Hardwood flooring vs. laminate flooring, which is better? Both types of flooring have pros and cons. Hardwood is the real deal. It is often found in older homes and can add quite a bit of value to any home. Hardwood floors come in many different styles and textures. You have many different choices of wood and finishes. Hardwood is long lasting, meaning it can be repaired, sanded down and refinished, often many times before it would need to be fully replaced. The biggest con to hardwood floors is the price. Installing new hardwood floors in a home is expensive. The materials and labor will cost more than laminate floors. If you install in a high traffic area, harwood can be scratched easily. If the same spot is hit by a lot of direct sunlight, they can discolor over time. If water is leaking or constantly being spilled, the harwood will be damaged from the moisture.
Laminate flooring is basically imitation hardwood. That may sound bad, but laminate flooring has many pros, the number one being it is far less expensive than hardwood. Materials and labor to install a new laminate floor are significantly lower than harwood. Laminate flooring is easily maintained and easily cleaned. Laminate is not easily scratched and can withstand sun and water. However, if a laminate floor does need to be repaired it can be tricky, oftentimes the whole floor will need to be replaced. Laminate flooring comes in many colors and styles and varying price tags. Cheaper laminate will not look like hardwood, and will certainly not last as long. However, it can be a smart alternative depending on where you install it and it is much easier on the budget.
Choosing floors for your home is not easy, it is important to consider budget and lifestyle. If you decide to go with hardwood floors the added value and longevity of the floors outweigh the negatives. If laminate is your choice, your budget will be happy and cleaning will be a breeze. Whatever your choice, we just want to wish you, happy shopping!