The debate of engineered hardwood flooring vs. laminate flooring has captivated homeowners and interior enthusiasts for years. The flooring you choose has the power to transform the ambience of your living or working space, so the decision is crucial. At Matt Britton, we’re dedicated to helping you make an informed decision about your wood flooring.
In this article, we’ll delve into engineered hardwood flooring and laminate flooring attributes, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. But ultimately, we’ll demonstrate why hardwood is the undisputed champion in the laminate vs. hardwood flooring showdown.
Engineered hardwood flooring features a real wood veneer surface mounted on a robust plywood core. This multilayered construction elegantly fuses the authentic charm of solid hardwood with enhanced durability. Furthermore, its stratified construction offers resistance to natural warping, making it an exceptional choice suitable for any room in your home.
In contrast, laminate flooring comprises a fiberboard core overlaid with a photographic image that attempts to mimic real wood. While typically more budget-friendly and lower in maintenance, it falls short in quality and durability when compared to engineered hardwood flooring.
So, in a nutshell, engineered hardwood flooring is the closest you can get to genuine solid hardwood. Conversely, laminate flooring offers a wallet-friendly option that replicates natural wood’s appearance but lacks long-term benefits.
Choosing the ideal wood flooring involves more than just its visual appeal, as paramount as that is. When deciding between engineered hardwood flooring and laminate, it’s crucial to look at functionality, longevity, and the material itself, among other factors, and here’s why:
Engineered hardwood flooring often bears a higher price tag due to its genuine wood veneer and sturdy construction. On the flip side, while laminate flooring tends to be more affordable, this cost saving does mean compromising on quality and aesthetics.
At an initial glance, laminate might convincingly mimic real wood, but closer inspection reveals its artificial nature. So, this consideration boils down to a preference; Do you want the timeless elegance of an authentic hardwood floor or the imitation of a photo-printed laminate floor?
Are you looking for a quick fix or a long-term solution to your flooring needs? Engineered hardwood flooring, such as parquet wood flooring, is renowned for its unmatched durability and its inherent resistance to dents and scratches. In contrast, laminate flooring is more vulnerable to wear and potential damage, it therefore lags behind in terms of lifelong durability.
When weighing the merits of hardwood flooring vs laminate flooring, one must consider their maintenance needs. Although both types offer ease of upkeep, engineered hardwood has the added advantage of being refinishable, allowing it to rejuvenate and preserve its pristine appearance over time. Laminate, on the other hand, simply relies on standard cleaning products, but lacks the depth and longevity hardwood brings to the table.
Engineered hardwood flooring can easily last for decades, and even up to 100 years with meticulous care. Its capacity for multiple refinishing and sturdy construction are hallmarks of its longevity. On the other hand, laminate flooring, while resilient, typically has a shorter lifespan, lasting around 10 to 20 years.
While laminate flooring boasts some moisture resistance due to its plastic or resin top layer, the distinction between it and hardwood flooring is nuanced. Indeed, while engineered hardwood flooring can have vulnerabilities to water if not precisely installed and sealed, at Matt Britton, we’ve elevated protection standards. Our unique hybrid seal finish, layered atop the UV oiled finish, acts as a shield, offering an additional tier of defence against potential damage. Coupled with the expertise of our recommended craftsmen and following our comprehensive hardwood care guide, any water-related apprehensions dissolve, positioning engineered hardwood flooring as a choice that’s both aesthetically alluring and a reliable one.
Our engineered hardwood flooring notably presents a diminished carbon footprint, thanks to its sustainably-sourced origins. In contrast, the chemical-centric fabrication of laminate can elicit environmental apprehensions, especially linked to the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Hardwood flooring offers numerous advantages and some weak disadvantages and is, therefore, the favoured choice among homeowners.
Laminate flooring has become a popular choice for homeowners looking for a cost-effective and water-resistant flooring option. While it offers some advantages, laminate flooring does come with significant drawbacks that, from our standpoint, substantially overshadow its benefits.
At the end of the day, when it comes to laminate vs. hardwood flooring, laminate remains a mere imitation, while engineered hardwood comes with many more substantial advantages.
But if you’re still not convinced about engineered hardwood, let’s tackle some of the most commonly asked questions that arise within the laminate wood flooring vs. engineered wood flooring debate.
There is no doubt that engineered hardwood flooring is the way to go if you’re after a durable option with an authentic wood feel and a long lifespan. While the main upside of laminate is its budget-friendliness, long-term costs of replacement make this option unfavourable to homeowners.
Engineered hardwood flooring comes in a wide range of styles. At Matt Britton, we offer high-quality engineered hardwood flooring in herringbone, plank, chevron flooring, and design panel designs, all customisable to your preferred colour choices, widths, thicknesses, dimensions and grades.
As discussed above, engineered hardwood offers a genuine wood experience. If you want your home to feel warm, inviting and of superior quality, there really is no other choice than hardwood. Beyond its aesthetic charm, its enduring durability ensures it’s not just a choice, but a lasting investment for your home.
Engineered hardwood flooring is resilient. While no flooring is entirely immune to wear, especially in bustling areas or from the occasional pet frolic, what sets engineered hardwood flooring apart is its ability to rejuvenate. With consistent care and the unparalleled advantage of refinishing, any minor scratches or wear can be seamlessly restored, ensuring its timeless appeal remains undiminished.
We don’t recommend it, but even without taking the proper care, engineered hardwood will easily outlast laminate. It has the potential to last several decades, especially since it can be refinished multiple times. Laminate generally lasts between 10 to 20 years and then needs to be replaced; it can’t be refinished. Hardwood flooring therefore has the knock-over laminate!
To quickly summarise, laminate flooring’s main drawbacks include:
So there you have it! Engineered hardwood flooring emerges as the unparalleled option, thanks to its captivating authenticity, extended lifespan, and eco-conscious credentials.
Take a look at our beautiful range of engineered hardwood flooring and book an appointment with one of our flooring experts today!
