Laminate vs Engineered Hardwood Flooring: Which Should You Get?

Laminate vs Engineered Hardwood Flooring: Which Should You Get?

When doing renovations, homeowners tend to want the style and look of hardwood without the price tag or tedious care instructions. Laminate and engineered hardwood look like the real thing and come with several different benefits that wood does not. Laminate and engineered wood often get confused for each because they appear very similar. If you're looking for laminate or engineered hardwood flooring in Calgary, here are some things to consider when making your choice.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Of the two choices, engineered in the closest to real hardwood flooring. Although the bulk of the material is not wood, it does incorporate a thin layer of natural wood on top which gives it a very realistic texture and appearance. Engineered hardwood flooring In your Calgary home can increase the property value and make it easier to sell. This is one of the many reasons it has become a popular choice for builders and designers as well as homeowners. Here are some additional benefits:

  • Easy Maintenance- A daily vacuum or sweeping is all that is needed to maintain upkeep, and a damp mop will take care of spills. No need for expensive cleaning solutions or equipment.
  • Moisture Resistant- Engineered Hardwood flooring is more moisture resistant than real wood, making it a great choice for households with kids and/or pets where spills are likely to happen.
  • Easy Installation- Although laminate beats engineered as far an easy installation, it still is much less time and labor intensive compared to hardwood.

Laminate

Laminate resembles wood, but unlike engineered hardwood flooring that is topped with an actual layer of wood, laminate has an image of wood fused to a fiberboard core. This may not sound appealing, but over the years laminate production has come a long way and the latest versions have deep embossment of wood grain textures. Laminate isn't as moisture resistant as engineered hardwood, but it does stand up to spills and liquid if cleaned within a reasonable amount of time. As far as pricing goes, it beats both engineered and authentic hardwood at a fraction of the cost. Installation is also the easiest and it can be installed over some existing flooring, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming demolition.

Both laminate and engineered hardwood flooring have many benefits, depending on your specific needs. Stop by Flooring Superstores Calgary to browse all the different options in laminate and engineered hardwood flooring for your Calgary home.