Looking to replace your floors but you’re not yet 100% sure what’s the best material to choose? Well, both engineered hardwood and laminate floors have great benefits, but they also come with several downsides that will impact the functionality of your space.
Be it a bathroom, a kitchen, a bedroom, or flooring in the entire home, choosing between engineered hardwood flooring and laminate needs to be carefully put into different perspectives to make sure you’re calling the right shot.
In this guide, we’ll break down the engineered hardwood vs laminate flooring debate, and we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each of these flooring materials.
Let’s begin!
What Are Engineered Hardwood Floors
Engineered hardwood floors are made of a thin layer of real hardwood on top of a plywood or MDF base. Engineered flooring is typically between 3/8” to 3/4” thick, whereas solid hardwood is 1/2” to 3/4“ thick.
Let’s see the pros and cons of an engineered hardwood floor.
Benefits Of Engineered Hardwood Floors
- Engineered hardwood floors can be installed over almost any surface, including, but not limited to, concrete, vinyl, and tile.
- Engineered wood floors are also more moisture-resistant than solid hardwoods, making them a better choice for spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms.
- Engineered hardwood typically lasts between 20 and 30 years.
- Engineered hardwood is typically less expensive than hardwood flooring as ranges in price from about $2.50 to $10 per square foot, while hardwood typically averages about $4 to $12 per square foot.
- It is constructed with multi-layers of wood; each layer is positioned in a different direction. This construction prevents the engineered hardwood from warping and bowing the way a hardwood floor might be in moist areas.
- A hardwood veneer gives the natural wood beauty & look to the engineered floor just as a solid hardwood floor does.
Disadvantages Of An Engineered Wood Floor
- The disadvantage of engineered hardwood floors is that they are not as durable as solid hardwoods and can scratch and dent more easily.
- They can also be more expensive than laminate floors.
- Engineered wood flooring fades if exposed to sunlight.
- If there is too much moisture present, engineered hardwood planks will swell. When you install swelled-up hardwood planks, they will eventually dry out and shrink, creating gaps and cracks in the floor.
- Solid wood can still rot or developed mold and mildew
What Is Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a synthetic flooring product made of four layers: a bottom layer of high-density fiberboard (HDF), a middle layer of melamine resin, a top layer of printing paper, and a clear or colored protective coating. Laminate flooring is designed to look like hardwood or stone, but it is not as strong as a hardwood.
Advantages Of Laminate Flooring
- Laminate flooring is made harder and more durable by an external layer as well as a resin coating. In fact, laminate floors are stronger, scratch-resistant, impact-resistant, and last much longer than hardwood, vinyl, or carpet.
- Laminate flooring is highly resistant to staining, fading, and moisture damage. Most laminate flooring manufacturers offer comprehensive warranty protection against these issues.
- Laminate is superior to other surfaces when it comes to resisting stains and moisture. Spills and other messes are easy to clean up, and the surface doesn't require waxes or varnishes.
- Laminate flooring is generally less expensive than other hard surface floors.
- You can find the perfect flooring to fit the mood and style of your room by choosing from a variety of colors and patterns.
- Installing laminate planks is fairly easy and quick
Disadvantages Of Laminate Flooring
- You can not sand laminate floors as it will wear down the surface and eventually damage the boards.
- Because laminate flooring is not moisture-resistant, it should be avoided in rooms where water is present, such as bathrooms or kitchens.
- Laminate flooring is not authentic wood. It may look and feel like real hardwood, but in the end, it does not increase the resale value of your home.
- Improper installation of laminate can also lead to problems. Common problems are buckling, tapping damage, and improper acclimatization.
Cost Of Laminate Vs Cost Of Engineered Hardwood
The cost of laminate flooring varies from $2.70 to $11 per square foot, depending on the quality. Installation and labor cost about $4 to $8 per square foot, which also includes underlayment for the flooring. These prices will differ based on location too.
Wood flooring often ranges between $3 and $15 per square foot (solid or engineered) for domestic wood species, while exotic hardwood species can cost more.
The national average cost to install wood floors (solid or engineered) is around $4500 overall. The typical cost ranges between $2,499 and $6,747.
Conclusion
So, which flooring material are you going to choose?
It’s important to note that both of these options are not the best for damp spaces like bathrooms or laundry rooms. Even in kitchens, wood floors and laminate floors can’t withstand large liquid spills and will need to be thoroughly cleaned afterward.
For a bedroom, a living room, or even a basement, these are great options that’ll improve the aesthetics and functionality of your room.
Here at Randy Stewart Hardwood Flooring, we offer professional hardwood floor installation and restoration in Summerville, Charleston, and surrounding areas. We’re local flooring experts certified by the NWFA, so you’ll get the highest standards in the flooring industry.
Call us today at (843) 900-4880 and let’s discuss your upcoming project, or request your free quote and let’s get started on your project!