Are you having trouble deciding on what flooring to put in your home? With so many options, it can be difficult to choose. In the showdown between laminate flooring vs hardwood, each material has several pros and cons. Read this before you buy so you get the best floor for your home!
Laminate Flooring vs Hardwood
Laminate flooring and hardwood flooring are both popular options for home spaces because of their aesthetic appeal. Each flooring has different pros and cons that make them suitable for different reasons. Check out this page as you start shopping for floors!
Pros of Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has become a favorite for avid DIYers who want to install their floors themselves. Laminate floor planks click together at the edges. The planks do not need to be glued or fastened with nails and simply float on top of foam underlayment. The easy installation makes this flooring a good choice for those who want to be able to install the flooring themselves without any professional help.
Laminate floors are more water and heat resistant than hardwood floors. This makes these floors more adaptable and suitable for a variety of spaces in your home. Laminate floors can be used in your kitchen or over radiant heat systems. However, laminate is not recommended for truly wet places, such as bathrooms, as that can damage the material.
The cost of laminate flooring is much less than hardwood floors. While hardwood flooring can cost $4 – $12 per square foot, laminate flooring only costs $1 to $3 per square foot.
Cons of Laminate Flooring
Although laminate flooring costs less and easier to install, it does not last as long as hardwood floors. While properly maintained hardwood floors can last 100 years, laminate flooring has an expected lifespan of 10 years.
Solid hardwood floors have a higher resale value than laminate floors and add to the value of a home, while laminate floors do not.
Laminate floors also tend to be less durable than hardwood floors. Unlike hardwood floors, they cannot be sanded or refinished if the surface is damaged by a heavy object or scratched by a chair leg.
Pros of Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors have a high aesthetic appeal due to their timelessness and sophistication. Adding hardwood flooring has a variety of benefits. Unlike laminate floors, hardwood can last a lifetime or longer if properly maintained. They can also be refinished if they ever get scratched or damaged.
Having hardwood floors in your home increases the resale value if you ever decide to sell. Well-maintained hardwood floors are impressive to real estate agents and home professionals.
Along with being able to last for 100 years or more, hardwood floors also rank high in terms of appearance. Hardwood floors tend to be more attractive than laminate floors. Up close, you can usually tell that laminate floors are not real wood.
Hardwood floors tend to be more durable than laminate floors. They can be sanded and refinished if they accrue any scratches or dents over time. If a laminate plank is damaged, the whole plank usually has to be replaced.
Cons of Hardwood Flooring
Although hardwood floors are the more grandeur and lasting option, they also have some cons. Hardwood floors cost much more than laminate flooring and require installation by a professional.
They are also less heat and water-resistant. Solid hardwood floors are not recommended for wet areas or areas that are over radiant heat sources.
Hardwood floors are considered less comfortable to walk on than laminate floors, which have a soft underlayment. Hardwood floors are louder to walk on than laminate which can be an issue.
Choosing Hardwood or Laminate Flooring
In the competition of laminate flooring vs hardwood flooring, both materials have different benefits and are suitable for different needs. It all depends on where you plan to put your floor and what you hope to get out of it. Either way, laminate or hardwood flooring will help make your house a home!
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