Laminate Vs. Hardwood Flooring: Which One Is Better?
The flooring of any home should be unique and attractive as it is one of its defining features. Wood flooring is considered as of the trendiest options because the material is naturally beautiful and inviting. While a lot of consider installing hardwood floors in their homes, laminate floors also feature great importance. Do you exactly know what laminate flooring actually is? Well, you can consider it’s a copy of hardwood that provides a natural wood look but at affordable pricing. In this guide, we’ve gathered some of the basic comparison guides between laminate and hardwood flooring. By the end of this blog, you’ll have a better understanding of which flooring type is well suitable for your home. So let’s continue to the ride.
- Hardwood Vs. Laminate Flooring Appearance
Hardwood
- Benefit
The beautiful and natural texture of hardwood floors can spruce up the interior of any home. You have plenty of options in choosing the wood type, stains, and finishes.
- Drawback
The downside of having hardwood floors is that they can be scratched soon if not taken care of properly. Furthermore, these floors can get faded and discolored with time upon prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Laminate
- Benefit
Laminate floors on the flipside; do not get scratched easily so its appearance will remain the same for years.
- Drawback
The design of laminate floors doesn’t look genuine as they copy the appearance of wood.
Which one is best in appearance? Hardwood flooring
- Hardwood Vs. Laminate Flooring Durability
Hardwood
- Benefit
No doubt, the gorgeous hardwood is the real deal. It’s the type of wood that can add value to your home.
- Drawback
Hardwood floors can get scratched and damaged easily from excess exposure to moisture. Also, they are not suitable for higher foot traffic areas.
Laminate
- Benefit
Made from pressed wood, laminate floors are more durable. They are good at resisting scratches, wear and tear, and moisture.
- Drawback
Even though the durability of laminate flooring is extremely high, these floors are not visually appealing to the eye.
Which one is best in durability? Laminate flooring
- Hardwood Vs. Laminate Flooring cost
- Hardwood
Solid wood floors can cost $5-$10 per square foot. But keep in mind that pricing depends upon the type of wood.
- Laminate
Laminate floors, on the other hand, can cost $3-$7 per square foot. Charges may vary, depending upon the use of materials. The installation cost of laminate flooring is 50 percent less than the installation of hardwood floors.
Which one is best in cost? Laminate flooring
- Hardwood Vs. Laminate Flooring repair
- Hardwood
It is easy to repair hardwood floors by sanding imperfections and refinishing.
- Laminate
Laminate floors cannot be easily repaired. Furthermore, it’s very difficult to match the new piece with the old one.
Which one is best in cost? Hardwood flooring
Hence, both flooring types are good on their own. You can consider hardwood flooring for appearance and easy repair. Whereas, laminate flooring is ideal for cost and durability. So, it all depends upon your needs & requirements. You can better understand that which flooring option you should consider for your home.
