When considering hard surface flooring options for your home, many people compare engineered hardwood vs laminate. Both of these flooring options achieve the look of a hardwood floor, but which is the better option? Well, that depends on what type of flooring best suits your lifestyle. Learn more about these types of floors, the advantages of engineered hardwood floors vs the advantages of laminate flooring, and how to choose whether laminate vs engineered hardwood is the best choice for your home in this blog.
What is Engineered Hardwood Flooring?
Engineered hardwood is one of the most common types of wood flooring. It is made up of three layers: a hardwood veneer on top, a highly stable core, and wood on the bottom. The core of engineered hardwood flooring is crafted from 5-7 layers of plywood pressed together. This core is what makes engineered hardwood less likely to expand, contract, or shift.
5 Key Advantages of Engineered Hardwood Floors
1. Made With Real Hardwood
While engineered hardwood is not made up of solid hardwood, the top layer does consist of real hardwood. So, you get the look and feel of solid hardwood without the price.
2. Increases Your Home’s Value
While laminate can moderately increase your home’s value, engineered hardwood flooring can increase the value of your home almost as much as solid hardwood flooring.
3. Moisture Resistant
While not waterproof, engineered hardwood is more moisture resistant than solid hardwood.
4. Lasts Up To 30 Years
Engineered hardwood can last up to 30 years, with the added benefit of being able to be sanded and refinished at least once during its lifespan.
5. Variety of Finishes
Engineered hardwood flooring comes in many different types of finishes. You can choose from oiled, smoked, lacquered, brushed, whitewashed, and unfinished. These options mean you can easily find a style of engineered hardwood to fit your home’s aesthetic.
What is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is completely man-made as the base is fiberboard, the middle layer is a photographic image, and the top layer is a transparent wear layer that protects the surface. Laminate that looks like hardwood is popular, but laminate flooring can be made to look like many different materials, including stone.
5 Key Advantages of Laminate Flooring
1. Affordable
Laminate is the most affordable of the different hard surface flooring options that give you the look of hardwood floors.
2. Durability
The plastic coating that creates the top layer of laminate flooring makes this a highly durable floor. Not only is it more scratch-resistant than engineered hardwood flooring, it’s also more impact-resistant.
3. Moisture Resistant
Though very few types of laminate are waterproof, many are water resistant. So your floor can withstand water for a significant time without absorbing the moisture.
4. DIY Friendly (But Not Recommended)
The simplicity of the interlocking tongue-and-groove system (which means no glue, grout, or mortar) makes laminate flooring an easy DIY project. However, we always recommend using a professional flooring installation to make sure you achieve the highest quality flooring install.
5. Pet Friendly
The high durability of laminate flooring makes it a perfect option for families that include four-legged family members. Not to mention, it’s water resistant and easy to clean in case of accidents.
Which is More Expensive, Laminate or Engineered Hardwood?
When comparing the price of engineered hardwood vs laminate, engineered hardwood is going to be more expensive (though it’s less expensive than solid hardwood flooring). However, you’ll also want to consider which is more likely to increase the value of your home and the life expectancy of the flooring.
Both engineered hardwood and laminate flooring can increase the resale value of your home, but laminate is not going to increase your home’s worth as much as engineered hardwood flooring will. Additionally, engineered hardwood has a life expectancy of 30+ years, while laminate typically lasts up to 20 years. You can also increase the life expectancy of your engineered hardwood with its ability to be refinished at least once. Laminate cannot be refinished.
Is Engineered Hardwood Flooring Better Than Laminate?
What you’re looking for in your flooring is going to determine whether engineered hardwood flooring is better than laminate. Engineered hardwood has better longevity and resale value, but laminate is perfect for families with pets and those on a budget. There are many pros and cons to consider for both types of flooring.
How to Choose Engineered Hardwood vs Laminate for Your Home
To choose whether laminate vs engineered hardwood is better for your home, you’ll want to ask yourself a few key questions.
1. Do I want my floors to look like real hardwood floors?
If you’re looking for floors that are almost indistinguishable from solid hardwood floors, you’re going to want to choose engineered hardwood flooring. If this isn’t something that’s important to you, there are still some other questions to ask yourself before making a decision on engineered hardwood vs laminate.
2. What type of wear and tear will my floors see?
Are kids often running around your home? Do you have pets that can scratch up your floors when they get excited? You’ll want to consider these questions and more about your lifestyle when choosing laminate vs engineered hardwood.
3. How much do I want to invest in my floors?
A question every customer has to consider is how much they are willing to invest in their flooring. Do you have other renovations that are a higher priority? Thinking about your budget before browsing flooring options will help you choose a quality floor without breaking the bank.
If you’re still unsure whether engineered hardwood vs laminate is the right flooring choice for your home, visit our Wexford, PA showroom or contact our team to learn more. Our flooring experts can show you many engineered hardwood and laminate flooring samples side by side, talk you through the pros and cons of each, schedule your free in-home measurement, and more. Floor Concepts provides local flooring solutions to greater Pittsburgh, PA and the North Hills area. Get in touch today!
