won’t be able to replace if a tile cracks on your style is no longer produced.
The Cons: Laminate
Even though “click-and-lock” technology is supposed to make installation easier, it’s not as perfect as it’s advertised. If it’s not installed properly or the pieces are forced together, causing the floor to warp, you will run the risk of water seeping into the cracks and cause the floor to swell.Laminate flooring can only handle moderate moisture, so letting a leak go on too long will cause a lot of damage to the floor. And if your laminate flooring starts to show signs of wear-and-tear, there’s nothing you can do about it because laminate can’t be sanded and refinished–you get what you get.
As long as the flooring is installed properly and you know how to maintain them, you can’t go wrong with either flooring. Each will have it’s advantages and disadvantages. What your final decision will come down to is what style will best match your final vision.
