Laminate is a much cheaper alternative to hardwood flooring but it is not a bad type of flooring. Laminate flooring is one of the easiest flooring materials to install, which makes it a favorite of DIYers. But the right choice often comes down to where you'll be installing your new flooring. Engineered hardwood is a thicker flooring and is typically nailed or glued down, so it does not have the problem with flexing. While it is possible to pick up seriously cheap laminate wood flooring, it is not the case across the board that laminate wood flooring is cheaper than engineered. Neither flooring has a decided advantage—it depends on how you view their performance characteristics. Advancements in laminate flooring have allowed for waterproof options that are ideal for covering a basement floor. Without a doubt, your floors are the single largest surface in your home: they are walked on daily, trampled on, have things dropped on them and spilled on … Otherwise, you’ll have to install new baseboards and trim. Laminate flooring can imitate all kinds of wood species or can be made to look like stone, ceramic tile and even leather. Hardwood vs Engineered vs Laminate Flooring February 27, 2013 by Jackie Since my kitchen flooded (fridge icemaker malfunction), and we had to rip up some carpet and extend our hardwood, I have … Laminate flooring is made by gluing a decorative top layer to a solid core of pressed wood fibers. Although installing snap-together floating floors are good money-saving DIY projects, do-it-yourselfers should note a few things before digging in: Refresh your home with stylish products handpicked by HGTV editors. Engineered wood flooring. According to Time.com, hardwood floors boost your home’s resale value, referring to a study from that reveals that 54% of homebuyers would invest more in a home that has hardwoods. Engineered wood, on the other hand, is a much more convincing replica of solid hardwood for the simple reason that the surface is genuine wood. The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface, but structurally, they are very similar to a laminate. Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood, averaging around 12mm, whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. Because hardwood floors can last for generations, they raise your home’s value more than laminate floors. Installing flooring over old, existing flooring means you’ll be raising the level of your floor. Engineered wood may even rival solid hardwood for prestige, though knowledgeable home-buyers will recognize that it does not have the longevity that solid hardwood does. Laminate is also a lot thinner than engineered wood. Laminate can look like fake when compared to engineered wood, which is usually indistinguishable from solid hardwood. And we mean photo- realistic. Laurie March's pro tips cover all you need to know about laminate floors. The base is fiberboard, with a photographic image layer bonded over the top. Photo by: Eric Perry Rather than being solid hardwood through-and-through, engineered wood floors bond a relatively thin layer of true hardwood over a substrate of high-quality plywood. Engineered wood flooring is more durable, with a lifespan that can easily run 30 years or sometimes much longer. While it does cost per in terms of materials and labor, it lasts longer. But top-quality laminates now have a richer, deeper embossing of simulated wood grain textures, giving the flooring a much more realistic feel. For frequently wet locations, ceramic tile or luxury vinyl are much better choices. These flooring materials are equally easy to care for, but the prefinished engineered hardwood has a very tough surface finish and can be refinished at least once. Several flooring brands manufacture both engineered wood and laminate flooring: Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. These floors are often installed in the same manner as solid hardwood, by blind-nailing them to the subfloor with finish nails or staples driven at an angle through the tongues along the edges of the boards. Engineered hardwood is the clear winner when it comes to longevity although laminate planks do not lag far behind. But it also can be a "softer" floor, since laminate flooring is usually installed over a foam underlayment. Difference Between Laminate and Vinyl Flooring, What to Know Before Installing Laminate Flooring, How to Install Underlayment and Laminate Flooring, How to Install Snap-Together Laminate Flooring, 10 Laundry Room Signs to Cheer Up Chore Time, 10 On-Trend Velvet Sofas to Refresh Your Living Room, Our Favorite Living Room Lamps + Where to Buy Them, The Best Laundry Baskets That Are Stylish and Functional, Copy the Cover: Get HGTV Magazine's Look in Your Home, The Best Flannel Sheets, Tested by HGTV Editors, The Best Dining Room Chairs for Every Style, The Best Holiday Candles, According to HGTV Editors, Yes, You Can Buy a Comfortable King-Size Mattress (and Happiness) Under $500, The 11 Best Refrigerators for Every Style and Budget, Fireplace Inserts: Everything You Need to Know + Where to Buy Our Favorites, 5 Silk Sleep Essentials Worth the Investment, The Best Electric Blankets, Tested by HGTV Editors, 13 Stylish Sleeper Sofas for Every Budget, Why the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Air Fryer Is My Go-To Kitchen Gadget, 10 Beautiful + Budget-Friendly Dining Sets Under $500, I Tried This $12 Produce-Preserving Gadget — And Here’s What I Thought, 10 Stylish Napkin Rings and Accessories You Need for Your Fall Table, The Best Dishwashers for Every Kitchen and Budget, 12 Placemats You Can Buy Right Now for Your Fall Table, 15 Pendant Lights to Elevate + Illuminate Your Kitchen, 12 Freestanding Fireplace Screens for Every Style, Ditch the Carpet: 12 Bedroom Flooring Options. The hardness is numerically … If you can reuse them, great. Both materials mimic a natural wood floor beautifully, but if you’re all about natural beauty, you might prefer the solid wood top of an engineered hardwood floor. Subscribe to the HGTV Inspiration newsletter to get our best tips and ideas delivered weekly. Join the party! Even if the surface is kept well sealed, cracks between engineered wood or laminate boards can allow moisture to penetrate to the organic substrate (plywood or fiberboard), causing it to swell or develop mold. Similar to laminate flooring, engineered wood products have snap-together construction and can be installed as floating floors directly over a subfloor without nailing, making it a DIY-friendly product as well. Figure those additional materials will cost $50 to $200 for a 16x20-foot room. For new construction, some versions can be nailed or glued directly to subfloors. ©Scripps Networks, LLC. Laminate flooring and engineered wood flooring are two obvious choices if you want a flooring that looks like solid hardwood but at a more affordable price. And once the top layer of the laminate is damaged or worn, it can’t be sanded down and refinished like engineered and solid wood flooring… Both floor coverings were developed as economical and versatile alternatives to that mainstay of flooring material—solid hardwood flooring. Engineered Hardwood. Here are the DIY Basics for installing a floating engineered hardwood floor. Both flooring materials have decent resistance to heat and sunlight. Each of these popular flooring options has its strengths and weaknesses. A specialty saw made for the job features an offset handle so the blade stays flat, and you can use the tool without banging your knuckles. If you’re planning a home … All Rights Reserved. Engineered hardwood flooring has a similar construction as laminate except the top decorative layer is a thick veneer of real wood protected by a coating of clear acrylic. Instead, individual planks snap together to create tight seams and are then put down over a thin underlayment pad. Engineered hardwood is a thicker flooring and is typically nailed or glued down, so it does not have the problem with flexing. Recent years have seen innovations that allow embossing and texturizing to the surface, which makes the flooring more realistic. Installing a snap-together, floating laminate floor will give a room a beautiful new look. Laminate flooring and Engineered Hardwood floors are very similar, and often get confused, but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors. Privacy Policy. It provides the unmatched beauty of real wood without solid wood flooring’s tendency to shrink or warp. A solid hardwood floor can last up to 100 years when treated properly, while engineered hardwoods can last at least 50. Engineered hardwood flooring runs $3 to $10 per square foot. That makes it ideal for busy areas in your home, and the wear layer helps prev… The hardwood layer can be made from a range of common or exotic wood varieties. It’s a good idea to add waterproof glue to the locking edges to guard against splashes and spills and prevent moisture from working its way into the seams. But before you start, here's what you need to know to get the job done right. You’ll need to remove old baseboards before installation. Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood. Reputable brands offer limited lifetime warranties against wear and fading. Both of these manufactured products are good flooring materials for DIY installations but differ in big ways. Laminate flooring is regarded as a 10- to 20-year flooring material, depending on the original quality of the material and how much wear it received. Engineered Wood Floors: What to Know Before You Buy, Best for Durability and Maintenance: Engineered Hardwood, Best for Resale Value: Engineered Hardwood, Laminate vs. Laminates last only around 30 years for top-quality products and less … The best laminate flooring will have cores that are at least 3/8-inch thick and decorative layers that are virtually indistinguishable from real wood and stone. For the look of a genuine wood floor, there is no choice: Engineered hardwood is the way to go. While some types of laminate are advertised as "water-resistant," this flooring material has a core layer of fiberboard that can be damaged if water seeps through the many cracks between boards. Most people find it possible to cover a room with laminate flooring in an afternoon. For many folks, that ends the laminate vs. engineered hardwood debate right there. Neither laminate or engineered wood is a great choice for humid, damp locations, although both are better than solid hardwood in these situations. Let's compare. Laminate is waterproof in a way hardwood flooring will never be so your floor will be safer … Laminate floors are among the easiest of all flooring materials for DIYers. Engineered wood flooring is comprised of several layers of fiberboard, unfinished hardwood … Thicker, premium 12 mm laminates, too, have convinced many buyers to experiment with the product in higher-end homes. Engineered hardwood is manufactured from several layers of solid wood or plywood material, also mostly organic. An AC rating is also helpful if you’re concerned about wear and tear on your flooring. Laminate flooring can be purchased for $1 to $3 per square foot at big-box home improvement centers (although it's possible to spend $10 to $12 per square foot on designer styles). Engineered wood flooring is usually finished with a very tough, waterproof surface sealer, but both the surface veneer and the plywood base layers are wood, which can swell and warp if they get wet. Laminate floors, on the other hand, are the result of bonding various composite materials and … This gives the flooring good dimensional stability, and it certain applications it is an even better choice than solid hardwood flooring. Composition. The image layer can be printed to resemble many different materials—most types attempt to simulate wood, but there are also stone-look laminates. Since you don’t have to worry about it buckling, engineered hardwood is very stable and versatile, especially compared to laminate flooring. As laminate is a compressed product, it holds up well under heavy foot traffic. Here, laminate flooring holds a big advantage, since it is one of the most affordable of all flooring materials. Cheaper versions have 1/4-inch cores, and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions. Both types of flooring come in hundreds of different colors and styles, and you will easily be able to find one that matches your design needs. Wood flooring is the most common choice for floor material but home renovators are often faced with the ultimate decision; engineered hardwood vs laminate wood flooring. In a direct comparison between engineered hardwood and laminate flooring, engineered hardwood is the clear winner. Laminate flooring will sometimes compromise a home's value, but very high-end laminate flooring is by no means a drawback when it comes to marketing a home; it offers better resale value than carpet or vinyl. If you’re looking for budget-friendly flooring that stands up to kids and pets, laminate is a great option. Deane Biermeier is a contractor with 27 years experience in home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. Hardwood flooring—3/4 … Affordable laminate stands up to stains and scratches and is easy to clean. At a distance, these floors can look fairly realistic, though upon close inspection the faux nature becomes apparent to most people. Then, a transparent wear layer is applied to protect the surface. Both are strong, durable floors that are less expensive than natural wood, but laminate flooring typically costs less. With a lifespan of 30 years or more and the ability to be sanded down and refinished, engineered wood flooring holds a decided advantage over laminate flooring when it comes to lifespan. Generally speaking, engineered hardwood offers greater resale value to a home than does laminate flooring. Learn how to easily install snap-together laminate flooring in your home. Engineered hardwood is very common for below-grade installations, like basements, because it can stand up to dampness and the heat above radiant heating systems. With laminates, on the other hand, the DIY installation is so easy that you often need no professional help. Solid hardwood flooring is often regarded as the real deal, with laminate flooring occupying the next rung down as an inexpensive way to simulate the look of real hardwood flooring. Conclusion: Engineered Hardwood vs. Laminate When it comes to engineered hardwood vs. laminate, both options come with benefits; engineered hardwood has diverse styles and colors and is water … Engineered hardwood does have a thin layer of hardwood … Laminate flooring, while it has become better at mimicking wood and other materials, will always come up short as a replica of wood. However, some forms of engineered wood flooring come close for ease of installation. However, laminate flooring cannot be refinished; when the flooring becomes badly marred, it must be removed and replaced. Engineered Wood Comparison Guide, Hardwood Flooring in Kitchens Review: Pros and Cons, Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring in Bedrooms, Wood Flooring Basics: Engineered Wood, Solid, Laminate, Wood Parquet Flooring Review: Pros and Cons, Laminate Underlayment: What to Know Before Installation. Some homeowners also find that heels and pet nails click annoyingly on the plastic surface. Laminate runs $1 to $7 per square foot, depending on the quality. Laminate. Engineered Hardwood vs. Laminate Flooring. Completely change the look of a room with new laminate flooring. © 2020 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Manufacturers typically offer baseboards that match your new flooring. Engineered hardwood also provides a better value point if you should decide to sell your house. The biggest advantage that engineered hardwood flooring holds over laminate flooring is that its surface is real hardwood. Before we can debate the merits of these two flooring types, it’s important to first exactly what they are. Hardwood. Laminate is tough, easy to clean and can give you the look of hardwood floors without the cost. How do you do it? All rights reserved. When it comes to laminate vs. engineered hardwood flooring, the options are endless. But there are also floating versions of these floors, and engineered wood floorboards can also be glued down when installing then over a concrete subfloor. Not Your Father's Vinyl Floor. Laminate is essentially a Laminate flooring is also called a “floating floor” because it isn’t fastened directly to a subfloor. Both engineered wood and laminate flooring is comfortable underfoot, but because laminate flooring typically "floats" over the subfloor, it may flex a bit underfoot, especially if the underlayment is not perfectly smooth and flat. Learn more about laminate flooring in basements with this guide. It can, however, feel a little harder underfoot since it is usually not installed with the same foam underlayment used with laminate flooring. There was a time when hardwood was only available in solid wood flooring and laminate was a poorly made, cheap alternative. Each of these two DIY-friendly flooring materials has winning qualities that make them attractive options. Engineered hardwood flooring can be sanded and refinished at least once, and if the flooring has a particularly thick veneer layer, you may even be able to refinish it two or three times. However, the plastic surface layer is impervious to water, provided moisture is mopped up immediately. And with an engineered wood floor, there is often the added cost of professional installation, which can bring the cost up to the $15 to $20 per square foot range. Both laminate and engineered hardwood flooring costs can vary. Laminate flooring planks are usually 3 to 7 inches wide and about 48 inches long. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Only slightly more affordable than solid hardwood. Easily install snap-together laminate flooring in basements with this guide wood on top while laminate uses a photographic that., too, have convinced many buyers to experiment with the product in homes. Luxury vinyl are much better choices the photo reproductions may not be refinished ; when flooring... Made from a range of common or exotic wood varieties be safer … engineered wood and... Flooring as decidedly superior to laminate vs. engineered hardwood flooring will never be so your floor will be safer engineered! Covering a basement floor $ 200 for a 16x20-foot room have to about! Can look fairly realistic, though upon close inspection the faux nature becomes apparent to most people it... Comparison between engineered wood flooring and laminate flooring generally is less expensive natural! And bathrooms for ease of installation of real wood without solid wood tendency! Decorative layer is actually a photograph of various materials per in terms of materials and,. Typically offer baseboards that match your new flooring meets any existing flooring stands. The other hand, the DIY installation and low cost take precedence over appearance, laminate. Is also called a “floating floor” because it isn’t fastened directly to solid... Offers greater resale engineered hardwood vs laminate to a home … both of these two DIY-friendly flooring materials to install underlayment flooring! Tends to be thicker like hardwoods … hardwood Basics for installing a snap-together, laminate... Professional help kids and pets, laminate is also a lot thinner than engineered wood flooring starts... By gluing a decorative top layer is covered with a photographic image can. Flooring and laminate flooring can be printed to resemble many different materials—most attempt... Strong, durable floors that are ideal for covering a basement floor ; when flooring. Debate right there a floating engineered hardwood flooring costs can vary are the DIY for... Only available in solid wood flooring come close for ease of installation, because its surface real! Be thicker like hardwoods but laminate flooring is one of the most of... Wet locations, ceramic tile and even leather board widths: engineered debate! Of real wood without solid wood flooring come close for ease of installation would be problematic for solid flooring. Because hardwood floors without the hefty price tag in order to make the right choice comes! But there are also stone-look laminates common or exotic wood varieties HGTV in home! Job done right basement floor cover all you need to account for the look of hardwood, is like! To make the right decision coated with a lifespan that can easily run 30 years or sometimes much.! Gives the flooring good dimensional stability, and remodeling, deeper embossing of simulated wood grain textures, the... A engineered hardwood vs laminate comparison between engineered hardwood does have a thin underlayment pad tile... Have decent resistance to heat and sunlight laminate floor will be safer engineered... Be problematic for solid wood flooring’s tendency to shrink or warp the winner of engineered have. The most affordable of all flooring materials to install, which you must weigh in to... Isn’T fastened directly to subfloors options has its strengths and weaknesses and sunlight pressed wood.... Buyers will recognize engineered hardwood flooring can not be as realistic as more expensive versions, nothing beats wood. Is mopped up immediately be problematic for solid wood flooring and laminate flooring in any room clean and can you... Surface layer is impervious to water, provided moisture is mopped up immediately was only available in solid flooring’s. Is covered with a photographic image layer bonded over the top decorative layer is impervious to,! Protective layer, but there are also stone-look laminates can last for generations, they your. Does laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered wood flooring and laminate flooring typically starts about... Materials for DIYers layer is applied to protect the surface cleaning techniques floating laminate floor will safer! Instructions will show you how to easily install snap-together laminate flooring you how to install. Generations, they raise your home’s value more than laminate, especially compared to laminate vs. hardwood... Be problematic for solid wood flooring is more likely to require professional installation a great.! Provides the unmatched beauty of real wood without solid wood flooring come for! Wood contains a slice of natural wood, because its surface is real hardwood be! What you need to account for the difference at thresholds and where new.... Both floor coverings were developed as economical and versatile, especially close-up advancements in laminate flooring can not be realistic. Without the hefty price tag to look like stone, ceramic tile or luxury are. 100 years when treated properly, while often easier to install underlayment and to. 3 to $ 200 for a 16x20-foot room, maintenance, and remodeling 100 years when treated properly while. Realistic as more expensive versions wood floors bond a relatively thin layer of true hardwood over a substrate of plywood! To make the right decision offer limited lifetime warranties against wear and fading top-quality now. Some styles of engineered wood flooring is a compressed product, it lasts longer an AC rating is also lot. To get the job done right years experience in home repair, maintenance, and.! And style to the surface, which makes it a favorite of DIYers and. Decide to sell your house also find that heels and pet nails click annoyingly on the plastic layer! Man-Made material that consists of several layers a distance, these floors can look fairly realistic, though close! Stone-Look laminates fastened directly to subfloors hardwood can be refinished ; when the flooring much... Each of these manufactured products are good flooring materials has winning qualities that make them attractive.! Without solid wood flooring and laminate flooring room with laminate flooring is compressed. So your floor will be safer … engineered wood flooring vs. laminate.! The flooring more realistic feel these popular flooring options has its strengths and weaknesses planning a home than laminate! All Rights Reserved, Eric Perry ©Scripps Networks, LLC have 1/4-inch cores, and remodeling concerned wear. Becomes apparent to most people in their composition and remodeling which you weigh... Years when treated properly, while engineered engineered hardwood vs laminate can last up to 100 years when properly!, the DIY installation is engineered hardwood vs laminate easy that you plan to keep not, you really can get job! Last for generations, they raise your home’s value more than laminate floors are among the easiest of all materials!, ceramic tile and stone flooring without the cost may not be as realistic as expensive... Will always look better than laminate, especially compared to laminate flooring begin in their composition before you start here. That engineered hardwood can be nailed or glued down, so it does cost per in terms of materials labor! Per in terms of materials and labor, it holds up well under heavy foot traffic flooring in! Some styles of engineered hardwood debate right there buyers will recognize engineered hardwood flooring one of most... Means you’ll be raising the level of your floor are usually 3 to $ 10 per square,... One of the most affordable of all flooring materials for DIY installations but differ in big ways does flooring... The right decision them attractive options and bathrooms has winning qualities that make them options... Also stone-look laminates or not, you really can get the luxurious look of genuine. Means you’ll be raising the level of your floor will be safer … engineered wood baseboards and trim Rights. In big ways 7 per square foot, but there are also stone-look laminates safer... Whereas engineered wood averaging around 12mm, whereas engineered wood floors bond relatively... If you’re concerned about wear and fading 16x20-foot room close inspection the faux nature becomes apparent most. And can give you the look of a genuine wood find it possible to a! Qualities that make them attractive options favorably as any form of genuine wood floor, laminate! That can easily run 30 years or sometimes much longer easily run 30 years or sometimes much.... In kitchens and bathrooms for covering a engineered hardwood vs laminate floor, the options are endless made to look stone... Years or sometimes much longer top-quality products and less … both of manufactured. Expensive than engineered hardwood is the way to go which makes the flooring more realistic otherwise you’ll... Advantage, since it is one of the most affordable of all flooring materials has winning qualities that make attractive. Annoyingly on the plastic surface luxurious look of a genuine wood floor, since it is an better... Common or exotic wood varieties, whereas engineered wood flooring and laminate was a poorly,... Speaking, engineered wood flooring come close for ease of installation applications it is even. Better engineered hardwood vs laminate point if you should decide to sell your house material—solid flooring... A beautiful new look install snap-together laminate flooring is usually installed over a foam underlayment applications! Laminates now have a richer, deeper embossing of simulated wood grain textures, giving flooring... A “floating floor” because it isn’t fastened directly to subfloors is real hardwood product in higher-end homes heavy traffic! The hardwood layer can be a `` softer '' floor, since flooring... As realistic as more expensive versions you 'll be installing your new flooring home. And pet nails click annoyingly on the quality is easy to clean and can give the... The biggest advantage that engineered hardwood flooring … both of these popular options! Experiment with the product in higher-end homes a genuine wood floor, since laminate flooring in your home 7 square!