Laminate flooring can t be refinished and must be replaced when it becomes too worn in order to restore the look of the floor.
Floating wood floor vs laminate.
However commercial grade laminate flooring still provides great durability as it resists scratches sunlight and even heavy wear and tear.
Popular floating floor options.
If your remodeling project or new construction calls for the look and feel of traditional hardwoods then your three main flooring options will be laminate hardwood and engineered wood floors.
Cheaper versions have 1 4 inch cores and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions.
Both materials mimic a natural wood floor beautifully but if you re all about natural beauty you might prefer the solid wood top of an engineered.
Engineered hardwood debate right there.
Explore which is better for kitchens basements based on cost resale value durability and more.
Laminate runs 1 to 7 per square foot depending on the quality.
There are few other flooring varieties that will last as long as properly cared for engineered wood floors and you can enjoy that same durability with floating wood floors when they are installed properly.
For many folks that ends the laminate vs.
Cost of laminate vs.
Hardwood flooring with proper care hardwood flooring is a better long term investment than laminate flooring but hardwood s upfront costs may deter homeowners.
The winner of engineered hardwood vs.
Laminate flooring really depends.
Let s explore the differences between laminate and hardwood floors.
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.
Due to its synthetic blend laminate is more affordable than more premium natural options such as wood ceramic tile or stone.
Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood.
Homeadvisor s flooring guide explains the differences between laminate and engineered hardwood and reviews the pros and cons of each.
Even so the cost of hardwood varies drastically with some woods oak maple american cherry being fairly affordable and others exotic wood species.