The difference between these two types of floors can be confusing at first which is why we put together a simple guide that compares hardwood against laminate highlighting the pros and cons of each floor type in terms of appearance durability longevity ease of maintenance and repair and.
Difference between real wood laminate flooring.
Solid wood flooring comes in long planks usually made of a hardwood species.
Laminate and engineered versus hardwood or vinyl.
When it comes to flooring certain flooring types can be difficult to tell apart.
Laminate flooring and engineered wood flooring are two obvious choices if you want a flooring that looks like solid hardwood but at a more affordable price.
When investing in a new floor many homeowners are faced with a choice between hardwood and laminate.
The choice between real wood or laminate can be easy as long as you know the facts about both.
Both resemble true hardwood but each comes with its own benefits and disadvantages.
The main difference between hardwood flooring and laminate flooring is that hardwood flooring is made from real wood and laminate flooring has a picture of wood on the surface.
In comparison real hardwood flooring costs an average 5 to 10 per square foot with installation running an additional 4 to 8 per square foot.
If you have your heart set on having a wood or faux wood floor you have four choices.
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.
Solid wood flooring vs.
Laminate and wood flooring are two such types of similar looking flooring with very different structures.
Engineered wood flooring.
If you re seeking an alternative to hardwood but laminate doesn t sound like the material for you consider engineered wood or luxury vinyl.
Made of synthetic layers bonded together through a lamination process.
Laminate engineered wood solid hardwood and vinyl.
Photo by mary cook pros of wood look tile.
It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed.
Both floor coverings were developed as economical and versatile alternatives to that mainstay of flooring material solid hardwood flooring.
Vinyl flooring is a 100 percent synthetic material.
It is always nailed down to the subfloor a process that requires some skill.
More rigid than luxury vinyl aka non resilient.