Flooring Materials Comparison: Hardwood vs. Laminate vs. Vinyl

Renovating your home isn’t a small task. It can be all-consuming, depending on how much you’re putting into your remodeling project.

Maybe you’ve been sold on hardwood for years – you know it’s your flooring of choice. But something’s holding you back. Should you really lay hardwood throughout? Is it the best choice for your busy household? Or would another flooring material be better?

We get these questions a lot. With so many options available, starting with a flooring materials comparison is best. It’ll help you decide between three of the most popular flooring products: hardwood, laminate, and vinyl.

Why hardwood flooring may be the right choice 

Hardwood flooring is a popular choice for many homeowners because of its durability, beauty, and versatility.

Hardwood flooring is highly durable and can last for many years with proper maintenance. It is also resistant to scratches, dings, and wear and tear, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas of the home.

Flooring Materials Comparison: Hardwood vs. Laminate vs. VinylLet’s talk aesthetics. Hardwood flooring is a timeless choice that can complement any decorating style. It comes in a wide variety of colors, stains, and finishes, and can be customized to suit your personal tastes. Hardwood flooring also increases the value of a home, and can be a selling point to potential buyers.

Hardwood flooring is also a versatile choice as it can be installed in any room of the home, including living rooms and kitchens. It’s easy to clean and maintain, making it a great choice for busy households.

Furthermore, hardwood flooring is an eco-friendly option as it’s a renewable resource and is made of natural materials. It’s a healthier option as it doesn’t trap dust and allergens.

If you have your heart set on hardwood flooring, you’ll never go wrong by installing it.

Why laminate flooring may be the right choice 

Laminate flooring is a popular choice for many homeowners due to its affordability, durability, and versatility.

Laminate flooring is a cost-effective option compared to hardwood or natural stone. It is made from a composite material that mimics the look and feel of natural wood or stone, but at a fraction of the cost. This makes it a great choice for those on a budget.

Laminate flooring is highly resistant to scratches, dings, and stains, making it a durable choice. It is also easy to clean and maintain, making it perfect for busy households. That makes it a suitable material for high-traffic areas and homes with kids and pets.

Laminate flooring is versatile in its design options. It comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and finishes, and can mimic the look of different types of wood or stone. This allows homeowners to achieve the look they want at a more affordable price.

Additionally, laminate flooring is an eco-friendly option as it’s made of composite materials and doesn’t require cutting down trees.

Suppose you’re looking for an affordable, durable, and versatile flooring that can mimic the look of expensive materials at a fraction of the cost. In that case, laminate may be just what you’re looking for. Manufacturers are creating dynamic product lines that are easy to fall in love with.

Why vinyl flooring may be the right choice 

Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) are  popular with many homeowners due to its durability, versatility, and affordability.

LVP flooring is highly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic, scratches, and spills. It’s also water-resistant, making it an excellent option for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. LVP is also easy to clean and maintain, making it perfect for busy households.

LVP flooring comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns and finishes, and can mimic the look of different types of wood, stone, or tile. This allows homeowners to achieve the look they want, whether it’s a modern or traditional style. It’s also suitable for any room of the house, including bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms.

LVP flooring is affordable compared to hardwood, tile, or natural stone flooring. It’s made of composite materials that mimic the look and feel of natural wood or stone, but at a fraction of the cost. If you’re looking for a do-it-yourself version, many choose LVP. With its click-and-lock technology, you can have it in place quickly.

LVP flooring has become such a stylish option, even professionals have a hard time determining if it’s “real.” It gives you the best of what you buy hardwood for, yet gives you a little more. Some manufacturers now offer waterproof options, meaning it can sustain whatever your family throws at it throughout the day. No more worrying about the kids splashing in the tub, or dropping a bottle of liquid in the kitchen. It’s the flooring that keeps on delivering.

And you get all of that at a fraction of the cost. If you want the looks without the price and fuss, luxury vinyl planks may be the perfect fit.

How to use flooring comparisons to finalize your decision

When deciding between hardwood, laminate, and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring for your home, it’s important to consider the various factors that come into play, such as durability, cost, and design options. Consider these factors closely to help you make a more informed decision, settling on the flooring that best suits your needs.

Durability

Hardwood flooring is known for its durability and ability to withstand heavy foot traffic, scratches, and dings. Laminate flooring is also durable and can resist heavy foot traffic and scratches, but it is not as resistant to water damage as hardwood. LVP flooring is also durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic, scratches, and spills. In some cases, LVP may also be waterproof, making it a great choice in bathrooms and basements.

Cost

Hardwood flooring is generally more expensive than laminate or LVP flooring. Laminate flooring is a cost-effective option and is more affordable than hardwood, but it’s less durable than LVP. LVP flooring is affordable and often less expensive than hardwood or laminate flooring.

Design options

Hardwood flooring comes in a wide variety of colors, stains, and finishes, and can be customized to suit your personal tastes. Laminate flooring also comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and finishes, and can mimic the look of different types of wood or stone. LVP flooring comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns and finishes, and can mimic the look of different kinds of wood, stone, or tile.

Eco-friendly

Hardwood flooring is an eco-friendly option as it’s a renewable resource made of natural materials. Laminate flooring is also an eco-friendly option as it’s made of composite materials, depending on its construction. LVP does use synthetic materials, but you can find manufacturers who do a good job of being as sustainable as possible.

What’s your choice? Compare and consider wisely.

There isn’t a wrong or right choice, only the best choice for your unique situation.

When deciding between hardwood, laminate, and LVP flooring, it’s important to consider the factors of durability, cost, design options, and eco-friendly. By comparing these factors, you can make a more informed decision and choose the flooring that best suits your needs and budget.

Stop by today to consider your choices.

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With So Many Options, Is Laminate Still a Good Choice?

These days, if you decide you want to install wood flooring in your home, you have a lot of options. You’ll find row after row of traditional hardwood in all sorts of sizes, colors, and styles.

You’ll also find something more. Luxury vinyl tile now comes in planks you can drop into place, click together, and have a do it yourself floor in a matter of hours. Take a look at porcelain tile – yep, it’s also mimicking hardwood flooring.

It’s everywhere.

It can also leave you confused.

When you initially started shopping, you were sold on the benefits of laminate flooring. Is it still something to consider? Is laminate a good choice for today’s home?

What is laminate flooring

What made laminate a popular flooring choice in the past still holds true today. Laminate flooring looks like hardwood, but offers you many other benefits, including easy maintenance and an affordable cost.

Laminate flooring looks like hardwood planks. But instead of being crafted from solid wood, laminate is created in several layers and fused together for durability.

  • Wear layer – this top layer provides strong protection against all your family can dish out including stains, scratches, and fading.
  • Design layer – this can either be a thin veneer or a high-resolution photograph that mimics the hardwood styles you love.
  • Inner core layer – this provides stability, durability, sound absorption, and moisture resistance. It’s made from a high-density wood fiberboard.
  • Bottom layer – the backing layer, it offers protection against moisture, damage, and warping.

In general, you’ll find laminate flooring comes in two separate types.

With So Many Options, Is Laminate Still a Good Choice?Engineered wood – laminate is often referred to as engineered wood because of the multiple layers pressed together to create one board. The core layers can be as many as twelve layers of fiberboard pressed together for strength. The veneer, or top layer, is a very thin piece of natural wood that gives it its classic good looks. The term engineered comes from creating a plank with the looks of traditional hardwood, yet pressed together with many other benefits that can give you durability and longevity without the high price. Depending on how thick the top layer determines how many times you can sand and refinish the floor.

Plastic laminate – unlike engineered wood, plastic laminate is completely created in the lab, with the design layer being a photograph to mimic the look of natural wood. The other layers closely resemble those used in creating engineered laminate.

Thanks to technology, laminate looks closer to the real thing than ever before. But it does so at a fraction of the price. It’s tougher, easier to maintain, and resists things like scratches and dents. That makes it a good choice for busy families with pets and kids. Its lower cost also means you won’t worry as much about the action that occurs throughout your home.

What to consider when choosing laminate 

When a lot of people think of laminate, they remember stories from years before when it had a hollow sound. Technological advances have made high-quality laminate even better than it was before. Of course, that means you’ll have to wade through the products to find the best laminate your money can buy.

There are several things to consider when selecting high-quality laminate.

Purpose

Especially here in Colorado, hardwood tops the list of flooring choices for homeowners. But if you’ve owned hardwood before, or are leery because of what you’ve been reading about hardwood’s upkeep, laminate might be a better choice for you. Because of its multi-layer design, it gives you the look of hardwood with better wear factors. That means it’s a good choice for all the rooms in your home. If you haven’t had good luck with hardwood in your basement, for example, (and hardwood is rarely recommended for basement settings), you’re going to love the look of laminate flooring.

Location

What makes hardwood difficult to maintain in places like the kitchen or basement gives laminate a distinct advantage. When selecting laminate, be sure to read all manufacturer’s guidelines based on the location you’ll be installing it in. Often, it requires a certain underlayment to give it added durability and strength.

You can also look for laminate products exclusively made for high traffic areas. Look for the terms “high pressure” and “direct pressure” laminate. Direct pressure laminate is created from four layers used together with anywhere from 300 to 600 pounds of pressure. High pressure adds a fifth layer of craft  paper treated with a resin that increases the strength. This makes it even more durable in high traffic situations, and makes it suitable even for commercial applications.

Thickness

You’ll find laminate comes in a variety of thicknesses, usually between 7mm and 12mm thick. If you select thicker laminate, it does a better job covering uneven areas in your floor, and creates a texture and feel of real hardwood. Thicker is also better for sound absorbing qualities. Word of caution: some manufacturers state the thickness of their flooring by including the underlayment, while others do not. Keep this in mind when comparing two floorings.

AC rating

Laminate flooring also comes with an AC rating (Abrasion Criteria) to help you determine the durability of the product. AC ratings are from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. You’ll find most residential laminate applications come with an AC rating of 3 or 4. A 3 would make it suitable for busy areas of your home, including the kitchen, while a 4 rating will add extra stability, making it more sustainable for places like bathrooms and the basement. A rating of 1 or 2 should be used in light traffic areas such as bedrooms.

Installation

While hardwood can be fussier with the installation process, you’ll find laminate is easier to install. Have a do it yourself attitude? You can easily install laminate, especially if you pick a floating floor with click-and-lock technology that makes snapping planks into place a breeze. Remember, laminate does need an underlayment unless the flooring comes preinstalled with an underlayment layer in place. You will need a saw for edgework and ensuring all planks fit comfortably into place.

Are you ready for laminate flooring installed in your home? Depending on your needs, it can still be the perfect choice for every room in your home.

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The Pros and Cons to Laminate Flooring

Exotic-Specialty-Hardwood-Flooring-angicoLaminate flooring is quickly becoming one of the most popular types of flooring today, and for good reasons. Not only is it friendly on your budget, laminate flooring is easy to install and looks great too.

But, like any building material, laminate floors are not perfect. Do the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to choosing laminate flooring for your home? Let’s take a look.

Pros of laminate flooring

It’s durable. One of the most durable floor choices, laminate flooring is known for its toughness. It boasts scratch-resistant qualities and it will not fade if it is exposed to sunlight.

It is stain resistant. Laminate floors are resistant to most stains, and they are also water-resistant if spills are quickly wiped.

It’s easy to install. Laminate flooring does not require any nailing or gluing to a subfloor. Most flooring planks can be easily attached and snapped together.

It looks great. Because laminate flooring looks like real wood, it can give your home a polished look that can’t be beat.

It’s available in many designs. Modern laminate flooring comes in tile and hardwood designs, and there is sure to be one that fits your home’s style.

Cons of laminate flooring

It is difficult to repair. While real wood floors can be refinished many times over, laminate flooring is more difficult to repair because it can’t simply be sanded. Instead, a damaged or worn laminate floor needs to have its damaged planks removed and new ones installed in order to restore the appearance of the floor.

It’s prone to damage from moisture. Laminate is more susceptible to moisture damage than wood. If laminate wood is exposed to standing water, it can break down and expand. The floor will then require a replacement.

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