The name alone evokes thoughts of a luxurious place: Dream Home laminate flooring. You imagine being able to find a product that exactly suits what you have envisioned since you were a child and considered where you would want to live.
It’s time to hit your computer and figure out whether or not you want to invest. The wrong flooring could take your envisioned home from a dream to a nightmare.
Will Dream Home laminate really be able to meet your expectations?
- What is it?
- How durable is it?
- What styles are available?
- Is it easy to install?
- How much does it cost?
- FAQs
- The Verdict
What is it?
Dream Home laminate is a product produced by Lumber Liquidators and sold at retail outlets throughout the United States. The boards mimic the appearance of more expensive materials such as rare wood while costing much less in comparison.
Laminate flooring is a versatile material made from a synthetic resin designed to prevent staining, water damage, and other common problems. It was invented in 1977 and eventually came to the United States in 1994. It has been a popular flooring material ever since, especially in restaurants and affordable homes.
In the past, people voiced concerns about installing laminate because of its relation to formaldehyde, but the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States has released numerous reports stating that the material is safe for homes and businesses.
How durable is it?
Many people purchase laminate flooring because they hear it is more durable than other varieties. Unfortunately, Dream Home laminate is a mixed bag of durability.
Despite possessing certification from the North American Laminate Flooring Association, Dream Home laminate is fraught with problems.
Like many other products, Dream Home claims to be able to stand up to pets, heavy foot traffic, and the other rigors of everyday life at home. Some owners discover that this is the case and are able to keep their floors for years. Others claim that the material frequently scratches, loses varnish and paint, and will even bubble within a few months of installation.
The main problem you’re going to encounter is that the laminate is cheap and mass-produced. The boards are easy to buy, but use inexpensive materials which are more susceptible to wearing down.
If you need a new floor and don’t want to invest too much, then Dream Home could work for you. If you need something durable and live in a home with high foot traffic, then it’s not for you.
What styles are available?
Imagine having a genie that could summon any pattern you wanted. Shopping from the Dream Home line is a little like that scenario, where you can find styles to suit most living situations and preferences.
Lumber Liquidators and other retailers sell Dream Home laminate flooring in multiple series. The most popular styles mimic fashionable woods such as cherry, walnut, oak, and acacia. It’s also possible to find patterns that resemble hickory, beech, rosewood, and more exotic trees.
Several of the other characteristics of Dream Home are its high varnish and irregular designs. The varnish helps protect the materials underneath and ensures the floor maintains a new look. The irregular designs, although the term sounds odd, aren’t a bad thing.
Each of the boards in the Dream Home line strives to avoid having the same exact streaks, gradient, and patterns so homeowners can achieve a more natural and realistic look from their laminate flooring. This means you can get creative with how your sections are placed throughout a room.
Is it easy to install?
Very few people want to spend days slaving away over their floors, even if it does mean you get a brand new surface to enjoy. Dream Home laminate flooring is relatively easy to install, but does require several significant steps.
First, you need to let laminate flooring acclimatize to a new environment. This means leaving the flooring inside the area where you want to lay it so that it doesn’t swell or shrink once it is installed.
You also want to have a clean, dry, flat surface. The majority of the boards within the Dream Home line use an easily installed V-click system.
This means that you can click the boards together so they lock in place. The only downside to the V system is that it leaves behind a small indent in between each section of the laminate. This indent is a great place for dust to collect, which can eventually create trenches full of debris.
For the average homeowner, the V system is simultaneously simple to install but also a cleaning nightmare.
How much does it cost?
If you’re on a budget, then Dream Home laminate would be great for you.
The product ranges in price from $0.86 to $1.59 per sq. ft. and requires very few installation tools. A problem users might run across is that the laminate cannot be expected to last as long as stronger, more expensive materials.
Thankfully, each collection does come with a different warranty. Below is a list of each of the Dream Home lines and the attached warranty that you can sign up for:
- Nirvana – 25 years
- Nirvana V Groove – 25 years
- Charisma – 20 years
- Utopia – 10 years
- Kensington Manor – 30 years
- James Collection – 30 years
- Kensington Manor – 10 years
If you want a new floor but aren’t willing to invest much, then the laminate flooring from a series like Dream Home will give you some flexibility and creativity without taxing your pocketbook.
FAQ
Yes, Dream Home laminate flooring is a good option for homeowners on a budget. This flooring brand is a more affordable option but doesn’t compromise on quality. The flooring comes in a variety of thicknesses and 8 different colors for you to choose from. This brand makes laminate flooring with or without underlayment attachments, and they have flooring with a 10 year and 30 year lifespan.
How to clean Dream Home laminate flooring?
To clean your Dream Home laminate flooring, simply sweep away dust using a soft bristled brush or dust mop. Then fill a bucket with warm water and dip a microfiber mop into the liquid. Wring out most of the water so that the mop is damp before using it on the floors. You can also use non-abrasive cleaners that are safe for use on laminate flooring such as ProCare Citrus Floor Cleaner. It’s an all-natural floor cleaner that doesn’t leave streaks behind on your floors.
How long should Dream Home laminate acclimate?
Your Dream Home laminate flooring must be unpackaged and put on a flat surface for a minimum of 48 hours in the room you’ll be installing them into. Acclimating your laminate flooring allows the planks to be incorporated into the temperature and humidity conditions of a room. When your laminate planks are acclimated before installation, they will be conditioned and the locking systems won’t be compromised.
If you don’t acclimate your laminate planks, they may expand or compress after installation which can result in buckling or gaps at the joints of the boards.
The Verdict
All in all, Dream Home laminate flooring is a mixed bag. Imagine that you are standing in front of two doors. Behind one is a mountain of your favorite food, while the other conceals a tiger which hasn’t been fed in weeks. This is the experience that many potential buyers will have if they consider Dream Home laminate.
The cons of this product are actually quite a few: A good percentage of the users discover that it isn’t durable, that it scratches easily, that the wooden design comes away, and that it’s a nightmare to clean with special equipment.
On the other hand, it comes with quite a few pros, especially related to price, how many users receive durable boards, and the easiness of installation.
So, should you invest in it?
Dream Home laminate is great for people on a budget, but people willing to spend more money should look elsewhere.
Do you have any experiences that could help others make a decision about this controversial product? If so, share them through comments, pictures, and videos on this website or through social media. Every bit can help someone else either avoid the horror of low-quality flooring or experience the bliss of a well-made surface.
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