Although laminate flooring may look almost exactly like a real hardwood floor, there are several differences between the two. It’s difficult to tell the difference at a first glance, but looking closely you will notice repeated features throughout your laminate flooring, such as the same knots and grain. While this can provide a more uniform look, some people prefer more variations in the pattern of their flooring.
The biggest difference between laminate flooring and hardwood is probably the price. Laminate flooring can save you about 20-25% when compared to real hardwood floors; however hardwood floors may increase the resale value of your home and be better for you in the long run if you don’t plan on living there long-term.
Another important difference to note is the longevity of your flooring. Laminate flooring can stand the test of time much better than hardwood, which can be subject to sun and water damage as well as wear-and-tear caused by traffic. Some people consider this fact of hardwood floors appealing, as “weathering” can give a floor (and in turn, a room) more “character”. However, laminate flooring can withstand the heavy traffic of a modern family home without as much weathering or damage a whole lot better.
The cost of maintenance and upkeep of your floor is also something to consider when you are choosing between genuine wood or laminate flooring. Hardwood floors can require a lot of time, money and effort to keep in top condition, and you can expect to re-sand and refinish real hardwood floors periodically. With laminate flooring, on the other hand, your floor will need much less maintenance and remain gorgeous for a fairly long time with minimal upkeep.
Laminate flooring is created by bonding many layers of various fibres together, treated in several ways to protect your floor against weathering and wear. Your floor can keep the same colour for years, unaffected by sunlight and moisture. This makes it easy to replace a single damaged tile and maintain the uniform colour and pattern of your floor. With hardwood however, replacing a single plank after years of wear can be impossible without contrast to the surrounding boards. If one area becomes stained or damaged, it’s often necessary to replace the flooring of the entire room.
Installation is also a topic to discuss before you decide whether to buy real hardwood or laminate. If you choose hardwood, you can expect to pay experienced professionals to complete the installation perfectly. Doing this job yourself as a homeowner is not in any way fail-safe and there are many risks involved with taking on such a big project. It would take time, effort and extensive knowledge to install real hardwood floors correctly.
The installation of laminate is much simpler. You actually have a few different options for installation, but it’s far more reasonable to install laminate flooring without professional help. You can choose flooring that comes pre-glued, that you must glue yourself, or even laminate flooring that requires no glue at all. It’s also unnecessary to remove your old flooring when you install laminate tiles or planks; they can usually be installed on top of your existing floor.
Choosing between laminate and hardwood flooring is a personal decision. You want to consider your family lifestyle and pick appropriate flooring based on affordability and durability, as well as style. There are many options however, so you can easily find the perfect flooring for your home.
Derek Rogers
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/what-are-the-differences-between-wood-and-laminate-flooring-608588.html
6 comments ↓
what is the difference between a pergo or laminate wood flooring?
Both are laminates.
Pergo is a Brand name.
References :
usually it’s the price now
References :
Pergo is a brand name for laminate flooring. Pergo has been around in Europe for years and laminates have been in North America since 1977. Here’s an article that will help you compare the brand names of laminate flooring:
http://www.ifloor.com/about-flooring/hardwood-brand-wars.html
References :
I am my source: Diva Decors ReDesign – on a mission to help you ReDesign your space… whatever it is!
Hi, Pergo is a brand name of laminate flooring. They were the first to bring laminate flooring to the European market and to the US in 1994 selling through Home Depot. They have been in business for 120 years. http://www.hardwoodlaminateflooringguide.com/pergo-laminate-flooring.html There are a number of companies that sell quality laminate flooring. Here are some of the qualities that you should look for http://www.hardwoodlaminateflooringguide.com/how-to-pick-laminate-flooring.html Hope this helps.
References :
Pergo is a laminate. A laminate consists of a body of MDF or HDF type fiber board. A laminate wood floor is several layers ( usually 3) of real wood cross grained ( similar to a ply wood). Thicker than a laminate which on average is between 6 and 8 mm. A wood laminate is generally 3/8 ths to 5/8th inches thick. Most often called an engineered wood. These can be glued, stapled, or some are a flooring floor system where as a Pergo or a laminate is always a free floating floor.. any flooring questions you can e mail me through my avatar.. GL
References :
20 years in flooring as a store owner/installer