Laminate or Hardwood?

Wooden floors are beautiful to look at and create a warm cosy atmosphere in the home.  Solid wood flooring is very popular but the truth is that even if you are on a budget, you can create the same wonderful look in your home with laminate flooring.  There are pros and cons to both solid wood flooring and laminate flooring and we will have a look at some of them here.  With the popularity of solid wood and laminate boards, it is so easy to find this type of flooring these days.  For example, online retailers such as Quickstep Flooring have a huge range for you to choose from and you will find that their prices are very competitive.  You can also find both hard wood and laminate boards available in your local hardware department store or from flooring stores in your location.  Below are a few areas we will look at in terms of laminate flooring and hardwood flooring.

Resistance to Moisture

It is important to note that neither hardwood flooring nor laminate flooring is waterproof.  Wood is never going to mix well with water so it is important that you take care of your flooring so that it does not get damaged by moisture.  Solid wood will expand when it gets wet and contract again once it dries and this can leave it looking damaged.  Laminate flooring, on the other hand, reacts much better to water because it is manmade and is created with sealed edges that are waxed.  However, that does not mean that it will not get damaged if exposed to too much water.

Resistance to Impact

Hardwood floor is durable and long lasting but it is also quite susceptible to knocks.  You will see that marks are left if something sharp or heavy is dropped onto a solid wood floor.  The good news with solid wood is that even if you do see scratches or dents, you can simply sand over the floor and re-varnish it again to get it looking as good as new.  

Laminates tend to be more resistant to scratches and dents but if you do drop something particularly heavy, then you may see a chip in the top layer of the laminate.  Unfortunately, this cannot be sanded down and re-varnished to look like new.  The only way to get your floor looking like new again if this happens is to replace the chipped board and this would be a nightmare if the board were in the middle of the floor.

What type of wooden floor you choose for your home is up to you.  You will find it more expensive to buy wooden floors but they do last a lifetime.  On the other hand, Quickstep laminate floors are made from the highest quality materials and will last for years.  And the good news is that this type of flooring is much more affordable.