Hardwood Vs Laminate Floor (Which Is Better?)

Hardwood Vs Laminate Floor: Which Is Better? What is laminate flooring? Laminate flooring is a type of floor that is made of particleboard wood base. An image layer or a layer that is transparent covers the top of the floor. The laminate floor is commonly used to cover kitchen floors, dining areas, and bedrooms. The floor is used in this area since there is less moisture.

What is a hardwood floor? A hardwood floor is a floor made of harvested trees that take a long time to grow. The trees that grow slowly are durable and serve a homeowner for quite a long time.

Wood flooring is one of the main floorings used in many homes due to its beauty and versatility. The hardwood floor is easy to maintain and most families, especially with little kids will choose it. The flooring has been used for centuries and it never gets out of style. Read on – Hardwood Vs Laminate Floor:

Differences between hardwood and laminate floor

Appearance

Hardwood I very attractive and makes the premium buildings look luxurious. All types of hardwood flooring are desirable. It does not matter whether they are cheap or expensive. The laminate floor looks good from a far distance and but as you get closer, it is easy to tell that it does not look attractive. Hardwood is therefore recommended for better appearance.

Heat and water resistance

In most cases, hardwood is not recommended for kitchens since they are wet areas. Water can easily damage the hardwood floor and reduce its durability. However, if you only want hardwood flooring, then you can go for engineered hardwood. Hardwood can be installed in areas with heat but not too much heat. Too much heat can shrink the boards leading the floor joints to open up.

A laminate floor is water and heat-resistant. However, do not allow too much water on the joints; they will end up swelling and chipping. Laminate is the best for water and heat resistance as it can be installed in areas with radiant heat.

Installation

Hardwood installation may be difficult when you are not a professional. There are several types of equipment required for installation that only professionals can access. Installation of laminated floor is quite simple. Through DIY you can easily install the floor at home with no need for paying professionals. Laminate floors are simple and fast to install.

Cost of flooring

Hardwood costs $4 to $8 per square foot. Most hardwood timber is expensive due to its durability. Laminate floor on the other hand costs $1 to $4 per square foot. If you are looking for a pocket-friendly floor, laminate is the way to go.

The floors’ lifespan

If taken good care of, a hardwood floor can last for over 100 years. A laminate floor has a short lifespan compared to a hardwood floor. Its lifespan is around 12-15 years.

Comfort

Hardwood is hard to the under feet and is noisy in case you are wearing heels. Laminate floors are soft to the feet. This is because they are installed over an underlayment that ensures the floor is a bit smooth.

How to clean and maintain hardwood and laminate floor

Cleaning and taking care of the floor

Cleaning hardwood is very easy, you just sweep or vacuum clean and later damp mop it. Current hardwood floors have polyurethane varnish that is not supposed to be waxed. It makes it easier to clean the floor.

Laminate floors should not be waxed. You can vacuum clean it and if you consider mopping the laminate flooring, do it with a damp mop and moisturize it with laminate floor cleaner. Ensure that you do not use excess water or use a steam cleaner on a laminate floor. Both floors are easy to clean and care for.

Maintenance

Hardwood if taken good care of can last for a long time. Unless some unusual circumstances such as flooding occur, hardwood will serve you for a lifetime. The floor should be frequently recoated but it depends on how you take care of it. Resealing can be done often and if the floor is damaged reseal it.

Ensure that the resealing process is done by professionals to avoid more damage. A laminate floor is better at resisting damage and in case a heavy object drops on it, it will only be dented. Laminate floors can serve you more than 10 years if maintained. Avoid running water and scratches on the floor.

Can I install a cabinet over laminate or hardwood floor?

When installing cabinets in your kitchen, ensure that it is not permanent. Permanent cabinets cause the laminate floor to buckle which further destroys the whole floor around the area.

You are required to install the cabinets before flooring your space with a laminate floor. If the cabinet is already installed before flooring occurred, then you can floor the remaining uncovered area. The theme of your cabinet may guide you in choosing which color of the laminate floor to install.

If your hardwood will be installed through floating, then you can install the cabinet before flooring. Installing hardwood first will ensure that your hardwood floor is not damaged. Further, you will not worry if the floor is leveled.

Do the floorings cause any health issues?

Laminate floor releases formaldehyde gas since it is made of adhesives. The gas is toxic, especially to kids and elder people. It causes eye problems, nose, and throat.

For people with asthma and chronic diseases could get worse conditions Laminate can also cause kidney damage through melamine acids. Aluminum acid on the laminate floor can cause asthma and can reduce the level of intelligence in a human being.

The products used to install hardwood floors are risky and may cause health problems. VOC is emitted as gas that comes from some products such as paint and vanishes. The gases emitted cause serious throat pain and irritations that may yield serious health issues in the future.

Hardwood Vs Laminate Floor – Conclusion

Hardwood flooring is most commonly used due to its durability. The floor can last for a very long period if well maintained. The laminate floor on the other hand is cheaper. The buying price is lower and you may incur zero installation costs if you choose to do it by yourself. There are health issues that may arise from the products used to install therefore you need to be careful.