What is more impressive than walking into a home with gleaming hardwood! There are so many choices of wood for you to pick from, different styles from engineered to wide or narrow plank. Hardwood comes in so many different stains to suit any style of home from modern to farmhouse to industrial.
However, don’t think this is the only choice for flooring. Laminate has come a long way in the past few years and again the choices are diverse. So, what would be the best for your personal style and home? Let’s dig a little further to give you the scoop on laminate vs hardwood. Laminate and hardwood each have their own place, value, and challenges.
Major differences between hardwood vs laminate
Hardwood…
- Solid wood throughout and usually come in ¾”, tongue and groove
- Installed – nailing boards to a subfloor
- Stained and varnished after installation but can be pre-stained versions, special tools for installation
Laminate…
- Core layer of fibreboard with design layer resembling wood
- Hard-wearing to resist stains and scratches
- Floating floor with no glue or nails; easy DIY
What about appearance?
Hardwood…
- Attractive and prestigious
- Even cheaper versions (red or white oak) are usually more attractive than laminate
Laminate…
- From a distance can look like real hardwood
- Newer top-quality laminate can mimic hardwood
There are many pros and cons for both hardwood and laminate. If you are on a budget, then laminate would be a better choice than carpets or cheaper vinyl. Expect about a 10-year window with laminate due to bleaching from the sun or minor scratches, especially if you have a busy household. You can easily add radiant heating to the laminate.
If you can afford hardwood, it is the better choice. You can have hardwood for 100 years with care and refinishing as needed. They do not adapt well to radiant heating.
The Verdict
If you are looking for durability, resale value, and authenticity then hardwood is the way to go. If you have a busier household with lots of traffic, etc. then you might want to look at laminate as it is kinder on the budget, although it rarely adds real estate value.
If you have any questions about what hardwood or laminate can do for the resale of your home, don’t hesitate to contact our Anne Winch Real Estate Team. We can give you an honest valuation of your home and help you with any questions you may have about the purchase or selling of your home. Give us a call!