Pin It

Examining Laminate Flooring And Engineered Wood Flooring

InfoGerbil | Jan 8, 2010 |

0 Comments | Rating: 0

Though both products have the term "wood flooring" in their name, the similarities end there. Unfortunately, this doesn't keep people from confusing the two of them. Let's examine laminate flooring as well as engineered wood flooring, including the differences and similarities, so that you can decide which one will be the best for your situation. When shopping, be extra careful, as many folks tend to call both products by the same name, be it laminate floor or engineered floor.

What Is Laminate Flooring?

There's no solid wood at all in wood laminate flooring. It's actually an extremely high def picture which is covered in rock hard resin, then laid on a wood-chip mixture. Although the end result looks quite realistic, the only wood involved is the composite base. Regardless, there are many people who truly cannot tell the difference unless they physically get down on hands and knees to look.

What Is Engineered Wood Flooring?

Engineered wood flooring actually is made of wood. It's not at all like hard wood flooring, though. The very topmost layer of an engineered floor is the real wood that it looks to be. However, since that layer is extremely thin, it can't be sanded to the same degree as a hardwood floor. Because of this, the deeper scratches, scuffs, and dents, will often require planks to be replaced, causing an engineered wood floor to be considered fragile in comparison to a true hardwood floor.

Laminate Floors Are Better For Some People

Laminate floors are generally a lot cheaper than engineered wood floors, largely due to the lack of real wood used. In high traffic areas where damage is unavoidable, replacement costs should also be considered. Although there is engineered wood flooring that is designed to handle high traffic areas, the price often makes it unattainable, even if it would be cheaper in the long run. A laminated floor is also far less likely to be scratched in the first place. In situations with children and pets, an engineered wood floor would likely be more trouble than it was worth. Laminate flooring installation is also very easy, as is maintenance.

When Is An Engineered Wood Floor Better Than A Laminate Floor?

Engineered wood floors definitely feel more solid than the typical laminated floor. Some people dislike the sound, which is a bit hollow, that comes from a laminate floor. As opposed to laminate wood floors, an engineered wood floor can actually be sanded, though only one or two times. Because of this, some deeper scratches that cannot be fixed can instead be sanded, but only if they are not too deep. In situation where engineered wood floors are optimal, they'll last long, and also look new longer than your typical laminate floor.