When you’re looking at having your house re-floored, it’s important to make an investment in the right type of wood / laminate for your needs. There is always debate about which type is better, laminate or real wood flooring. Each type however has their own positives and negatives, installation methods, and life expectancy.
Laminate
The first notable aspect of laminate floors is the repeating patterns while real wood has random patterns. Although they are not made of real wood, laminate is durable and are scratch, dent, stain, and sunlight resistant. Installation is also simple compared to real solid wood. Most laminate flooring is glueless and floating, which you can just snap in easily. Some require glue, but that type of flooring is uncommon. Unlike real wood floors, most laminates can be placed in areas with water such as the kitchen or laundry room.
Real Hardwood
Rich, hardwood floors come in more varieties and colors than ever before. The biggest difference between laminate floors and real hardwood floors is durability and life expectancy. While laminate is more durable, only the solid wood floors can be resanded and refinished to make them look new again. Real hardwood floors are beautiful, but costly as well. They can take some damage, but they are less resistant to tough scratches, stains, and water than laminate floors. Laminate floors do not need refinishing or resanding, but after some years they will need to be replaced. This is probably the biggest plus because real hardwood floors can be refinished and resanded to look like they were new again.
Which is The Best For Me?
There are many questions to consider when choosing the type of flooring for your home. If you are planning to sell your home in the next few years, you might want to consider which type will be cost-effective and give you the most resale value. You also need to consider what type of wear the hardwood floor will face often. Real solid wood flooring is beautiful and can be refinished after years of damage, so they might be better for your home. However, laminate floors are extremely durable but when they do get scratched, the wood damaged for good. Laminate floors can also withstand common household accidents like spills and cigarette burns, so it is another aspect to consider. Armed with the knowledge about both types of flooring, you will now be able to choose the right floors for your home and needs.
