|
Engineered,
Solid Hardwood Flooring or Laminate Flooring
Which is Best?
All wood
flooring has its benefits as well as its disadvantages,
whether it’s engineered, solid, or laminate wood
flooring.
Engineered hardwood flooring is
real wood, can go over concrete slabs, as well as at or
below grade, which means that it can be installed at or
below ground level.
Engineered flooring can also be used with radiant
heating systems. In
addition, engineered flooring is available in any
species of wood desired.
However, engineered flooring has two main
disadvantages in that it has a thin layer of the desired
wood surface, which means that it can only be refinished
once and its second disadvantage, like any other type of
wood flooring will be damaged by excessive moisture so
it is not recommended that engineered flooring be
installed in bath or kitchen areas.
Solid
hardwood flooring is solid wood, which is usually
comprised of ¾” thick boards or strips.
Solid hardwood flooring is available in either
pre-finished or unfinished boards or strips and has the
advantage of being sanded and refinished multiple times.
This gives the flooring the added advantage of
last for countless decades.
However, like everything solid
hardwood flooring does have its disadvantages in that it
is highly vulnerable to humidity and moisture and is not
recommend for installation on or below grade levels, nor
over concrete slabs, making it unacceptable for hundreds
of million homes across the United States which have
concrete slab foundations and flooring.
Solid hardwood flooring will
expand as it absorbs moisture and contract or cup as it
dries, causing the edges of the wood to curve upward.
This cupping affect then poses a tripping hazard
as well as damages the wood.
Another
disadvantage of solid hardwood flooring is that it is
the most expensive form of wood flooring.
However, on the other hand it also has a tendency
to increase the value of a home, thus making it well
worth the investment.
Laminate flooring is not real
wood, but a photographic image of wood, stone, ceramic
tile, etc. that has been laminated on top of
high-density fiberboard.
This laminated photograph is then sandwiched
between two layers of durable plastic making the
laminate flooring the most durable of all wood type
flooring. However, because of its construction, once the laminate
surface is scuffed, marred, or scratched the flooring
cannot be refinished.
This is the main problem with laminate flooring,
whereas the biggest benefit is the fact that it is
easily cleaned.
However, just like the other
floorings, excessive moisture including wet mopping, can
damage the laminate flooring.
Therefore, it is strongly recommended to never
wet mop laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring almost
impervious to stains, dents, and will not fade when
exposed to direct lighting, making it perfect for the
active family. In
addition, laminate floorings usually come with a 10-year
or more warranty.
There is no clear answer as to which flooring is
the best. This
depends on where you plan to install the flooring, how
active your home is, as well as the amount of time you
plan to spend in your home and most importantly how much
money you want to invest.
If you plan to live in your home for more than 15
years, then you may want to consider installing solid
hardwood flooring.
If the main floor of your home is built on a
concrete slab, or if you have radiant heating, then
consider installing engineered flooring.
However, if you have a very active household and
pets, then laminate flooring may be your best choice.
However, no matter which flooring you choose,
carefully look at the warranties.
Remember—the longer the warranty, the better
the product.
|
Welcome to
AboutHardwoodFlooring.com!
