One of the most important aspects of your home’s design is the flooring and this is for a number of reasons. It not only depends on your style preference, but also the room’s function.
Installing laminate wood flooring has become all the rage in recent years thanks to all the benefits offered by this type of floor. First, it has the classic allure of wood without the upkeep. Not only that, but hardwood flooring cost is significantly higher than laminate floors.
With that said, there are pros and cons to each option that go beyond just price and aesthetic appearance. Other factors to consider include installation difficulty, maintenance, resale value, and durability.
In the following guide, we’re going to do a comparison of laminate vs hardwood flooring, including all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Durability
One of the reasons why homeowners tend to prioritize hardwood floors is because they’re durable and long-lasting.
However, what people don’t know is that hardwood floors must be refinished at least every 5 to 10 years depending on the traffic that goes through your household. On the other hand, decent quality laminate flooring can be superior in terms of quality and durability.
A laminate floor can last for over 20 years and you don’t need to refinish it. Simply clean it every now and then as you would and you’re good to go!
Installation
Installing laminate wood flooring is one of the easiest home improvement jobs you’ll ever do.
It’s much easier than installing and refinishing hardwood floors, a process that can end up leaving your home all dusty and smelly.
Laminate floors are a breeze to install, they’re eco-friendly and they’re long-lasting to boost. The best part is that you don’t even need to use glue or nails to install it. It’s that easy!
Maintenance
To keep your laminate floors clean, all you have to do is sweep it clean with a vacuum cleaner or a regular broom regularly and clean up any spills that happen.
With that said, strong stains such as red wine spills tend to last on hardwood floors in contrast to laminate floors.
In addition to low laminate wood flooring cost, these floors can tolerate dings and scratches better than hardwood.
Eco-Friendly
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First of all, both laminate and hardwood floors are sourced from trees. That’s why it’s important to search for wood sources that have committed to ecological forest thinning operations to help preserve the environment, as well as materials that exclude all dangerous chemicals in the manufacturing process.
Abrasion
Laminate floors are coated with a layer of aluminum oxide which helps to increase the floor’s lifespan by making it more durable.
This coating also helps prevent scratches and abrasions from taking over your laminate floors, making them an ideal solution for pet owners and families with young children.
That’s why laminate floor manufacturers are confident enough to give their flooring an “abrasion class” (AC) rating of six to point to the fact that they’re highly resistant to abrasions.
To provide some context, an AC rating of one to three refers to areas that have light to high household traffic, while a rating of four to six refers to light to high commercial traffic. That means that it’s pretty durable.
Conclusion
Considering all the various features and factors we’ve spoken about in this article, it’s clear that laminate flooring would win hands-down when comparing it to hardwood floors.
But, more than comparing the two based on these features, it’s worth noting that what attracts people to hardwood floors is its natural beauty and charm, as well as its ability to stand up to the wear and tear of everyday family life.
Luckily, laminate flooring not only lives up to these standards but it’s cheaper, easier to maintain and it lasts longer. All in all, laminate floors are more than just fake hardwood floors.
Contact a local flooring company and request a free quote for your project!
