Do you love the look of hardwood flooring? If you are remodeling your home or building a new one with wood flooring in mind, you can choose between authentic hardwood and laminate flooring. Both have a similar look, but they differ in durability and care. Below are a few aspects to consider when choosing between laminate and hardwood.

Appearance

Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic flooring style that imitates the appearance of real wood. The resin and fiberboard material imprints a textured image and repeats pre-designed patterns. The surface is much harder than real wood, but can also appear glossier or have a repetitive pattern.

Hardwood flooring planks come from single pieces of wood, preserving the unique texture throughout your entire floor without showing any repeating patterns. The natural wood also boasts warm textures and unexpected knots.

Durability

Many laminate flooring options last between 10 and 25 years. The top layer of these floors is resistant to scratches, stains, and dents. However, once scratched, laminate flooring will show the damage.

Most hardwood is much softer than laminate and can dent and scratch more easily. But, minor dents and scratches blend into the wood pattern, producing depth in texture. If well-maintained, hardwood can last anywhere between 40 and 80 years. You can also sand and refinish the wood if it starts to wear down before then.

Maintenance

Cleaning laminate is simple. You can sweep, mop, or wipe the flooring with a damp cloth. If scratched or damaged, you must replace the floorboards, rather than fix them with a quick spot repair. 

Repairing hardwood flooring is relatively easy. You can sand, re-stain, and refinish the floor without replacing any of the wood planks, which will cost much less money and time. When cleaning the floor, use hardwood-specific cleaners and, for best results, check to see which cleaners the manufacturer recommends.

Moisture

Most laminate floor surfaces are highly resistant to moisture damage, staining, or fading and are perfect options to install in the kitchen, bathroom, and basement.

Hardwood needs room to expand and contract in temperature and humidity changes. The majority of the time, you should not install hardwood flooring where the moisture levels can fluctuate dramatically.

If you need help deciding between hardwood and laminate flooring, turn to Better Built Homes By Bob Hafermann. Based in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, this locally owned and operated company has helped homeowners achieve their home remodeling goals for over 60 years. They offer a variety of services, including deck building and bathroom remodeling, which you can explore on their website. Call (715) 423-4478 to speak with their staff.