Making the decision between Hardwood Floors and laminate floors isn’t always easy, but understanding how they differ from each other can make the decision a little easier to make.
Cost and Durability
Solid Hardwood Floors are more expensive than engineered New York Wood Flooring or laminate flooring, potentially costing about twice as much to purchase and install. However, when the longevity of the solid wood flooring is taken into account, it may pay to get the hardwood flooring. Laminate typically lasts about 20 years, while solid hardwood can be refinished multiple times, lasting at least twice as long as laminate flooring.
Maintenance
Both of these types of flooring require a similar amount of regular care. This includes sweeping or vacuuming and damp mopping the floor regularly and cleaning up any spills promptly. Cleaning up spills is particularly important with wood floors, as the water could damage the flooring if left sitting on it for any length of time. Scratches to wood floors can be taken care of by refinishing, but this isn’t typically the case with laminate. Also, it’s possible to replace individual damaged boards. This isn’t always the case with laminate, and even when it is, the new board may stand out because it will be less faded and have less wear than the other boards.
Use
Hardwood shouldn’t be used below ground level or in rooms where it’s more likely to be moist or have water spilled, such as bathrooms. Some types of a laminate can be used in these rooms, so it can be a good way to get the look of a wood floor when it isn’t possible to actually use wood.
Effect on Environment
Laminate is a highly processed product, made using a number of chemicals. It can’t usually be recycled and isn’t very good for the environment. Solid hardwood, on the other hand, is a totally natural product that can easily be reused or recycled. Just be sure to choose a product sold by a manufacturer that uses sustainable methods for harvesting wood and a type of wood that isn’t endangered or in short supply. Choosing a wood grown close to home is also a good way to benefit the environment, as it limits the use of fossil fuels necessary to transport the wood from the location where it’s harvested to the home.
