Real Hardwood Floors Vs Laminate

Photo by mary cook pros of wood look tile.

Real hardwood floors vs laminate.

Solid hardwood is of course the standard bearer. Popular floating floor options. Unlike solid floorboards laminate. Cheaper versions have 1 4 inch cores and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions.

Personally i m just not a big fan of laminate floors. In comparison real hardwood flooring costs an average 5 to 10 per square foot with installation running an additional 4 to 8 per square foot. Homeowners interested in wood floors have more options than ever before. Because of the way it is installed there isn t a hollow sound when walking across the floor or a spongy feel this is something that can be an issue with floating floors if they aren t installed perfectly and with optimal conditions.

And heavy foot traffic can t hurt flooring made from hardwood the way. If you re seeking an alternative to hardwood but laminate doesn t sound like the material for you consider engineered wood or luxury vinyl. A laminate floor is easily damaged and will look much worse than a real wood floor with a similar injury. Engineered hardwood debate right there.

For many folks that ends the laminate vs. Engineered and laminate floors however can be installed in places where hardwood cannot and they. Due to its synthetic blend laminate is more affordable than more premium natural options such as wood ceramic tile or stone. The boards usually 3 4 inch thick are generally milled with a smooth top surface and tongue and groove edges that interlock to hold the boards together.

Both resemble true hardwood but each comes with its own benefits and disadvantages. However commercial grade laminate flooring still provides great durability as it resists scratches sunlight and even heavy wear and tear. If this is a long term hold your maintenance cost will be less for the real wood. Glue down hardwood flooring often sounds more like real solid hardwood flooring than floating floors do.

Laminate flooring is similarly layered but it s thinner than engineered flooring and the surface is often a plasticized print depicting a hardwood grain. Laminate runs 1 to 7 per square foot depending on the quality. Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood.