Laminate flooring has become a major player in the flooring business and for good reason. Here I will point out some of the benefits and limitations of laminate when compared to hardwood.
Both Laminate and hardwood offer an attractive flooring solution. Laminate is what I consider a floor covering, where hardwood is a floor. Many think that laminate is a much less expensive solution, and it can be in some cases, but that is definitely not always the case. Price wise laminate is usually a more attractive option when compared to exotic hardwoods or wider planked boards. But when compared to domestic woods like red oak, a quality laminate will be priced comparably to its real wood counterpart.
Laminate is basically a picture of a wood species or a tile or stone. The picture is bonded to a wood or fiber core usually 7 to 10 mm thick. Laminate is always a floating floor and can be installed over most existing hard surfaces such as tile or vinyl making it easier for the do-it-yourselfer to install.
Laminate is typically more scratch resistant than a hardwood. And laminate is typically easier to install, can be run in any direction, and can be installed over most existing floors. This is also true of some hardwoods. But any solid wood will need to be nailed down over your bare subfloor and run against your floor joists. Which can be somewhat limiting and adds to the installation cost.
You should consider several factors before deciding on your flooring choice. What level of traffic your floor will see, is there a design reason concerning the direction you want your floor to run, and how long you will be staying in your home are just a few things to consider before making your decision.
Of course what you choose will be a personal decision. But always keep in mind that hardwood will increase your homes value more than laminate, and a real hardwood can be refinished and will last for the life of your home.
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