Does Laminate Flooring Make Your House Colder? (Explained)

Compared to other alternatives, laminate flooring is affordable, effortless to install, maintain, clean, aesthetic in the space, and reasonably durable. In addition, it mimics real wood flooring and is available in various styles and colors to suit homeowners’ decor preferences.

Due to this, it has been among the popular flooring option until this very day since it was invented in Sweden in the late 70s. Yet, despite its benefits, many homeowners choose to install it but are concerned about does laminate flooring makes the house colder.

Your concern about laminate flooring making your house colder depends on your location and season. Laminate flooring absorbs temperature, which enhances the cold feel of the space. Because of this, the space’s temperature feel can be comfortable or uncomfortable depending on your location and season.

It should not intimidate you from installing laminate flooring because this article will offer simple hacks to minimize the cold effect. In addition, it will help you reduce the energy bills you’d invest in keeping your home warm.

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Why Does Laminate Flooring Make Your House Colder?

The visible photographic layer of the laminate flooring mimics wood flooring because it is comprised of fiberboard materials fused by a plastic protective layer.

The fiberboard layering offers excellent heat resistance, but it does not offer enough insulation, making laminate not ideal flooring for both wet and colder areas. But somewhat better for humid locations with the concrete subfloor.

Moreover, it adds a disadvantage to laminate flooring, especially for individuals living in cold areas or during cold seasons. The fact is highly water-resistant. However, the joints between planks can also allow water/moisture to penetrate, making the room feel cold. Likewise, it can also make the laminate flooring fiberboard core swell and start chipping over time.

Therefore, it is advisable to avoid installing laminate flooring in wet areas like the bathroom.

In addition, when installing laminate flooring in your bedroom, it would be helpful to take other considerations to keep your bedroom warmer and cozy.

How to Keep Laminate Flooring Warm?

Before laminate flooring installation, it is advisable to consider your geographical location and climatic conditions. That’s because it determines the temperature feel of your entire space and helps you decide whether to install it or not.

If you can’t resist the benefits of laminate flooring, you should make a couple of investments that will guarantee to keep your laminate flooring warm. They include;

Insulate the Subfloor

When installing laminate flooring, first make sure to lay solid insulation boards or rigid foam insulation material (underlayment) before installing the planks.

Arranging planks directly on the subfloor will make the laminate flooring inherit the chilly natural properties of the material. Laying insulation materials is an effective solution to keep your home warm because it prevents unnecessary heat.

Underlayment breaks moisture contact between the subfloor and laminate floor and thus minimizing the cold effect in your space and cutting down on energy costs. Once you have finished laying the subfloor and arranging the planks, you should add mineral wool between the joists.

Mineral wool will prevent moisture from penetrating underneath the planks and heat loss through the joints. Besides enhancing the favorable temperature feel of your space, insulating your home also soundproofs your space making it cozy.

Must See: Cork vs. Foam Underlayment: Which is Right for Me?

Carpet

Carpet is also an excellent solution to keep your home during the cold seasons of the year, but not ideal in wet areas. The carpet provides an insulation advantage in the space against heat loss.

However, it would be best if you opted for premium quality carpet made out of dense foam or wool with longer and thicker threads to offer excellent insulation and have the most benefits in the winter.

Make use of Rugs

Does Laminate Flooring Make your House Colder

Rugs are your best shot if you want a cheap, timeless warming solution. Because strategically place rugs in order on frequent areas where people tend to be barefoot, like the living room, dining room, bedroom, etc. It provides laminate flooring protection against elements, cushioning, and warmth in your space.

We strongly recommend using sheepskin or shaggy/fluffy rugs as they offer excellent insulation properties ideal for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. At the same time, hall-runner rugs are great for hallways and floor landings.

Also, rugs improve the interior design of your space. However, placing rugs with floor-friendly padding would be much safer in enhancing floor grip and preventing slippage.

Keep in mind that do not opt for latex or rubber padded rugs because it leaves sticky mess/marks and cause scratch and discolors on the laminate flooring.

Instead, we strongly recommend opting for felt rugs made from natural materials like bamboo, grass, jute, cotton, wool, or natural fibers. Or rugs with thin and smooth padding made from plastic without dark-colored dyes.

Cranking up the Central Heating System

The central heating system is purposely designed to produce heat from a central location and then distribute it to the entire house. Different types of central heating systems are available in the market, including furnaces, under-floor heaters, heat pumps, boilers, electric heaters, and solar heaters.

Also See: What’s The Most Efficient Heating System For Your Home?

Furthermore, central heating systems vary depending on the type of heating distribution system. Because some use radiators, forced air systems, steam radiation, or electric baseboards to send warm air out.

It would be best if you opted for a central heating system integrated with a sensor, timer, and auto-thermoregulatory system. It allows you to regulate internal space temperature depending on your preference and set it up whenever you need it.

However, the cost of purchasing and installing the central heating system is expensive and adds up to the cost of the energy bill in the long run. Therefore, it is important to assess your financial situation if you can manage your central heating system.

The under-floor heating system is the best central heating system option for both cold seasons and cold geographical locations. This heating system provides a sure way of keeping your home warm because it radiates heat through an underlayment between the subfloor and surface flooring.

Better yet, the heat also rises efficiently into the rest of the room, providing a conducive temperature feel to the space.

Conclusion

Keeping your home warm is a natural mechanism and precaution for protecting yourself from catching cold-induced diseases and enhancing its comfort. Therefore, before installing laminate flooring, you should include insulation in the investment to make your home more conducive.

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