Hardwood floors typically last much longer than laminate, though they do need occasional refinishing. It's also usually easier to repair a hardwood floor, often with some sanding and staining, whereas damaged laminate might need to be replaced altogether.
Not 100% Moisture Proof:
Although laminate flooring is moisture resistant, it is not moisture-proof. A major spill or excessive water exposure could seriously damage your floor. This can lead to warping and even the need to replace flooring planks or a complete floor re-install.
Laminates last longer, install easier, are more eco-friendly are absolutely gorgeous and, with their embossed grain or hand scraped finishes, impossible to tell apart from hardwoods. And they're still usually much less expensive than hardwoods.
Hardwood floors can last much longer than laminate, which is typically limited to a lifespan of between 15 and 25 years. That said, hardwood flooring will usually show wear and tear more much quickly than laminate due to its susceptibility to scratches, dents, and discolorations.
“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Enrique de Paz, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.
Vinyl, laminate and engineered wood are extremely easy to care for. Materials that need to be sealed, like stone and linoleum, are much higher maintenance. ✔️ Health and sustainability: Some floors are better for you and for the planet. As a rule, the fewer synthetic materials they contain, the better.
Hardwood Flooring
what's better than hardwood flooring? It's beautiful, it's durable, and it never goes out of style. Not to mention all of your friends, family, and neighbors aspire to have it, so you'll have your entire network envying your home's flooring design.
Hardwood flooring is better for appearance, lifespan and resale value. Laminate flooring is better for cost, ease of installation and comfort. Overall, hardwood flooring is considered to be better than laminate flooring since it is a complete floor material, not simply a floor covering.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each, and the value they add also varies. A solid hardwood floor will add more value to your home than a laminate floor in most cases, but that's not the whole story.
You should sweep and mop them regularly. Use a specialty mop to clean them without excess liquid. Though laminate floors are water resistant, if they are soaked in water, they can be damaged. The best way to clean laminate floors is to use products especially made for them.
You guessed it: Go for laminate. You can even install it over existing hardwood floors that you just don't have the time or energy to refinish — no judgment here! Typically, laminate floors come completely finished, and they are installed following a simple tongue and groove system.
Both hardwood and laminate have their own benefits and drawbacks. Hardwood floors can be scratched easier than laminate floors; however scratches are much easier to fix with real hardwood flooring.
Affordability. For homeowners who want durable and attractive flooring, laminate flooring is a great and affordable option. The cost of laminate flooring varies depending on factors like the quality of the material, the brand and the location. It is also significantly less expensive than hardwood flooring.
While laminate flooring has many strong points, its most significant downside is its poor resistence to water. Laminate flooring can tolerate some water on top surface but it should not be allowed to pool and remain for long. Otherwise, the water may seep below and affect the sensitive core layer.
Flooring area and shape
For instance, it would cost an average of $600 to $1,400 to add laminate floors to a 100-square-foot room, $3,000 to $7,000 for a 500-square-foot room, and $6,000 to $14,000 for a 1,000-square-foot room.
While costs are similar, the value of premium vinyl far exceeds that of laminate based on quality and value. Unlike laminate, premium vinyl is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, and is easy to install and maintain. Laminate is restricted to light traffic and low moisture applications.
Greige and white oak are two of the most popular choices for hardwood flooring when it comes to house resale. They provide timeless elegance and neutrality, making them ideal for any home.
Laminate flooring is often considered to have a lower resale value than solid wood or engineered wood. Resilient flooring tends to rate even lower than laminate flooring, though categories start to overlap with better types of resilient flooring like thick rigid core luxury vinyl plank.
After all, your home could have many other beautiful key features that sell it. What you should keep in mind is that today's average buyer prefers hard surfaces throughout the home, over carpeting. If you need to replace carpeting, vinyl/wood laminate is also the best choice if you're on a budget.
In general, dark floors are better suited for larger rooms and open floor plans. Another seemingly unrelated factor to consider is how often you clean your floors. Light floors can hide small flaws, dirt, and debris, but anything larger will be very noticeable.
Laminate flooring stands up against scratches and stains, making it great for active pets. It's also easy to maintain for most homeowners, putting it near the top when it comes to the best flooring for dogs.
The short answer is no. None of the laminate flooring manufacturers recommend using a steam mop on laminate surfaces. The moisture released from the steam mop can loosen the layers of the laminate, making it tougher to use and potentially damaging your floor.
So the most timeless laminate colour? Something in the realm of a light maple, like in my photo examples above. It will also work well with gray, greige and complex cream walls, as well as if you prefer to decorate with bright pops of colour.
Drawing on the traditional neutral colors of carpet, choose a light or neutral tone for a timeless carpet. Choose from gray, white, or beige to match your interior design. When popular flooring trends change, you won't have to update yours!
Does this mean that your gray floors are “out of style” now? Not to worry. Gray flooring will always have its place in modern homes and buildings, and shouldn't be thrown out just yet. That being said, if you are in the market for new flooring, you may want to consider a few things before making your color selection.