No matter what your home décor style is, the flooring will always remain its foundation. It is often the first design element with which your visitors interact. Luckily homeowners today have a good choice. Out of this vast array of options, hardwood and laminate floorings have a clear preference.
Let us accept it that while discussing the advantages of laminate vs hardwood flooring, everyone’s vote goes to the wooden ones. However, with all the plus points of wood, laminate flooring has its merits too. Sufficient enough for you to consider it for your home.
The general misconception is that if the budget is not a constraint, go for hardwoods; else laminates will suit the best. Let us take it beyond and discover about the two with a side by side comparison. Meanwhile, contact this reputable shop if you need high-quality Laminate Flooring Underlay.
Despite the type of your home, the British Flooring is literally its foundation, and frequently the first design feature guests see when they enter. Fortunately, many options are available today for homes ready to install new flooring. These days, laminate wood and hardwood are the two flooring types that are most preferred because of their warm appearance and ability to increase property value.
Laminate Flooring – Laminate flooring is a synthetic multi-layer flooring product that has been laminated together. With a photographic appliqué layer behind a transparent protective coating, laminate flooring mimics wood. Melamine resin and fiberboard components are typically used to make up the inner core layer. Because laminate flooring is more convenient to install and maintain than conventional surfaces like hardwood flooring, its popularity has increased substantially. It could also be less expensive and easier to install than other flooring materials. It is comparatively easy to maintain, hygienic, and reasonably durable.
Hardwood Flooring – Any product made from wood intended for use as flooring, whether for structural or aesthetic reasons, is referred to as wood flooring. Wood is a popular option for flooring and is available in various styles, colors, cuts, and species. A common type of flooring that has been used for centuries is hardwood flooring. Hardwood is an excellent option for homeowners looking for a sophisticated, rustic style because of its remarkable durability, range of colors, and timeless beauty. Hardwood planks are often laid using tongue and groove joints to fit together and nailing to create a durable floor that can endure the lifetime of the house.
1. Genuine hardwood flooring has the best appearance
Since ancient times, interior spaces have benefited from the inherent beauty of hardwood flooring. This flooring alternative provides an organic ambiance absent from many of today’s produced materials. It is available in practically unlimited textures, hues, and finishes. Traditional homeowners adore its warmth and delicacy and the sheer fact that it can raise a home’s market value.
2. Most hardwood flooring is less scratch-resistant than laminate
The UV protection and scratch and dent resistance of laminated flooring makes it ideal for installation in high-traffic and sunny areas. Modern laminates can compete in comparison of style and durability between hardwood and laminate. In fact, in recent years, laminates’ appearance has advanced to the point where it can be challenging to differentiate between laminated and natural wood flooring.
3. Laminate flooring ages more slowly than hardwood flooring
When renovating a home, homeowners vouch for the character of hardwood; however, the fact that wood can mature quickly compared to a laminated floor is one disadvantage that turns some people off. Contrary to laminate, hardwood is susceptible to high-heeled shoes, animals, children, and furniture, which can dent and scrape the wood. It also reacts to direct sunshine. This eventually results in a rustic aesthetic that some find appealing and others find worn-out or unattractive.
4. Installing laminate flooring is less expensive than hardwood floors
The advantage of laminates is that they can be designed for the DIY market; laminate has traditionally been considered the preferred DIY alternative since it is thought to be easier to install. Once the underlayment and/or vapor barrier have been completed, the laminate installation is a relatively simple weekend project because it simply snaps into place with snap-and-lock edges, depending on the model.
5. Laminate is simple to maintain than hardwood flooring
Although laminate is typically easy to maintain, there are a few things to avoid. Please avoid using detergent-based cleaners because they dry with a dull coating. Instead, use a store-bought laminate cleaner along with routine cleaning and vacuuming. To assist in extending the longevity of your laminate, place mats at outside doorways to capture entering debris. You should also always clean up spills right away. Meanwhile, given the sensitivity of hardwood flooring to sunlight, scuffs, dirt, and debris, more care should be taken to maintain it. For protection against denting and scratching, place protective pads on the legs of furniture, trim your pet’s claws, and avoid wearing high heels.
6. Laminate is preferable for moist places over hardwood because it is more water-resistant
Although hardwood flooring may be more resilient than laminate flooring, laminate flooring performs better in some high-traffic areas of the home. Hardwood flooring can be damaged by water spills, showers, and leaking appliances. Laminate contains a water-resistant layer and underlayment, which makes it significantly better at resisting moisture even though it is not impervious to water damage. Because of this, laminate flooring is a far better option than hardwood flooring for kitchens and bathrooms.
7. Hardwood flooring gives a higher market value to a home than laminate flooring
When increasing a home’s value, natural hardwood flooring will always be superior to laminate flooring. You can anticipate a return on your investment of between 70 and 80 percent when selling the house, provided the flooring is in good condition. Laminate flooring will improve the house’s value compared to standard carpeting or linoleum. Still, it will give a lower rate of return than actual hardwood floors provide.
8. Hardwood flooring is an environmentally friendly choice
Purchase hardwood flooring from a provider that uses ethical forest management techniques and installs it using eco-friendly glue. It can be highly environmentally friendly. However, the effect of laminate floors on the environment is challenging to assess. Laminate flooring frequently contains recycled materials, but it also includes a resin made of melamine and formaldehyde. Nonetheless, formaldehyde emissions, particularly in certain temperatures, may cause environmental and health problems.
Uses
Out of these two flooring types, your choice should majorly depend on the typical location where it will be used. For high footfall areas like bedrooms, living rooms, offices, and maybe kitchens, laminates fit in well. You can avoid wet areas like bathrooms. However, it is still better than hardwood flooring. If it is a kitchen, use it with precaution.
For wooden flooring, never go for the below-grade, and your residential rooms will gleam with these.
Tolerance to heat and water
Both of these differ, when it comes to water and heat resistance. Hardwood is best avoided in water prone areas; therefore, kitchens and bathrooms are ruled out. Similarly, do not install wood flooring overheating systems as the wood might shrink, and the joints get weak.
While laminates are water and stain-resistant, here again as the water seeps into the planks, the flooring can swell and chip. Avoid in wet areas, although this flooring is perfect with heating systems due to high resistance.
Durability and care
We will often argue on these two aspects of the flooring. When it comes to durability, hardwood needs a refinishing every ten years or so. It is also dependent on the traffic and use of the residents. On the contrary, a good quality laminate lasts 20 years or more if properly installed. Just an occasional cleaning and it is okay.
Both the flooring types require a similar level of maintenance. Sweeping, cleaning and occasional vacuuming are enough. However, if you spill anything on hardwoods, the damage is permanent. Moreover, the scratches are hard to manage and hide on wooden floors in comparison to laminates. If you want to avoid these problems in your flooring, you better choose the high-quality and most trusted grey vinyl flooring.
Value addition to your property
With regular care and maintenance, including refinishing, hardwood floors can well last for 100 years or more. But, with laminate floors, by the time it reaches 15 years, you get the feel to replace it due to the faded appearance. For longevity, solid hardwood flooring outruns almost all other options.
Moreover, right from day one, hardwood flooring adds to your real estate valuation. The real estate market considers it a premium flooring material. Laminates, on the other hand, are certainly better than say a carpet or vinyl flooring, however, add no significant financial value to your home.
Take good care of your wooden flooring, as the real estate agents and buyers will put a premium on your home. Its important to hire the right company as well like this flooring murfreesboro TN option.
Installation
Hardwood flooring installation is not for DIYers, and not even for non-professionals. Special tools and expertise are needed to get a perfect finish to the flooring. Whereas laminates are quick and easy. Even you can also give it a try. When it comes to installation, laminate flooring has a clear advantage.
Final Words
The feel, the look and the longevity of hardwood flooring, make the higher costs worth it. It also offers you scope for creativity and customization. Laminates have their own benefits and ideally suited for homes with pets and children. It is economical, easy to install and gives you no worries of scratches or wearing down.