Have you thought about installing hard flooring in your home, but the stories you’ve heard have you scared to make the leap? From flooring that will buckle or stain when exposed to water to deep gouges and scratches caused by everyday use, it’s not uncommon to be wary of installing thousands of dollars’ worth of new flooring in a busy home with heavy traffic, kids, and pets.
However, there is an affordable hard floor option to consider: laminate.
Laminate flooring is popping up in homes all around the world as an affordable alternative to hardwoods. Laminate flooring has quickly gained a reputation for being a durable, inexpensive flooring that is more resistant to scratches and damage than other hard flooring types. But does it live up to the hype?
One of the top brands in this flooring category is Bellami laminate flooring. Available exclusively through BuildDirect, this brand promises beautiful, high-quality, luxury floors that will completely transform your space. But does this laminate really perform?
In this article, we’ll explore Bellami laminate flooring, looking at features such as style and color selection and durability based on consumer experience. Before you pull out your wallet to purchase your new flooring, we’ll give you the inside scoop on this brand to help you determine whether it’s a hit … or a miss.
- Affordability
- Durability
- Styles & Colors
- How to Clean & Maintain Bellami Floors
- Can I Install These Floors Myself?
- Final Verdict
Is Bellami Laminate Flooring Affordable?
One of the most important considerations for many homeowners looking to purchase new flooring is affordability. Most of us set a budget for our home improvement projects, so we may be limited in what we purchase. Is Bellami laminate a good brand choice for the budget-minded flooring consumer?
Before we look at the pricing of Bellami laminate flooring, let’s get an overall view of flooring costs. One of the reasons that laminate is so popular is because it offers the look of solid hardwoods at a fraction of the cost.
On the low end, you should expect to pay around $3 to $6 per square foot for hardwood flooring. Considering an exotic species? You could pay $10 or more per square foot.
Let’s compare that to laminate. The average cost of laminate flooring is around $2 to $4 per square foot. Of course, these prices could be higher or lower based on where you live, the brand you select, where you purchase your flooring, and other factors.
Bellami laminate flooring starts at just $1.59 per square foot, which is lower than the average cost of laminate flooring. This pricing makes Bellami a great choice for the homeowner on a budget.
Of course, there are other expenses to consider. Trim pieces, materials, and tools should also be considerations when pricing your project. You may also need to consider the cost of professional installation if you plan to hire a contractor to take on the job.
Is Bellami Laminate Flooring Durable?
We’ve determined that Bellami laminate flooring is inexpensive, which is great if you’re on a budget. However, expenses can quickly rack up if you have a low-quality flooring that needs to be repaired or replaced after just a few years of use. When installed in a typical household, does Bellami laminate hold up under pressure?
Consumers that have installed this flooring were very pleased with the quality. Consumers that have installed the flooring have no complaints over damage that occurs from daily use, even in homes with children or pets.
There have been a few minor complaints about the flooring, however. Some reviewers have stated that some planks arrived broken. Another complaint is that planks were stuck to each other, causing peeling on the upper layer of some planks. However, undamaged planks were installed and have performed well with daily use.
Laminate flooring in general is more resistant to scratching and damage than hardwood floors. This doesn’t mean that it’s completely impervious to damage, though. Some care should be taken to keep your floors looking their best, including using furniture leg protectors, never sliding heavy furniture or objects on the flooring, and protecting floors from fading by avoiding direct exposure to sunlight.
A common misconception about laminate is that it’s water-resistant. This is not accurate, and laminate can be damaged if exposed to high levels of moisture or humidity. For this reason, you need to make sure that you avoid installing floors in wet, humid rooms and wipe up spills immediately.
It’s important to note that these precautions apply to all brands of laminate and not just Bellami flooring. Based on consumer reviews, Bellami flooring is extremely durable – especially considering its low price point. Bellami also provides a 25-year limited warranty that protects you from defects in craftsmanship that cause your floors to become prematurely worn or damaged.
Are There Plenty Of Styles/Colors To Choose From?
One thing that most homeowners consider before purchasing their flooring is the color and style of the product. After all, you want to make sure that your new flooring complements your home, from other flooring to the paint on your walls.
One of the areas where Bellami flooring falls a little flat is its color and style selection. Unfortunately, this brand is quite limited in selections when compared to other brands.
As of early 2019, Bellami offers four different styles of flooring. These styles are Paris, Berlin, Tailor, and Athens. Paris, Berlin, and Athens all feature a rustic, reclaimed look, while Tailor offers up a darker, craftsman-style look.
The lack of product choices could pose a problem if you’re looking for a very specific product or color. Most of the products offered by Bellami also have a rustic look, which could be an issue if you want a more sleek, modern look for your home.
While the flooring looks great, as many consumers stated, some people that have installed this flooring were unimpressed by the lack of variation of each plank. Several consumers have complained that planks were very similar, so it didn’t look quite as much like real wood as other types of laminate flooring.
How Do I Clean & Maintain Bellami Floors?
Cleaning and maintaining laminate flooring, including the products offered by Bellami, is quite easy. You can do daily cleaning using a broom, dust mop, or a hard floor vacuum.
When you need a deeper clean, you can use a damp cloth or tile mop to care for your floors. However, you should never oversaturate the floor, and you should always dry floors thoroughly with a soft cloth.
It is important to clean up all spills immediately. Leaving water on the floor can damage or even destroy your Bellami laminate.
You should also avoid the use of abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, waxes, and polishes on your flooring. Using a steam mop can also damage the surface of your laminate floors.
You can use a product specifically for use on laminate flooring to clean up big messes. You can use acetone or nail polish remover to remove paint, oil, tar, and other tough stains.
There are precautions you can take to avoid damaging your floors. Use felt pads or casters under furniture and appliances, rearrange furniture on a regular basis to avoid indentations, and use non-scratch rugs and pads to cover your floors.
Can I Install These Floors Myself?
Bellami provides installation instructions for all of its laminate flooring. This helps make the job easier, but if you’ve never installed flooring before, you may run into challenges.
Steps to install your flooring yourself involve prepping your subfloor, installing a vapor barrier, and allowing your flooring to acclimate for at least 48 hours. You will also need to measure your floors, cut planks to size, and take your time when installing. Bellami laminate flooring has a click-lock design so you can install it as a floating floor, and you will not need any adhesives or nails.
Consumers that had never installed laminate flooring found the process to be a little difficult at first. However, as they worked their way through the steps, they found it to get easier. However, it involves a lot of work, so time and patience are critical to a successful installation.
If you don’t want to take on the project yourself, you do have the option to hire a professional contractor. Consumers state that installers had no issues when installing their Bellami flooring. However, hiring a professional installer will add significant costs to your project budget.
Final Verdict
Bellami laminate flooring is a good choice if you want the look of solid hardwood flooring without the high price tag. Cleaning and maintaining your floor is a breeze, and even installation isn’t too difficult, according to owners of the product.
The floors are also very durable. The manufacturer backs them with a limited warranty.
However, you may not be happy with the lack of color and style choices offered by this brand. Most of the collections have a rustic style, so if you want something more modern, consider purchasing another type of flooring. You may also want to look into other brands if you want more exotic wood species, a wider selection of colors, and laminate with many variations that looks more realistic.
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