The Cost of Hardwood Vs. Laminate

Hardwood floors

A traditional hardwood floor can enhance any room's appearance with a warm, lustrous glow. Laminate flooring only mimics a wood grain look. But laminate, which consists of particleboard covered with a decorative material, provides a durable floor that some people prefer to natural hardwood, which needs to be maintained and cared for.

Sizes

Measuring the job

Typical hardwood strip flooring can measure ¾ of an inch thick by 2 ¼ inches wide. Laminate strips measure 5/16 of an inch thick by 8 inches wide. Both can be purchased in 9- to 46.5-inch strips. Because the laminate is thinner and not as sturdy as hardwood planks, it requires an underlayment, referred to as a floating floor, to smooth out any imperfections under the laminate strips.

Flooring Material

Laminate before coatings

Solid hardwood flooring strips can be purchased from $6 to $10 per square foot depending on the type of wood chosen, as of May 2010. More exotic woods, such as Brazilian Cherry or Pangali Ironwood, are more costly. Laminate strips range from $2.90 to $3.90 per square foot, depending on the manufacturer.

Subfloor

Although the natural hardwood planks are more expensive, they can be placed directly on concrete, wood or linoleum without noticeable scars and small dips from the underlying floor. Such imperfections can be a problem with a thinner flooring material, such as laminate. A floating floor for laminate can cost $1 to $1.50 per square foot.

Labor

A craftsman at work

Labor is the most costly part of installing a natural hardwood floor. The normal cost for a craftsman to lay down a beautiful wood floor is $4 per square foot, and the cost can go up to $6 per square foot if wider planks are selected. Laminate may seem easier, but the time to place the underlayment, glue sections at a time and finish the edging costs $3.50 to $4 per square foot.

Extra Touches

Moldings are required for both hardwood and laminate to create clean edges. Moldings that match either flooring material can cost $1.95 to $2.50 per square foot. Laminate flooring can provide more options than a wood floor. You can create a border with another style of wood, brick or stone or create a pattern throughout the room. Creative designs installed by a craftsman can run $6 per square foot for laminate flooring.

Bottom Line

The cost of hardwood versus laminate in flooring can easily run the same amount of money when you add together the material, trim, labor and underlayment for laminate.

References

• CostHelper: Cost of Hardwood Floors
• This Old House: Beyond the Basic Floor
• Hardwood Installer: General Hardwood Floor Prices