fbpx

What is the Difference between Engineered Hardwood and Laminate Fooring?

There are many differrent types of wood flooring, with the main three categories being full hardwood, engineered hardwood and laminate flooring.  While full hardwood is pretty self explainitory, consumers can get a bit confused by the other two types of flooring.

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product, designed to imitate the appearance of real wood. The core layer of laminate flooring is manufactured primarily from melamine resin and fiber board material with the top layer imprinted with a textured image made to look like real wood.

Engineered hardwood flooring is a type of wood floor that consists of several wood or plywood layers. Bottom and middle layers are manufactured from cross-laid solid wood or plywood planks with a top layer consisting of a solid sawn wood, often stained and prefinished.

In essence, while solid or engineered hardwood flooring is manufactured from real wood and preserves the unique textured grain and appearance of natural wood, laminate flooring is only an imitation.

Although in appearance some high quality laminate floors may look like real wood, repetition is unavoidable, as uniqueness of an authentic wood is impossible to replicate.

In deciding which type of flooring to invest in, you need to look at the amount of traffic, the type of room and your budget when deciding between laminate and engineered hardwood.

If there is any moisture that is consistenty present, like in an entryway, you may want to consider engineered wood over laminate.  Laminate does not stand up well to moisture and can swell and shrink, leaving gaps in your flooring.

Come into our showroom and see the different possible flooring available for your home or office.  Our experts will talk you through what your needs are and show you the many options that you can choose from – and even give you samples to take home and try out!  We are here to help you make the right decision for your space and for your budget.  We look forward to seeing you!  Stop by the showroom at 451 Park Ave in Scotch Plains or give us a call on 908-464-2653.

Post Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *