Laminate Wood Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring

In the present scenario, all aspects of the world is undergoing a huge transformation. The same can be said about household décor, especially the flooring. Apart from wallpapers and the show pieces, the flooring of the room is also earning a valuable amount of consideration. One of the most popular types of flooring that is doing the rounds is laminate wood flooring. Nonetheless, traditional hardwood flooring has maintained its popularity over the years. In order to opt for the ideal type of flooring, a few features must be pondered upon.

Costing

• Since hardwood flooring is made up of harvested trees, the actual pricing completely depends on the type of wood that is chosen. However, in general, hardwood flooring is considerably pricier to buy and then install.
• On the other hand, laminate flooring is constructed from composite wood that is pressed together at higher temperatures. The image of hardwood is then placed over the composite wood, covering it to form the laminate. Therefore, the materials are a lot cheaper than hardwood flooring. In fact, the cost of installation is also fifty percent less than that of hardwood flooring.

Durability

• Hardwood is prone to scratching and can get damaged from excess moisture levels. Hence, it can show early signs of wear and tear in rooms that are exposed to a high amount of traffic. For instance, the living and the kitchen are the busiest rooms of the house, and therefore may be susceptible to the most amount of damage.
• Sine laminate wood flooring is crafted from pressed wood; it resists scratches, moisture and a great amount of damage. Hence, if durability is a main area of concern, then laminate flooring is the perfect choice.
  Visual Appeal
• If visual appeal is a primary concern then hardwood flooring is the way to go. Rooms that house real hardwood flooring add a sense of elegance and charm to the ambience. Moreover, the higher the quality of the wood, the more value it adds to the property.
• Even though laminate is more durable, it is not as appealing as hardwood flooring. In fact, lower qualities of laminate can possess artificial-looking wood grain textures.

Repair
The flooring of the room will typically require repairs at some point of time. From minor accidents to a great amount of wear and tear, repairs are a part and parcel of owning a property.

• Hardwood flooring can be repaired by sanding imperfections and refinishing. Hence, the repairs last a greater amount of time when compared to laminate wood flooring.
• Laminate flooring is pretty difficult to repair. If the flooring comes in individual pieces that snap together, then the damaged pieces can be replaced. However, depending on the age and sunlight, the newly bought pieces may not match the already existing ones.

Some of the other factors that may influence the decision between hardwood and laminate flooring are the number of kids and pets that reside in the house, the amount of sunlight that is received and the number of guests that visit the house. Nevertheless, both of these options are the best in the market, and will enhance any room that they are placed in.