What's the truth about hardwood versus laminate flooring?
Well in the battle of flooring materials, it turns out that not much even comes close to the quality, longevity and durability of real hardwood. Let's look at the facts.
Laminate flooring doesn't look real. Laminate flooring is actually a photograph of real wood transposed onto a wood composite. For this reason you can see a repetitive patter of the faux "wood grain" as opposed to the natural beauty of wood grain and it's markings.
Here's a point that you probably never considered. Real hardwood floors sound better! High heels and other types of footwear create a loud hollow tapping sound because laminate flooring does not have the acoustic absorption of real wood. This may seem like a minor issue but many people find the sound irritating and distracting.
The most important point may be that laminate flooring doesn't hold up. Because laminate coating is thin, it can chip easily and expose the fiberboard core of the panel. Stripping and refinishing is not an option and the floor must be ripped up and thrown away. Unlike real wood that will last for generations, wear and tear is much more prevalent on a laminate floor. Well maintained hardwood floors with a polyurethane finish are water-resistant, pet resistant and child-friendly.
But how does real hardwood stack up to the other contenders in the fight for flooring superiority? Click here to find out.