Engineered Wood Flooring Vs Laminate

Engineered wood contains a slice of natural wood on top while laminate uses a photographic layer that is coated with a protective layer.

Engineered wood flooring vs laminate. Laminate runs 1 to 7 per square foot depending on the quality. The winner of engineered hardwood vs. However it s cheaper than solid wood and it has a significantly longer life expectancy than laminate. Laminate is essentially a rigid synthetic floor that s also known as composite pergo or floating wood tile.

Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood. See how each type of flooring is made here laminate and engineered hardwoods. Neither laminate nor solid hardwood flooring is ideal flooring materials for truly wet locations but laminate is somewhat better for humid locations such as installation against concrete slabs. Engineered hardwood debate right there.

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 hardwood floor. In a direct comparison between engineered hardwood and laminate flooring engineered hardwood is the clear winner. The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface but structurally they are very similar to a laminate. If it develops scratches or other damage you can repair the wood too.

Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. On the whole a good laminate floor will be more durable than its engineered wood counterpart. While solid hardwood floors are ideal for the diehard wood lovers engineered hardwood is a greener option and laminate is a cheaper one. Both are strong durable floors that are less expensive than natural wood but laminate flooring typically costs less.

Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood floors are very similar and often get confused but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors. Laminate flooring really depends. Engineered hardwood is a thicker flooring and is typically nailed or glued down so it does not have the problem with flexing. It can however feel a little harder underfoot since it is usually not installed with the same foam underlayment used with laminate flooring.

Yes engineered wood is more expensive than laminate. If you are having trouble deciding be sure to read our laminate flooring project guide or any of our flooring cost estimators. Cheaper versions have 1 4 inch cores and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions. For many folks that ends the laminate vs.

Laminate flooring also has come advantage when it comes to heat resistance. Engineered wood flooring lasts between 20 100 years if properly maintained whereas laminate needs to be replaced after 10 20 years. Which one will you go with.