What is the difference between hardwood and laminate wood

Although some types of high quality laminate floors might look like real wood, there are far more differences between these products than what initially meets the eye. In terms of aesthetics, the difference between hardwood and laminate floors is glaringly obvious. Real wood is characterized by tremendous texture variation of the wood grain, which is why no two planks of hardwood flooring, whether solid or engineered, appear exactly alike.

In laminate flooring, pre-designed patterns that imitate the look of wood texture, are imprinted onto the floor surface. For this reason, identical patterns are repeated on average every 5 boards. Although in appearance some high quality laminate floors may look like real wood, repetition is unavoidable, as uniqueness of an authentic wood is impossible to replicate.

Durability of any flooring surface largely depends on intensity of foot traffic, as well as adherence to manufacturer recommendations in regards to care and maintenance of the floor. Outer layer of most laminate floors is manufactured by bounding melamine resins and aluminum oxide at high heat and extreme pressure. The resulting floor surface is often harder than that of natural wood. Most laminate floor surfaces are highly resistant to moisture damage, staining and fading.

In fact, many reputable laminate flooring manufacturers offer 10 to 25 year warranties on finish. Durability of an authentic hardwood floor varies depending on finish, manufacturer and maintenance practices. Natural wood is softer than a pressurized composite surface, therefore, it can dent more easily. Solid or engineered hardwood floors can be refinished, renewed and repaired fairly easily, often without the need to replace planks or even the entire floor, as is the case with damaged laminate flooring.

For example, in the event that an oiled wood floor plank is damaged, it can be fixed by manually sanding down the affected area, then simply applying more stain and oil.

With laminate flooring, simple DIY spot repairs are not possible. On some types of hardwood floors, such as those with wire brushed and oiled finishes, minor surface dents and scratches seamlessly blend in with the existing look, emphasizing the unique appearance and depth of wood texture. Once scratched or chipped, laminate flooring surfaces will show the damage. Although engineered hardwood floors have superior dimensional stability, most wood floor manufacturers do not recommend installing them in bathrooms or kitchens — areas, where temperature and humidity can fluctuate significantly.

In warm and humid climates, such as Florida, hardwood flooring that is multilayer or engineered is preferable over solid. Laminate floors have high resistance to moisture and are often used for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.

Laminate flooring does not repair easily. If laminate flooring was installed using glue-down method, floor repair becomes very difficult. Laminate cannot be sanded or refinished. Even if damaged planks are removed and replaced, there is high probability that the new pieces will not properly match the rest of the floor due to differences in sunlight exposure, age and wear levels. Whether solid or engineered, hardwood flooring is significantly easier to repair than laminate.

The main differences between engineered hardwood and solid hardwood lie in their construction and their makeup. Solid hardwood is a single piece of hardwood cut into a plank. No other materials and no layering it with any other pieces. And when it comes to the most durable wood flooring , engineered often takes the cake. But remember: even the best engineered wood flooring can be scratched and dented. A strong veneer can do wonders in reducing that, but things happen!

Did you know that engineered hardwood is a top eco-friendly flooring choice? Because its core layers are constructed from fast-growing plywood, slow-growing hardwood trees like oak and hickory are used more sparingly.

Compare this to all the trees that go into creating solid hardwood flooring, and the consequences are pretty undeniable for our ecosystem. Engineered hardwood is the more sustainable wood flooring choice. Unlike solid hardwood, engineered hardwood can stand up to big changes in temperature and humidity.

That means you can put it over concrete subflooring, in below-grade rooms, and even in kitchens and half baths. Ease of installation is one of the greatest perks with engineered hardwood. One of the main reasons for this is that you can install many of the best engineered wood floors as floating floors. These just click together into place over the subfloor below them. Plus, super-tough hardwoods can be tough to cut and shape in order to fit those little nooks and crannies.

It used to be that if you wanted wide-plank wood flooring , you had to get a softwood floor like Douglas fir flooring or pine flooring. Now, you can get super wide plank sizes in all types of wood—courtesy of almost all the best engineered wood flooring brands.

However: when it comes to more expensive domestic woods like hickory or exotic woods like ebony flooring , engineered products are going to be more affordable—because they use less of that precious, expensive wood than solid planks do!

Engineered wood is clearly fantastic, but it does have some downsides. Translation: you do not want to use engineered wood as mudroom flooring. Most types of tile have the edge here since they are waterproof, and you can even buy wood-look tile that resembles hardwood.

Solid hardwood can be sanded down and refinished an unlimited number of times. Engineered hardwood is limited by the thickness of its veneer layer.

Most engineered hardwood can only be refinished a small handful of times, if at all. The same is true for wood alternatives like bamboo and hemp flooring. Read up on some engineered bamboo pros and cons for more info on that. So refinishing is really just an issue with finished-on-site wood floors. They share very little in common outside of appearance. Comparing engineered hardwood vs.

Unlike engineered hardwood, laminate is not actual wood. It was created back in the s by Pergo, who still makes it.

And when we say durable, we mean durable. When it comes to scratch-resistance, laminate easily beats even the best bamboo flooring which is one of the hardest floors around. The best types of vinyl flooring are super durable and can mimic the look and feel of real hardwood, but they are not the same type of flooring as laminate.

Again: similar look, entirely different material. When we compare engineered hardwood vs. If you look at the differences between linoleum vs. When we compare the installation methods of engineered hardwood vs. For example, both products can be glued, nailed, or stapled to the subfloor. Additionally, both products can be used as floating floors. We talked about this a little before, but what is a floating floor , exactly? Just remember: one of the disadvantages of floating floors is that, if not installed properly, they can allow water to seep underneath.

A little wipe here, a little sweep there and ta-da! Your floor is clean! The wear layer of the laminate planks makes cleaning a breeze. Like engineered wood, laminate resists changes in humidity and temperature. Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood are sometimes confused with each other because they can look similar. However, despite similar appearances, there are key differences between them. Most importantly, engineered wood contains a top layer of solid wood while laminate uses a photographic layer coated with a wear layer to achieve the wood-look surface.

Part wood floor, part man-made materials, engineered wood flooring offers the best of both worlds. The real wood veneer layer offers the style and unique look of naturally occurring planks. Engineered wood features a thin veneer top layer of solid wood. The natural top layer makes engineered wood just as durable as traditional hardwood and provides the same classic, timeless look.

These layers are oriented perpendicular to each other, which creates a strong lattice structure in the core. The stability and durability of the plank come from this lattice. A mix of wax and adhesive holds this all together, which provides some water-resistance compared to solid wood.

Engineered wood consists either of latticed layers of plywood or from a single dense layer of HDF. The wood veneer can be almost any wood species you want, usually an old-growth wood like oak or hickory. Veneer layers usually show the real character of the wood with natural splits and knots. Core layer: Plywood and HDF cores offer some moisture resistance, especially if mixed with wax and other water-repellent materials.

If you have a plywood core, the plywood layers are oriented to create a lattice structure, which provides durability and stability. Backing: This is the foundation of your floor. No problem! Engineered wood boats a tongue and groove installation system — you can either loose lay or installed it with glue. Versatility: Engineered wood can be installed on all levels, making the possibilities endless. Options: Engineered hardwood comes in hand-scraped, wirebrushed, smooth and distressed surfaces, giving you the option of adding a bit of special touch to the product and complementing your decor.

Shop Engineered Hardwood Flooring. Cannot always be refinished: Unlike solid hardwood which can be refinished, engineered wood has a thin wood veneer on top. Attempting to refinish the engineered wood could potentially damage the product.

For some only solid hardwood will do, but for many, the pros of an engineered wood floor often tip the scales. You can make your laminate floor more water-resistant by installing underlayment and a vapor barrier as well as using the glue-down installation method.

Cost: Engineered hardwood is more of an investment. Since the top veneer is real hardwood, it is completely unique to each plank with real knots and unique grain with no pattern repeats like some laminates.

Since engineered wood looks, feels, and walks like a solid hardwood, it has a premium price compared to a laminate floor. Solid Hardwood. A low-cost alternative to natural wood, laminate is a durable floor that comes with a highly realistic image layer that mimics wood planks or other materials like stone or even metal.