Updating the flooring in your home can go a long way toward making it look like a new house. With the normal wear and tear of family life, flooring can take a beating, which is why it is one of the most updated and replaced areas of the home. When it comes to choosing a material, most people end up opting for a hard, easy-to-clean surface like laminate or hardwood. For many years, laminate was considered to be a cheaper, less durable alternative to hardwood. Times have changed, and while laminates may not last as long as solid hardwoods, they are more durable and attractive than ever, making a choice between the two materials difficult. We will outline the differences between them below so that you can decide which is the better fit for your home.

Installation

Hardwood flooring installation is largely dependent on what type of hardwood you choose. Solid hardwood requires each plank to be nailed or glued to the substrate, which requires professional installation. Engineered hardwood may need to be nailed or glued, but can often be floated or locked together above the subfloor ⁴, which can make installation easier. Solid hardwood flooring can only be installed at or above grade, while engineered hardwood can be installed below grade in basements.

Laminate flooring is almost always installed in a floating application with the planks fitting together in a tongue and groove style, which makes a faster, easier installation than hardwood. This installation process is simple and can be installed professionally or DIY. Laminates should only be installed at or above grade, never in basements.

Maintenance

Both laminates and hardwoods are relatively easy to maintain and keep clean. Both should be swept frequently or vacuumed without the use of a beater bar. Laminates may be slightly simpler to clean, as they can be damp mopped to remove most surface debris. Laminates do scratch and dent easier than hardwood, however. Real wood floors can be sanded and refinished if necessary, while laminates cannot be refinished if scratched or damaged. In this case, removing and replacing the damaged boards is the only way to repair the floor.

Durability

A solid hardwood floor can last up to 100 years when treated properly, while engineered hardwoods can last at least 50. Laminates last only around 30 years for top-quality products and less than 20 years for more inexpensive brands.

Laminates dent easily when exposed to heavy impacts. Some softwood floors like pine may also dent, but most hardwood floors are strong enough to withstand these impacts.

Resale Value

Technically, neither type of flooring adds any value to your home. However, more than 99% of Realtors say that hardwood flooring makes a home easier to sell or helps the home to sell more quickly. In addition, homes that have hardwood floors under the carpet command a higher price when the carpets are removed than with the carpeting left intact.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

² Plywood: An engineered construction material manufactured from thin slices of wood glued together in alternating grain patterns for strength

³ Melamine resin: (Also known as Melamine) A common way to refer to melamine resin, which is a combination of the chemical melamine and formaldehyde that produces a smooth and durable hard surface. It is commonly used in Formica countertops and laminate flooring

⁴ Subfloor: The bottom-most layer of a floor, supported by joists, over which finished flooring material is laid

⁵ Exotic hardwoods: Timber from deciduous, flowering, seed-bearing trees that grow in tropical rainforests

⁷ Radiant flooring: A heating system using tubes or electric wires installed underneath the flooring