Many people like the clean, natural look of hardwood floors. Unfortunately, that can also come with a big price tag at installation. Another option is laminate flooring. It looks like wood, and feels like wood, without the higher cost of wood. If you are in the market for new flooring, you may want to compare hardwood flooring to laminate, to make sure you truly get what you want.
Okay, let’s get started. On one side you have the “Pro”, the positions in favor of hardwood:
The very first point in support of hardwood flooring is it will increase the value of your home, in most cases. Many real estate agents also use hardwood floors as a selling point in their listings..
The second supporting point is that hardwood floors can be customized, as far as sheen of the finish, and the mix of types of wood used. You can get as creative as your installer will allow, with your choice of wood and design.
The 3rd supporting point ıs, wood floors can also be sanded down and re-stained, should they get scratched, worn, or grooved. Once laminate is damaged, the only option is replacing it.
A 4th support point in favor is, with proper care, wood floors can last up to, and even beyond 100 years. In general, most laminate floor manufacturers warranty their floors for 10 years.
And last (but not necessarily least) we have the fifth point in support, which is just the “feel” of having real wood under your feet, is a big selling point with some people.
And now we will continue to compare hardwood flooring to laminate, in the “Con” of hardwood flooring:
Firstly, the point against real wood is the cost. In general, hardwood floors cost about $8-$12 per square foot, but can be more depending on your choice of wood and finish. Laminate, on the other hand, costs about $1.50 – $3 per square foot.
The second point against wood is that wood flooring doesn’t do as well in areas of higher moisture, like the kitchen or bathroom. While wood still can be used, it has a much higher chance of incurring damage from the moisture. Laminate floors can tolerate moisture much better, but neither can stand puddling water.
The third point in contra is wood takes a bit more upkeep, while laminate is easy to clean, and does not require waxing, polishing, or refinishing. All it takes is regular vacuuming or sweeping, and an occasional moist mopping to keep it in good shape.
The fourth point against hardwood flooring is it can have some “odd” or bad pieces, that need to be used in certain places, or worse, simply thrown away. Since you are dealing with a piece of natural wood, there will always be variations in the wood quality. Laminate is manufactured, so every piece is essentially the same.
5th and then finally, last point in contra is that hardwood, even covered with some type of finish, is not totally stain resistant. All it takes is some red wine, spilled along a seam, and you may have a stain there until the wood is sanded and refinished.
So there we have all the arguments from each side.
As we compare hardwood flooring to laminate, there a lot of grey areas, depending on a lot of factors, and the customer’s situation. Hopefully, knowing the pros and cons can help you make a decision on the right flooring for your home and budget.
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