Hardwood floors are generally known to last much longer than laminate floors, although they require occasional refinishing. It is also usually easier to repair a wooden floor, often by sanding and staining it, while the damaged laminate may need to be completely replaced. While hardwood floors and laminate floors may look similar, almost every other aspect is different. Cost, maintenance, lifespan, installation, and resale value vary from one to the other.
Hardwood floors are a significant financial investment, but their initial cost may be worth it if you plan to stay in the house for many years. Laminate floors have a shorter lifespan than hardwood and cannot be repainted. However, they are less expensive than hardwood, especially since installation at home is so easy. If you want a floor that will last a lifetime, hardwood flooring is the best choice for durable flooring materials.
It can last more than 50 years if maintained properly. Sanding 2 to 3 times over the life of the floor will help to regain its elegance. Whatever flooring material you choose, it's best to hire a flooring contractor in your area to install it. The debate over laminates boils down to whether the quality and beauty of modern laminate floors match not only the natural beauty of hardwood floors, but also the wear and tear of children and dogs, scratches, spills, etc.
In general, hardwood floors are better than laminate floors when it comes to radiant heating, as they better distribute the heat. Laminate floors are a synthetic floor covering made of fiberboard, a printed image (or appearance) layer that simulates wood, and a transparent, tough top wear layer. Because of their longer lifespan, hardwood floors often offer a much higher resale value than laminate floors. Even if you're not installing new floors in the kitchen or bathroom, floors are likely to get wet at some point, so it's helpful to know how these materials tolerate water.
Laminate floors can't be restored like hardwood either; once they lose their shine you'll have to replace them with new floors. Because of their shorter lifespan as well as their appearance compared to hardwood, laminate floors don't usually increase their resale value as much as hardwood floors. Genuine hardwood floors add much more value to your home; in fact more than half of potential homebuyers will pay more for a home with hardwood floors. Hardwood floors are prized for their warm natural texture and unique grain patterns that ensure that each hardwood floor is one of a kind.
Solid wood floors and engineered wood floors are also considered better than laminate as both have real wood surfaces. For homes up to an average value, laminate floors can be a quality addition especially if the previous floor is in poor condition or is of lower value. If you think you might one day sell your house finding out what type of floor is there will help you price the right way and if you're buying a home knowing the type of floor will help you make the right offer.
