Picking Hardwood or Laminate Flooring?

This is our attempt to quickly draw attention to the differences between Hardwood and Laminate floors. The distinction between the two products is becoming hazy with the advent of hybrid products that combine laminate floor construction with a real wood veneer. The terminology is sometimes confusing as well. For instance, many people confuse "Laminated Hardwood" with "Laminate Flooring".

Construction
When we refer to Engineered Hardwood Flooring, we mean pre-finished real hardwood floors. These floors typically are constructed of 3, 5 or 7 plies, depending on the brand and species of wood. The overall thickness is usually in-between 1/4 and 9/16 and the top ply (layer) is comprised of a slice of hardwood flooring.

Laminate Flooring is typically constructed with a High Density Fiber Board Core, sandwiched between a melamine laminate backing, high quality photographic paper with an image of wood, stone or other natural flooring, and a melamine laminate top. There are a few new hybrid products that replace the photographic paper with a very thin slice of real wood veneer.

Installation
Laminate Floor is easier to install but the gap is narrowing. Most hardwood floor is glued or stapled directly to the subfloor. However, the floating installation method is growing. Since we tend to specialize in Do-It-Yourself friendly floors, many of the hardwood floor brands we carry are also approved for a floating installation. All laminate floor is floated and has many more glueless installation options than hardwood floor.

Durability
Laminate floor is more scratch resistant. Hardwood floor will dent more easily than laminate floor, plus there is a wide variance of hardness levels between different species of wood. Hardwood Floor tends to change color over time and can fade when constantly exposed to direct sunlight but is extremely stain resistant. Overall laminate floor is more durable, but the gap is narrowing with the advent of extremely durable finishes such as aluminum oxide, which is being used extensively as a finish for hardwood floor.

Design
It is remarkable how well laminate floor can mimic real hardwood, but if you look closely at two rooms side by side, you'll probably see the difference between the two floors. Hardwood floor is a product of nature and is infinitely variable. You won't see pattern repetitions like the same knot-hole repeated. The same holds true for the stone/ and tile patterns in laminate floor.

Home Resale Value/Prestige
Hardwood floor has a higher resale value because it often hyped by the hardwood flooring industry as a big benefit over laminate floor and hardwood typically costs more than laminate. But both laminate and hardwood floors add tremendously to the value of your home, and both typically do so more than carpet, sheet vinyl or tile.

Other Characteristics
Hardwood grows old gracefully; little dings and nicks over time may even add to the character and overall appeal of some species such as a distressed oak. With proper maintenance, you will probably move or decide to redecorate with new colors or styles before you wear out either your laminate or hardwood floors. Lastly, laminate will sound a little hollowed than hardwood when walked on with hard sole shoes.

The question of which to choose is not easily answered. If cost and durability is your primary concern, laminate floor should be the choice. If you tend to favor natural products and fibers, then hardwood floor is more suitable for you. But for most of us, the decision is more complex. It's related to our lifestyle, family, future housing plans and countless other factors.