What Is Better Engineered Hardwood Or Laminate

It is milled with tongues and grooves on opposite edges so that the boards interlock when installed.

What is better engineered hardwood or laminate.

Engineered wood contains a slice of natural wood on top while laminate uses a photographic layer that is coated with a protective layer. Solid wood flooring comes in long planks usually made of a hardwood species. Since engineered hardwoods have a real hardwood veneer they are more susceptible to surface scratches dents and expansion. You can obtain beautiful exotic wood species at a much lower price when compared to solid hardwood because engineered wood only uses a thin veneer layer.

Engineered hardwood toughness challenge engineered hardwood can be refinished two or three times over its lifespan. This is because the top layer is actual real hardwood. Laminate flooring really depends. It is always nailed down to the subfloor a process that requires some skill.

If you re seeking an alternative to hardwood but laminate doesn t sound like the material for you consider engineered wood or luxury vinyl. Laminate floors on the other hand are the result of bonding various composite materials and melamine resin at high temperatures and pressure so the floor itself is far from being organic. 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. Engineered hardwood is manufactured from several layers of solid wood or plywood material also mostly organic.

However most of these floors with come with a protective top layer to help protect against wear. The primary advantage engineered wood has over laminate is that it is a much more convincing replica of real hardwood flooring. Margot cavin the spruce best for appearance. Laminates contain an aluminum oxide surface layer that protects against fading spills stains and scratching.

Engineered hardwood flooring runs 3 to 10 per square foot. The winner of engineered hardwood vs. Engineered hardwood also provides a better value point if you should decide to sell your house. While solid hardwood floors are ideal for the diehard wood lovers engineered hardwood is a greener option and laminate is a cheaper one.

Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. The biggest advantage that engineered hardwood flooring holds over laminate flooring is that its surface is real hardwood. Solid wood flooring vs. If you are having trouble deciding be sure to read our laminate flooring project guide or any of our flooring cost estimators.

It will always look better than laminate especially close up. Engineered wood flooring. Both resemble true hardwood but each comes with its own benefits and disadvantages.