Laminate Flooring is the new rivalry of timber or solid wood as a quality and reliable flooring option. Laminate offers a hardwood charm and appeal without the high cost. As there is advancement in innovation and technology, it is getting hard to distinguish between the real and faux wood.
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The decision to choose laminate or traditional timber is challenging. Each one has its pros and cons. Consider these to determine the best and stylish flooring solution.
Laminate flooring
It comprises of multiple layers –
- The core layer includes high-density fiberboards bound tightly with melamine resin.
- On top is a layer that resembles real timber.
- The entire plank is coated with several sheets of transparent melamine aimed to protect against wear and tear.
The plastic-looking ugly and short lamination boards of 1977 are the things of the past. Today, you get beautiful and long panels that hardly differ from real wood. In fact, advanced technology laminates outperform traditional timber.
Pros
- You get to choose from styles and widths that resemble real hardwood.
- A DIY-friendly and affordable flooring option.
- It offers great resistance to household chemicals, scratches, and stains.
- You get warranties for 25 years on quality laminates, so the concern of fading gets eliminated.
- Eco-friendly product as it is designed from sustainable wood, low-emission oil, glue, and lacquer.
- The core layer is stable, humidity resistant, and strong, so no worries about shrinking or warping.
- It can handle the under-floor heating system.
Cons
- You cannot refinish or sand it. The only option is to replace it when the laminate floors wear out.
- The resale value of laminate planks is much lower than timber.
- If there are no slip-resistant layers built, the surface is slippery.
- It resembles timber but if inspected closely lacks timer grace and warmth.
Timber flooring
Pros
- You cannot beat the feel and appearance of solid timber.
- You can transform a timber flooring anytime to get a new look with sanding, waxing, staining, or washing.
- It can tolerate the under-floor heating.
- Easy to clean.
- The resale value is high than laminate floors.
- If recycled timber is used then the option can be eco-friendly.
Cons
- It expands when it encounters water or moisture and dries out. This can make it warp and crack over time.
- Prone to dents, scratches, and other damages.
- Sanding can be performed several times before the floorboards turn thin and crack.
- The cost of buying and installing a timber flooring system is expensive than laminates.
Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood are terms used interchangeably. However, both look similar yet are different. The top layer of the latter is solid wood, while the former uses a photographic layer coated with a wear layer for achieving the genuine wood alike surface. The cost of engineered timber is more than laminate planks as the top layer is solid hardwood.
