How to Choose Between Hardwood or Laminate Flooring
There are numerous reasons why people often find it challenging to make a final flooring choice. There is such a vast selection of flooring types available, and people are often unsure of exactly what the result will be. Let’s not forget the important role budget plays in this final decision. People tend to feel a little overwhelmed with all these options. Two of the most popular choices for flooring are hardwood and laminate flooring. This article is intended to help you choose which flooring option is best suited to your needs and budget.
Which Flooring Type Looks the Best?
To answer this question, there is no doubt, hardwood flooring is the clear winner. Its natural beauty and classic look has a distinct advantage over laminate. Apart from its aesthetic value, natural hardwood flooring also exudes a certain class that laminate simply cannot replicate. Having said this, some laminate flooring replicates the appearance of hardwood flooring better than others, when not looking too closely.
Without close inspection of this type of laminate it may be easy for the untrained eye to assume that the flooring is indeed made of hardwood. For a more authentic and natural appearance, modern laminate flooring uses randomly assigned patterns. For most people a hardwood flooring installation is preferred over any other type of flooring installation. A laminate floor can fool some but not most people.
Which Flooring Type Is the Easiest to Maintain?
In recent years, hardwood flooring is easier to care for than ever before. Your hardwood floor can be swept and vacuumed for a quick cleaning solution. For when you want to clean your floor with more care, you can simply use an appropriate floor cleaner and a damp mop. The advantage of a more recent hardwood floor installation is that a polyurethane varnish is typically used to seal the floors, eliminating the need for waxing and polishing. Only after many years of wear and tear your floor may benefit from a wood floor refinishing job.
A broom or vacuum is also used to clean a laminate floor, but water must be used with some caution. The right floor cleaner and a damp mop works well, however take note to never use a steam cleaner. The heat of a steam cleaner can melt the adhesive holding the laminate down. Additionally, both flooring options do not fare well with too much moisture. The option of refinishing is not possible with a laminate floor.
Which Flooring Type Lasts the Longest?
Hardwood flooring contractors will tell you that hardwood is the most durable. When properly cared for a hardwood floor can last a century. Hardwood floor refinishing and hardwood floor repair work fall within this category of caring for your floor. Considering its potential longevity, it is well worth the effort.
By comparison, looking at a laminate floor’s lifespan, you can expect it to last around 15-25 years. Hardwood flooring is therefore the best choice if you want to invest in a flooring solution that will last a lifetime and beyond.
Consult The Specialists
Laminate flooring is a good solution for many homes, but considering the aforementioned points raised, hardwood flooring is clearly the better choice. Get in touch with Peterson Flooring where our experts can help you choose the right flooring for your home. We know flooring and our experience will help you with any and all flooring requirements you may have.