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In: Home Improvement
24 Feb 2010Natural stone travertine flooring is beautiful but it is very expensive and costly to install too. You might be fascinated then to see that you can now buy quality laminates and vinyl flooring with the look of travertine floor tiles without the high price. If you are weighing up whether to go for the real thing or so plump for an imitation product, here are the pros and cons of each to help make up your mind.
1. Cost
Real travertine flooring is so expensive that you should not think about installing it unless you have a large budget for your floor. You will not find travertine style laminate is cheap either (it is not made by the budget ranges which focus on wood laminates) but it is a lot less expensive than a real stone floor. Vinyl is cheapest of all but it looks less like real travertine when compared with good quality laminate.
2. Longevity
While laminate and vinyl each provide a good hard wearing surface, they are not designed to last forever. On the other hand, your travertine bathroom tiles might very well last longer than your bathroom. Longevity may or may not be a good thing, however, depending on how long you plan to be in your home and how much you like to ring the changes with your decoration!
3. Ease of Installation
Vinyl and laminate can be installed by a competent amateur however travertine requires specialist installation due to stone cutting being required. If you are planning on installing your floor yourself choose one of the easier materials.
4. The Value of Your Home
It is unlikely that vinyl flooring or laminate will add anything at all to your home’s value however a luxury floor like travertine is likely to increase the resale value and attract more buyers who will recognize the quality of your flooring. If you live in short term rented accommodation it makes no sense to boost the value of your home and you are better to use cheaper materials until you can afford a home of your own.
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