Choosing the right flooring for your home can be a difficult decision. There are so many options available, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this blog post, we’re going to compare wood floors and laminate floors to help you decide which one is the best fit for your home:
1. What sort of look are you going for?
Hard-surface floors have a way of making just about any room look good. With their natural look, feel, and warm hues, hard-surface flooring brings new meaning to clean, simple and inviting.
Verdict: Wood
Reason: Wood is the real deal! It just looks and feels better. Wood’s timeless qualities make it one of the most sought-after flooring materials of all time. However, be sure you support sustainable practices when opting for wood. Eco-friendly wood flooring is non-toxic, durable, and comes from local, renewable resources.
Always check that your wood flooring carries the FSC certification that confirms the wood has been sourced and harvested in a sustainable manner.
2. How much sun exposure does the room get?
Beware the sun! The color of your wood flooring can change if it is over-exposed to sunlight. Over time it will fade and lose its original coloring. To combat this you can strategically place rugs and furniture to limit the amount of sun exposure to your floors. However, some areas are just not suitable for wood, and if you don’t have the time to take care of it, it may not be the best option for your home.
Verdict: Laminate
Reason: Laminate flooring has UV protection and requires a lot less maintenance.
3. Are there children or pets in the home?
Both kids and pets tend to be quite rough on hard-surface flooring, so it is important to choose a material that is durable and long-lasting. In this case, you may need to take extra care of your floors to make sure they are protected. Again, do you have the time and resources to properly protect your wood floors?
Verdict: Laminate
Reason: Laminate flooring is more cost-effective than wood. However, when it comes to child/pet-friendly flooring, laminate always comes out top. It is easily cleaned, durable, and resists scratches better than most flooring materials.
4. Which lasts longer?
When properly cared for, hard-surface flooring can last ages. Maintenance is extremely important and, therefore, the lifespan of your flooring will ultimately depend on you. If you commit to wood flooring, you’re committing to refinishing every 3 – 5 years. This could be less if you’re area experiences less foot traffic or simply an area that you don’t use as much. However, wood will require refinishing from time to time if you intend on preserving its look and feel.
Verdict: Wood
Reason: Wood is easily repaired, meaning it will in most cases outlast laminate flooring.
5. What will the traffic be like in the room?
If the room you are re-flooring is one that receives high traffic volume, the flooring will more than likely need to be of a harder material. Harder-surface flooring which is subjected to high traffic is less likely to show wear and tear in the long run.
Verdict: Laminate
Reason: Laminate flooring is more durable, while wood is susceptible to damage in heavy traffic areas.
Making The Final Decision
We hope that this post has helped you get a clearer idea of what will be best for your home. Now that you know more about wood and laminate flooring, you are more than able to make a well-informed decision to suit your home’s needs.