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Carpet, Tile & Floor Covering

2010-09-01 09:57:00

Hardwood or laminate?

Answer: There are literally millions of square feet of laminate and hardwood floors sold annually in the United States. Both products are excellent alternatives for flooring. First we must look at the difference in the two products, although they look alike and go on the floor, they are two different items. Hardwood can come from a variety of different species of trees and can be made in a number of different ways. There are solids and engineered Solid is what it sounds like a single piece of wood cut onto one piece. Engineered are multiple layers of hardwood fused together to create a stronger floor less susceptible to warping.Both can be refinished if needed. Laminate floors look like hardwood but are more durable and have a greater resistance to scratching than most hardwoods. They are made by taking a high definition photograph then attaching it to a high density fiber floor using heat and high pressure. The higher quality laminates will have embossing to give it a more realistic look. Laminate is generally less expensive than Hardwood and is marketed for the do-it-yourselfer. It takes only a few tools and patience by the home owner for trouble free installation. Hardwood on the other hand will take a special nailer to it correctly and is generally more difficult to install. Hardwood will also add value to your home that laminate will not. Realtors generally agree that laminate is generally not thought as a permanent floor where as Hardwood is forever. So a big factor in deciding what to go with depends on these questions. Who is going to live there? How long are you going to live there? What will your budget allow? Will you install it yourself? Both products are excellent choices for flooring. With the proper care both can give decades of trouble free service.