- Made with different products, hardwood floors and laminate look similar. Hardwood flooring is made of planks of solid wood or wood plies glued together, called engineered hardwood. Laminate flooring is made of layered fiberboard. It is somewhat similar to engineered hardwood. The top layer of engineered hardwood is a strip of real wood. Made to look like hardwood, or ceramic tile, laminate is actually a photograph glued to the top layer and is not real wood. Using a photograph allows for laminate to appear as many varieties and shades of hardwood.
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The installation process is another example of how laminate flooring differs from hardwood flooring. Various installations that, for most people, will take a professional to install are available for hardwood flooring. These installations may include gluing, nailing or floating the hardwood over the sub-floor. Have a professional install hardwood floors with nails or glue.
Floating is how most laminate is installed and is achieved with strips of engineered hardwood, or laminate, that fit together in a tongue-and-groove style that then sits on top of the sub-floor. You can install laminate and engineered hardwood over concrete but cannot with solid hardwood. Lay hardwood directly over the sub-floor.
Laminate has a padding that goes down first to reduce the amount of noise. Considered simple enough for a nonprofessional to complete, laminate may be easier to install but is more difficult to repair than hardwood. -
Differences between hardwood and laminate are most prominent when speaking of the durability, longevity and cost. Taking good care of your hardwood floors can make them last virtually a lifetime, while laminate will last less than 20 years. The care taken with hardwood will determine its longevity; laminate will eventually just wear out. Choosing laminate flooring over hardwood flooring may seem more cost effective unless you add in the longevity. The length of time hardwood may last makes it a less expensive option than laminate over the long run.
Easily scratched, hardwood will also buckle or discolor if it becomes too wet. Laminate floors are a better choice for homes with children and pets. Also, laminate flooring resists water, stain and scratches better than hardwood flooring.
