Comparing hardwood to laminate floors. A great article that will hopefully help you with your flooring decision.
Laminate flooring is composed of a wood chip board with melamine-infused paper on top of it. Similarly, engineered hardwood floors are based with plywood and have a 1/16" to 1/8" layer of real wood on top. This is where the similarities end, however, and it can be difficult to decide which of these types of flooring will best suit your needs.
Engineered hardwood flooring is a more cost effective alternative to solid wood. While solid wood flooring can last hundreds of years, this requires regular upkeep, yearly refinishing, and a very steep upfront cost. Engineered hardwood flooring is more affordable and can achieve the same classy, refined look of solid wood. Depending on the brand, some engineered wood flooring can be re-sanded and re-finished up to three times.
Laminate flooring comes in many shades and varieties. Most are designed to resemble many types and colors of wood, although other designs may resemble tile or bamboo. High quality digital printing results in a very realistic look. Laminate flooring can cost about the same as engineered hardwood flooring, and is often cheaper.
Most flooring options offer three methods of installation - they can be nailed down, glued down, or floated. Wood flooring can be installed all three ways while laminate must be glued or floated. A floated flooring installation is the most popular and often the most preferred as it is fast, easy, and non-permanent. In the case that the flooring gets damaged, or if a buyer changes his or her mind, it can easily be replaced. Glue installations are also quite simple, albeit messy. Nail installations leave tiny, exposed nails all over the entire floor. In either case, floated flooring installation is the most practical and aesthetically pleasing.
What flooring will best suit you will depend on your needs. In both cases, these options may be used as an alternative to expensive hardwood floors.
As far as appearances go, many people cannot tell the difference between laminate and hardwood flooring without getting down on floor level. Laminate flooring can look just as elegant as actual hardwood flooring. Because the top layer is basically a photo, laminate flooring looks very realistic and very consistent. Anyone who has ever installed natural flooring options such as marble and granite have experienced a consistency problem. While working at a flooring store, I have witnessed countless people go through dozens of boxes trying to find tiles that matched. This is an issue of any type of natural flooring and is why you must be sure to purchase at least 10% more product than what you need.
In terms of durability, laminate is leagues ahead of hardwood flooring. Hardwood, be it solid or engineered, is a naturally occurring product. There is no hardwood that can withstand scratching. On the other hand, the top layer on most laminate flooring is impregnated with aluminum oxide. This renders it extremely scratch resistant. When shopping for flooring, ask for samples. You can easily take a car key to the laminate flooring and see no mark, whereas the hardwood flooring will mar very easily. Even the scraping of a fingernail can leave a mark on hardwood. This can often be a deal breaker - what is the point of investing in a beautiful floor when it can be ruined years or even months down the line? Children, furniture, and pets can wreak havoc on hardwood flooring.
While engineered hardwood can be refinished, with laminate this is simply not an issue. It will not scratch like engineered hardwood will. Nor can it be discolored and damaged by excessive sun exposure. Also, refinishing a wood floor is a difficult task. It is especially difficult to refinish engineered hardwood because of its thinness. Therefore, most manufacturers and contractors do not suggest this task for the layperson. A professional must be hired. This can cost quite a bit and is not an easy option for a person who opted to install his or her own flooring in the first place.
Similarly, many brands of laminate flooring can be reinstalled up to three times without compromising the integrity of the locking system. This is a great option for a person who may decide to change the flooring. The laminate flooring can be taken apart and reinstalled in another area of the home.
Laminate flooring is definitely the preferred option when upgrading the flooring in your home. It can cost as much as engineered hardwood, but is often much less. Laminate flooring offers the same richness and elegance that hardwood does, but with much greater durability.
George has been doing home repair himself ever since he built his first house, by hand, in 1998. He has just finished installing Hardwood Floors in his sisters house and is currently dealing with his hardwood floors squeaking.
