Laminate versus Hardwood Floors

Photo credit to dmjarvey.

Laminate and hardwood floors can both add beauty and functionality to your home. However, it can often be difficult to choose which flooring surface would be the best choice for your own particular use. There are some basic differences between laminate floor products and hardwood floors that you should take into consideration before making your final decision.

Overall Factors to Take Into Consideration

There are several overall factors that can help you decide which flooring would be best. These include the level of moisture in the room, the amount of traffic in the room, and your desire to add to the overall resale value of your home versus simply adding a functional and beautiful floor for your own enjoyment.

High Moisture Concerns

One of the disadvantages of hardwood flooring is that it can be adversely affected by humidity and moisture. This is why many people decide not to use hardwood flooring for bathrooms or even kitchens. However, laminate flooring commonly includes moisture resistant barriers, and is made from engineered wood products. If moisture is a concern, you should check the product you purchase carefully to make sure it is resistant.

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Ease of Installation

Installing a hardwood floor is not usually considered to be a do-it-yourself home improvement project. Because there is a fair amount of skill involved, most people hire a professional if they decide to install a hardwood floor in their home. On the other hand, a laminate floor can be much easier for a homeowner to install on their own. These products are often installed as a floating floor, and panels that are designed to lock together or glue easily can be a great way of easily adding a beautiful new floor in your home. Laminate flooring comes in a wide variety of colors and styles that simulate many of the most popular hardwood flooring surfaces.

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Durability for High Traffic Areas

The decision is not quite as clear when considering the best flooring for a high traffic area. A hardwood floor does tend to dent or scratch a bit more readily than a high quality laminate floor. However, they can also be refinished. Laminate floors are usually quite scratch and dent resistant, but they can be susceptible to chipping and cannot be refinished. If you are installing a floor in a room that will be exposed to bright sunlight for significant portions of the day, laminate might be a better choice, as it is less susceptible to fading as compared to hardwood. Overall, if you take good care of it, a hardwood floor should last a lifetime, while a laminate floor would only be expected to last for approximately 20 years before it would need to be replaced.

Comparing Cost versus Home Resale Value

A hardwood floor is almost always more expensive than even a high quality laminate floor. However, a hardwood floor will also tend to add more to your home's resale value than would a laminate floor. When making your flooring choice, you will need to decide if a hardwood floor is worth the extra expense.

Whichever way you go, your new floors will add great new style to your home. Now take a trip to an area wall art store for new wall art decor and home accents that really bring the room to life.