Engineered Wood Flooring Compared To Laminate

Laminate can look like fake when compared to engineered wood which is usually indistinguishable from solid hardwood.

Engineered wood flooring compared to laminate.

On average the installation cost of laminate floors is 50 less than solid hardwood. Upwards of 2 20 per square foot for engineered hardwood compared to upwards of 3 40 per square foot for solid. Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood floors are very similar and often get confused but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors. Undoubtedly the biggest advantage of laminate flooring is the price.

Still laminate looks and feels like real hardwood and holds strong as a popular wood look floor thanks to its low maintenance cleaning routine and a durable scratch. Even though all hardwoods are pretty durable since laminate is pressed wood it s even more durable and resistant to scratches and dents. This process almost duplicated the actual feel and stability offered by real solid hardwood flooring. Laminate flooring is a fully man made material that consists of several layers.

Engineered wood flooring. The base is fiberboard with a photographic image layer bonded over the top. Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. Laminate flooring and luxury vinyl flooring are roughly comparable in price although sheet vinyl does hold a slight edge.

Generally engineered wood is a more convincing but more costly option compared to laminate. The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface but structurally they are very similar to a laminate. Laminate is also a lot thinner than engineered wood. Engineered wood floors bond a thin layer or real hardwood over multiple layers of high quality plywood fiberboard or unfinished hardwood.

And once the top layer of the laminate is damaged or worn it can t be sanded down and refinished like engineered and solid wood flooring. Laminate was the pioneer for realistic wood look flooring back in the 70s and other types of flooring have caught on and have begun releasing their own realistic wood looks. Better still it s competitively priced compared to solid hardwood flooring. Both laminate flooring and vinyl flooring are usually less expensive than natural hardwood engineered wood and many types of ceramic or porcelain tile.

If you ve already started reviewing your options in the hardwood flooring market then you ll be well aware that engineered hardwood flooring is an increasingly popular product. Solid and engineered wood flooring undoubtedly add great value and structure to the home and come in various species styles and stain.