Laminate Flooring V's Wood Flooring

is it a fair contest ?

There are many advantages of laminate flooring over wood flooring. Can you really tell the difference between a laminate floor and a real wood floor?

When you look at a laminate floor you will see the pattern repeat itself such as the knots, grain, etc., whereas on a real wood floor these marks would be totally random. The frequency of the pattern that is printed onto laminate flooring can be repeated every 3rd or 4th board, but in some cases all of the boards can be identical in appearance. The other sign of a real wood floor is the fact that they dent more easily and generally don’t stand up to heavy traffic, unlike laminate flooring. Have a look at laminate flooring ratings for further information on traffic durability.

If you don’t mind paying the extra, and prefer the character of real wood that develops with time, then a real wood floor is probably your best choice. A real wood floor generally costs 20% to 25% more than an identical floor that is laid using laminate flooring. However due to the public’s perception of a real wood floor, this initial extra money will probably be recouped on the increased resale value of your home.

The term “laminate flooring” refer’s to the European type of laminate flooring, which many people in America refer to as “Pergo” flooring. Pergo was one of the first to introduce laminate flooring into the US and is simply a brand name.

When talking about real wood floors, this can either mean "solid" or "engineered" wood flooring. Before the introduction of the European type of laminate flooring into the American market, the engineered type of wood flooring was referred to as laminate flooring by a lot of the flooring dealers in the US. A solid wood floor is normally 18mm thick, and once installed can then have the final finish applied afterwards. Pre-finished solid floor boards can also be installed, with just a final amount of finishing required at the end.

In the American market it is the engineered type of flooring that is most commonly confused with the European type of laminate flooring. With engineered flooring the boards are made up from various layers called “ply’s”. The top layer, called the “wearing layer”, is approximately 3mm thick and is commonly made from oak, cherry, or maple. Engineered flooring tends to be more stable than solid wood flooring in a lot of situations, and a significant cost saving can also be gained over solid floor boards. Engineered flooring can be free floating, glued down or stapled, and refinished just the same as a solid floor. For a detailed description of the construction of laminate flooring, take a look at our laminate flooring makeup page.

Laminate flooring is a highly durable product, but if it gets scratched or worn, then it cannot be refinished unlike real wood flooring. Real wood floors can simply be sanded down and re-finished like new. However, if you would like a floor that withstands heavy-traffic from normal family life, and is easy to install and care for, then laminate flooring is an ideal solution.

The choice between laminate flooring and real wood flooring can depend on a few different situations and the following may help in making your decision:

    The location of the property and its current style can determine your choice. Does the current value of your property warrant the expense of good quality real wood flooring ?

    If you are looking to increase the resale value of your property, then you need to consider the investment value of your new floor, and the amount by which it may increase the value of your property.

    Do you plan on staying in your current property for a while to make full use of a new floor, or are you looking to sell the property in the near future.

    If you have set a budget, then get the best product for your money. It may be better to install good quality laminate flooring than to choose cheaper quality real wood flooring.

    The durability of laminate flooring is better than real wood flooring. What sort of traffic and abuse will the new floor have to deal with ?

    Laminate flooring is available in water resistant and waterproof ranges and can therefore be installed into kitchens and bathrooms. Real wood flooring would be a lot more unstable in this kind of environment because of the humidity levels.

    Laminate flooring usually comes with a 10 to 15 year warranty against staining and fading from the sunlight.

    Most laminate flooring can withstand household accidents such as cigarette burns, spilling bleach, etc.

    Laminate flooring is resistant to scratches and furniture marks, and it is also 15 times stronger than a hardwood floor.

    A laminate floor doesn’t need resanding or refinishing unlike a real wood floor. However this can be to its disadvantage over a period of a few years as the laminate flooring would eventually need replacing, whereas the real wood flooring could be sanded down and refinished like new once again.