Considering Laminate Wood Flooring And Engineered Wooden Floors

The only real similarities between engineered wood flooring and laminate wood flooring is those last two words in their titles. People still confuse them, though. We'll take a look at both the similarities and differences between them to help you figure out which will work best for you. However, you will still have to be careful since a lot of people often call both the engineered and laminate floor the same thing, and it can be hard to tell which one they are talking about.

What Laminated Flooring Is And What It's Not

Laminate flooring is not, in any way, made with solid wood of any kind. Instead, it is actually a high definition picture of wood that is covered with a rock-hard resin, usually sitting atop a composite made of wood-chips. Those wood chips are really the only wood involved in the product, despite what it may look like to the untrained eye. In fact, some people have to get down on hands and knees to be able to tell the difference between an engineered wood floor, and a laminate wood floor.

Defining Engineered Wood Flooring

Wood is the primary component in engineered wood flooring. However, it's still very different from what is generally referred to as hard wood flooring. Only the top layer of engineered flooring is what it seems to be: real wood. This top layer is quite thin, and can only be sanded a few times, nothing like hardwood floors. Due to this limitation, any really deep dents, scratches, and scuffs require replacement of planks, leading most to feel that engineered wood flooring is not nearly as tough as true hardwood.

When Is A Laminate Floor Better Than An Engineered Wood Floor?

Laminate floors are generally a lot cheaper than engineered wood floors, largely due to the lack of real wood used. In high traffic areas where damage is unavoidable, replacement costs should also be considered. Although there is engineered wood flooring that is designed to handle high traffic areas, the price often makes it unattainable, even if it would be cheaper in the long run. A laminated floor is also far less likely to be scratched in the first place. In situations with children and pets, an engineered wood floor would likely be more trouble than it was worth. Laminate flooring installation is also very easy, as is maintenance.

Engineered Floors Are Better For Others

An engineered wood floor gives a much more solid feel than a wood laminate floor. Many people complain about the hollow sound that often comes from laminate flooring. Unlike laminated floors, engineered wood floors can be sanded, if only a few times. This means that deep scratches that can't be repaired can be sanded away. In conditions where an engineered wood floor is optimal, it will also last and look new for longer than a laminate floor.