The Differences between Hardwood Flooring, Laminate and Engineered Wood |
Posted: September 22, 2017 |
When shopping for flooring for your home, you may be interested in the wood look to create warmth or to fit in with a specific design theme. You will soon discover there are various ways of achieving the look of wood, but they are not all the same. Here is a look at the different ways you can get that hardwood floor look.
Genuine Hardwood
The most obvious way to go for some people is to buy traditional hardwood flooring. Made of planks, this type of flooring comes in a variety of styles and using different hard woods. You will find dark wood like mahogany as well as the lighter tones of pine. All of them are genuine hardwood and designed to last for many years.
If you hope to only replace your floors once, this is the way to go. You can sand down the floors if you get dents or scratches and re-stain them another color if trends change. While you will most likely pay more for genuine hardwood, it’s an investment that may last you a lifetime.
Laminate
Today’s laminate flooring has come a long way from a few years ago. You can find laminate that gives that hardwood look without the hardwood price. The more matte the laminate, the more realistic it looks in most cases.
One of the benefits of laminate other than price is that it is easy to install and can be used in rooms with higher levels of moisture without warping. It’s also easy to care for. However, many people can still tell the difference between laminate and real hardwood, and they won’t accept a substitute.
Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is not fake wood flooring. It contains real wood fibers which are mixed in with particleboard to create durable flooring. The layers of wood fibers help to create that hardwood look, but it is made to withstand moisture better.
The down side of this type of flooring is that you cannot sand it and re-stain it. It also won’t last as long as genuine hardwood. It is less expensive and often easier to install. You don’t have to worry about humidity causing the planks to expand and contract, which can make it an ideal choice for many homeowners.
How to Choose
Nothing replaces real hardwood floors in a home if you want an authentic look. However, there are some areas that are not ideal for this type of flooring. Anywhere with high humidity levels – think bathrooms and kitchens – are not the best places to use genuine hardwood. In those rooms or in a basement, you may want to consider either laminate or engineered wood to create that hardwood look you love.
If you are remodeling on a tight budget, you may not be able to afford hardwood. However, it may increase the value of your home, which the other two options will not do. If you plan to sell your home in a few years, this may be a consideration.
Canada's premier hardwood flooring store. Proudly selling Hardwood Flooring in Toronto since 1977. We have hardwood, laminates, engineered, and exotic flooring; we also provide hardwood flooring installation.
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