Locking Hardwood Vs Laminate

Discover whether wood or wood look is the right pick for your place with this side by side comparison of laminate vs hardwood flooring.

Locking hardwood vs laminate.

Some different types of hardwood flooring like oak maple and ash cost from 4 to 5 per square foot. Hardwood flooring cost hardwood flooring is comparatively expensive than laminate flooring. It is estimated that on average a laminate floor will need to be replaced after no more than 20 years. Engineered wood contains a slice of natural wood on top while laminate uses a photographic layer that is coated with a protective layer.

Laminate runs 1 to 7 per square foot depending on the quality. Cheaper versions have 1 4 inch cores and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions. Laminate is far easier to maintain than engineered wood flooring. Major differences solid hardwood flooring as the name suggests is comprised of flooring boards that are solid hardwood material through and through.

Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. In a very general sense laminate can cost around 3 5 square foot which is 2x 5x cheaper than hardwood flooring. Engineered hardwood is easy to clean but the material also has more holes and grains that can collect dirt while laminate is smooth and easy to wipe clean. Engineered hardwood debate right there.

Twenty years is the time it usually takes for a family to wear down the floor finish. Similarly hardwood is more prone to staining and fading. Laminate will the cheapest option for you. Laminate floors have a relatively short life span as compared to hardwood flooring.

Laminates do offer a bonus for handy homeowners. Caring and maintenance of your flooring is a big consideration especially if you don t want to put a lot of effort into caring for it. The normal range for solid hardwood flooring is between 4 to 12 per square foot and its standard cost is 8 per square foot. 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.

Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood. Natural wood is more prone to dings and scratches so if there are a lot of dents the floor is more likely to be natural hardwood than laminate. Because hardwood floors can last for generations they raise your home s value more than laminate floors.