Though we don’t always realize it, the floor is usually the first thing we make contact with in a home. From warm, inviting carpets to cool, elegant stone tiles, flooring perhaps has more bearing on our emotions than we might initially think. Any flooring expert can tell you as much.
Hardwood floors are one of the most popular flooring choices, but with current financial difficulties, many people turn to laminate flooring as an alternative. Does laminate flooring have better qualities, or is there no substitute for a sturdy, authentic hardwood floor?
Hardwood
Wood has been an oft-used flooring option for hundreds of years, and within good reason. They are elegant and have a very classic feel, and unlike most other flooring options, hardwood ages well, usually looking better with age. Wood also comes in a variety of grains, colors, and patterns, allowing you to mix and match with whatever looks best in your home.
Wood is a very durable material. Some of the oldest hardwood floors are over a hundred years old and still look as good as ever. Wood does not trap dust or pet dander, making it optimal for people with allergies.
In terms of maintenance, hardwood is quite easy to clean, requiring only some occasional mopping and vacuuming. You won’t have to worry about spills and stains as much with hardwood floors.
The one big drawback to hardwood flooring is the price. Wood is expensive, especially more precious hardwoods.
Laminates
Laminate flooring is made from smooth, plastic-coated synthetics, which can then take on a vast multitude of patterns, colors, and designs. Laminate can even imitate wood grain patterns.
Laminate tends to be very durable, able to withstand scratches, sunlight fading, and stains, though it can sustain some scratches from large dogs or heavy objects dragged along its surface. Maintenance for these floors is a cinch. Unlike wood floors, you won’t have to worry about waxing and polishing.
The great thing about laminates is that they are easy to install. In the past, professional installers had to apply a special glue to each plank of laminate manually. These days, most laminates can actually be installed without glue, instead using an interlocking system to fit planks together.
The best part about laminates is the price. They are much gentler on your wallet. You can actually achieve a similar hardwood floor look at just a fraction of the price, but it’s hard to say if laminate could completely replace the feel of wood flooring.
These days the popularity of laminate flooring is increasing. It all depends on the choice of people. Many people have used laminate flooring with no problems while other prefer to use wood flooring as the scratches and dents on them can be dealt with easily.
Laminate floors are cheaper than hardwood floors and are also easy to install. However, they do have their drawbacks. If laminate floors are scratched, it is not possible to buff out the damage as you can with a hardwood floor.
Hardwood flooring makes the home really beautiful and natural. I always envy homes with nicely maintained hardwood floor. Of course if you have limited budget, laminate floor is second best.
Most people choose Laminate Flooring over Hardwood Flooring purely on cost. It is the most cost effective way to replicate Hardwood flooring without incurring the major expense. Laminate flooring with it clip system is very easy to install.
Good points. For those looking for hardwood flooring at a more competitive price, engineered wood flooring should be considered. Most types of hardwood flooring that are sold are of the solid type, a construction type that uses complete wood and is therefore more expensive. Engineered wood uses only a layer of solid wood together with syntactic materials. The result is a floorboard that looks as you’d expect hardwood flooring to look like, but more affordable and very close to the price of quality laminate flooring.
These two types of flooring have their own characteristics and different advantages. It will depend to the home owner which one he prepare. What type of hardwood floors is that can be re-finished many times?
I’ll always prefer wooden flooring, it has a much more authentic feel about it. But – go for wooden laminate and you can get the price of laminate and the look of wood. It won’t be quite as good quality and will be more susceptible to water damage, but essentially you can get the best of both worlds