If you re seeking an alternative to hardwood but laminate doesn t sound like the material for you consider engineered wood or luxury vinyl.
Engineered hardwood flooring vs laminate.
Laminate flooring is really up to you.
The base is fiberboard with a photographic image layer bonded over the top.
Both resemble true hardwood but each comes with its own benefits and disadvantages.
Both materials mimic a natural wood floor beautifully but if you re all about natural beauty you might prefer the solid wood top of an engineered.
It is always nailed down to the subfloor a process that requires some skill.
The winner of engineered hardwood vs.
Then a transparent wear layer is applied to protect the surface.
Both are strong durable floors that are less expensive than natural wood but laminate flooring typically costs less.
If you have your heart set on having a wood or faux wood floor you have four choices.
If you are having trouble deciding be sure to read our laminate flooring project guide or any of our flooring cost estimators.
After going through the similarities and the differences it s clear to see that the winner of engineered hardwood vs.
Both are strong durable floors that are less expensive than natural wood but mimic the natural wood floor beautifully and are easy to keep looking new and fresh.
Laminate and engineered versus hardwood or vinyl.
Engineered hardwood debate right there.
While solid hardwood floors are ideal for the diehard wood lovers engineered hardwood is a greener option and laminate is a cheaper one.
Cheaper versions have 1 4 inch cores and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions.
Laminate engineered wood solid hardwood and vinyl.
It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed.
Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood floors are very similar and often get confused but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors.
Solid wood flooring vs.
Laminate flooring is a fully man made material that consists of several layers.
Made of synthetic layers bonded together through a lamination process.
The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface but structurally they are very similar to a laminate.
Which one will you go with.
Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood.
Engineered wood flooring.
Engineered wood flooring.
Solid wood flooring comes in long planks usually made of a hardwood species.
Laminate runs 1 to 7 per square foot depending on the quality.