In this guide we present a prime time cage match of two competing materials.
Wood laminate flooring vs hardwood.
Both resemble true hardwood but each comes with its own benefits and disadvantages.
It offers a natural look.
Wood flooring remains one of the most popular options as it is a naturally inviting beautiful and timeless material.
Engineered wood flooring.
The boards usually 3 4 inch thick are generally milled with a smooth top surface and tongue and groove edges that interlock to hold the boards together.
Laminate and engineered versus hardwood or vinyl.
Hardwood flooring versus laminate flooring.
Hardwood has been around for hundreds of years.
The flooring of a home is one of its defining features.
The base is fiberboard with a photographic image layer bonded over the top.
Laminate flooring is a fully man made material that consists of several layers.
It evokes a warm natural feeling that many consider a luxury.
More rigid than luxury vinyl aka non resilient.
Then a transparent wear layer is applied to protect the surface.
If you have your heart set on having a wood or faux wood floor you have four choices.
While older more traditional homes often have the original hardwood floors still in place many newer homes are using laminate.
Made of synthetic layers bonded together through a lamination process.
If you re seeking an alternative to hardwood but laminate doesn t sound like the material for you consider engineered wood or luxury vinyl.