Laminate Vs Hard Wood Floors?

Question

I am trying to decide on wether i should have install laminate floors in my house or hardwood. Thus far, i was planning on having either one install in the froot room area and the hallway areas of my house.But i am clueless as to the real cost and benefits. Obviously i want something very nice and not complicated to maintain

Answer 1

The advantage of laminates vs hardwood floors... the laminate flooring comes in a wide variety of styles, not only with wood veneers, but also with HPL (High Pressure Laminates -- essentially, the same stuff most countertops are made out of). The laminate flooring is normally less expensive to install initially, and faster. You can even purchase some types that snap together, and do not need nails or glue. When you say "laminate" most people think of the 'plastic' topped flooring that is made of the same stuff that your countertop is... but technically... anything flooring product that is made in layers glued together is a 'laminated' product.

Now, think of flooring products in this kind of range...
1) HPL laminates (some with snap together feature) - low on initial cost, wide variety, installs quickly, can be immediately walked on. Usually about 1/4 to 3/8ths of an inch thick. This can easily be tackled by even the beginner Do-it-Yourself'ers.
2) Wood laminates - prefinished - like the HPL, this comes with a wide variety of pre-finished surfaces...they cost a bit more than the HPL (plastic), but they are 'real wood'. Most of these 'pre-finished' floors tho, are made up of a thin layer of veneer, on top of a plywood type backer. This product comes in a wide variety of styles and lengths. This product costs more than the HPL variety of flooring, but you have the trade-off of it being actual wood. You can do minimal repairs to it, like you would a piece of furniture. (Usually about 3/8ths of an inch thick, tho the surface layer can be only 1/32" to 1/16") This type can also be done by DIY'ers.
3) Wood Laminates - unfinished - Now you're reaching the upper end of the initial cost for installation. This type of flooring is made of oak most commonly, but it can also be found in other species. Again, this is made like small pieces of plywood... but the top layer, is much thicker than any of the product Ive mentioned so far. This gives you the ability to treat it like an actual 'solid wood' floor, to some extent. Being made like plywood, it is very stable, and not prone to warping and cupping, like solid wood. You can stain it, literally any color you want, and it is handy for doing multicolored, custom designs. This product has to be glued or nailed down, thus it takes a bit longer to install... and... it has to be finished... that is, you need to do some minimal sanding, apply the color of your choice, and the top coats (the protective layer, often shiny, but can also be a 'satin' finish). Finishing can take a bit of work.... from filling in any gaps, sanding, allowing the finishes to dry, and cure... this can all take several days to complete, as you must wait for one layer to dry, before you can start another. So -- this kind of flooring costs more to put down, and takes longer, but lasts much longer than HPL flooring, and can be sanded later, in the event of serious dents, scratches and gouges, much like a solid wood floor. Overall its a higher initial cost, takes longer to install... but it lasts much much much longer, than the 'plastic' or 'wood veneer' versions of flooring. (This is usually about 5/8ths to 3/4 of an inch thick, with the surface layer being about 3/16ths to 1/4 of an inch, depending on brand/variety) This requires a bit more skill and labor... some folks could tackle installing this kind of floor, most would want to hire a contractor.
4) Now - at the top end of the list, is what is called Solid wood flooring. This is, literallly, solid boards, of the species of your choice. This comes in a wide variety of lengths, widths, and so on... and... if you cannot find what you want on the market, you can always custom order it. There are some things to consider when dealing with 'natural' woods... you may run into warping, cupping, twisting, etc... which means you may lose part of your stock. You can, of course, make intricate designs with it, staining it any color you want, and again, apply any kind of 'top coat', or protective layer, you want. You also have the ability to sand and refinish the floor, many many times over a long period of years. This kind of floor could last, literally a hundred years or longer, with care. Solid wood can cost quite a bit more initially... wood is not cheap anymore....especially high grades of wood, valued for their look. Solid wood can take a bit longer than unfinished wood laminates to install, because you have to sort out the cupped, warped, and twisted pieces... or perhaps pieces with flaws in them. I should mention also that there are a very few sources of pre-finished, solid wood flooring, which does speed up the installation process, while still giving you the long lasting wear, of a solid wood floor.
Some folks think that solid wood floors take more 'maintenance' than the newer HPL (plastic) flooring... this isnt true... with a good protective layer of polyurethane top coat, it is just as easy to clean, as the cheaper products. And, you have the ability to resurface it many many times, as I mentioned, over a long span of years. The fact that it is 'solid wood' is a 'luxury' tag, on your home too... increasing it's value. Solid wood flooring comes in 3/4 to 7/8 of an inch thickness... and it's the same wood all the way thru... meaning you could, if necessary, over many years sand a half inch off it. You can custom order even thicker pieces if you wish. This needs a professional to install, to avoid the many pitfalls an inexperienced wood worker would be prone too.


Oh, one more note -- walking on the 'laminated' flooring tends to sound like hollow taps.... whereas, solid wood floors have a much deeper sound to them, when walking on them... literally, they sound more solid. This may be something many people would not notice, but some would be very irritated by it, lol.


I would recommend the following:

If the home you are going to put this flooring in, is only temporary (you plan on selling it or moving out within a few years) then I would go with a low cost initial investment HPL.

If you want an actual wood surface, then go with a wood veneer laminated product.

If however, you intend to sell this home with the hopes of increasing it's value, or you plan on living in it for a long time... you should consider the more expensive, and longer installation time, of unfinished wood laminates, with a thicker top layer (usually 3/16ths to 1/4 inch. This has the benefit of allowing you to do some major refinishing in the future, it is almost as durable as 'solid wood', and is more stable.

If I really wanted to impress folks tho, or put in a floor that would last my whole life... I would go with solid wood flooring.... it would cost more to put down, and take longer.... but it would last long past my own lifetime. I'd also have the ability to get practically any kind of wood I wanted.

HPL floors are intended to be 'disposable', and you would replace them, rather than repair them, at a future date. Wood laminated flooring gives you some nice 'middle of the road' features, and are more cost effective when comparing prices over a period of years. But solid wood flooring has the longest lasting value, and adds value to the home.

Hope this helped... Good Luck!

Answer 2

Laminate is less expensive and looks quite good, in the short run. Determine your budget and stretch for the hardwood if you can. When you have hardwood floors finished, be sure of your flooring contractor. What separates a good hardwood floor job from a bad one is not just the quality of the installation, but the finish. Polyurethane is a generic term that covers a wide range of products. That is why you can go into a hardware or paint store and find such a wide range of price levels. Even a company like Minwax makes several grades. Many hardwood floor finishers in this area buy stuff that only costs about $30 for a 5 gallon bucket. Obviously, their jobs don't wear well. One indication that the hardwood finisher is using really thin poly is drying time. The real thin stuff dries faster, allowing more coats in a day.

Answer 3

I put in my house a 5/16 hardwood made by Bruce Hardwood. It is a pre-finished product. It goes down really quick. not as fast as Laminate. I have a Retriever and there are some scratches. The varnish isn't as durable as what i expected. I refinished another room that the floor is 46 years old and applied a high-gloss finish. The high gloss has more durability than a gloss. there are no dog scratches on the high gloss. The hardwood can be replaced and or repaired a lot easier than laminate. I have installed both types, and have repaired both types. I will refinish the 5/16 this fall after 5 years of 2 kids and the dog.

Answer 4

There are advantages to both, but it depends on a lot of factors. The most important factors have to do with humidity levels, foot traffic and general durablity, whether you want to install them yourself or hire someone, and (of course) price per square foot.

Laminate flooring can be installed in areas that are not necessarily environmentally controlled, unlike hardwood which expands and contracts to a much greater degree according to moisture levels and temperature. But hardwood can add structural strength in a way that laminate cannot. If you do decide to go with hardwood, consider which species to go with - some are harder and more dent-resistant than others (like maple), and others are easier to saw and nail (like American black cherry). For laminate flooring, this is less of a problem (no nails required, for one thing), although you'll want to make sure that the AC rating on the laminate you choose is appropriate to the area where you want to lay it down. A safe AC rating is AC3 which has been rated as appropriate for general residential use.

You might also consider the issue of pricing - generally, laminate is less expensive and can be installed by the average DIYer. But once again, hardwood adds strength and a greater value to the property once it's in, which is an added benefit and value for the long-term. For hardwood, it is generally a good idea to hire someone to install it, if you've got little or no experience with it. Because you'd generally be paying more per square foot, you want to minimize any errors. In short, If you're primarily looking for the look of wood and don't wish to worry too much about the install, then laminate may be the answer. These days, laminate floors are virtually indistinguishable from real hardwood to the untrained eye. But again, as a long-term added value to your property, hardwood may be the greater return, both for structural benefit and financial benefit. But remember, hardwood requires an environment that is strictly controlled as it is an entirely natural material.

Answer 5

Hardwood flooring is made from natural, durable woods, such as oak, maple, or hickory, that can last a long time when maintained properly. Laminate flooring, which is made of a synthetic fiberboard material and has a laminate finish, is much cheaper than hardwood but will not last as long. This does not mean laminate flooring is a particularly inferior choice, however, as, in some cases, it can be more resistant to stains, scratches, moisture, and even general wear and tear. Much comes down to upkeep and quality materials.

Answer 6

Laminate is more cost effective in the short term, but will not stand the test of time. If it gets wet, you will have to replace it. The wear layer is very thin and is easily damaged. Once you have damaged the surface you will be unable to repair it like you would with a hardwood floor. I spent several years in the flooring industry, and the laminates were nothing but a heartache. Go with a real wood floor, it will be well worth the investment.

Answer 7

I have also used both in many homes and in the past few years, especially in homes where both were used I am told over and over that the laminate is so much easier to keep clean and always looks nicer. My other feeling on the subject is yes the hardwood will probably last longer but I may want to change flooring in a few years and the laminate is easy to change.

Answer 8

Laminate floors show foot prints and streaks easily> a pain in the neck. Wood floors more expensive, but they have THE LOOK. Looks richer, and adds flavor to your interior. Definitely wood.

Answer 9

Personally I have installed both types of flooring...when it comes to durability and costs laminate flooring wins....It has only one down-side...scratches easily.....if you don't plan on sliding things around then laminate is the way to go.

This website should help you decide

http://www.laminate-flooring-info.ws/wood-flooring/hardwood-flooring-cost.htm

Good luck With Your New Flooring:)

Answer 10

When you use a good, thick hardwood you can have it sanded and refinished numerous times during the life of your home. Always nice when selling for that brand new floor look too!

Answer 11

An easy way to charm and value to your home with a cost effective laminate floor from our wide range of colours and finishes!!!

To learn more-> www.quoteyourfloor.co.uk/laminate.html