Hardwood Flooring Compared To Laminate

Wood look laminate flooring boasts uv protection and is resistant to scratches and dents making it perfect for placement in high traffic and sun drenched areas.

Hardwood flooring compared to laminate.

Laminates dent easily when exposed to heavy impacts. Engineered hardwood flooring has a similar construction as laminate except the top decorative layer is a thick veneer of real wood protected by a coating of clear acrylic. It provides the unmatched beauty of real wood without solid wood flooring s tendency to shrink or warp. The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface but structurally they are very similar to a laminate.

Because hardwood floors can last for generations they raise your home s value more than laminate floors. Neither laminate nor solid hardwood flooring is ideal flooring materials for truly wet locations but laminate is somewhat better for humid locations such as installation against concrete slabs. Today s laminates can hold their. Laminate flooring which is made of a synthetic fiberboard material and has a laminate finish is much cheaper than hardwood but will not last as long.

Laminate is essentially a rigid synthetic floor that s also known as composite pergo or floating wood tile. Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood floors are very similar and often get confused but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors. Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. Hardwood flooring is made from natural durable woods such as oak maple or hickory that can last a long time when maintained properly.

Laminates last only around 30 years for top quality products and less than 20 years for more inexpensive brands.