Laminate vs. Hardwood Flooring

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First, it's important that you understand the difference between real wood flooring, be it engineered or solid, and plastic laminate flooring. It can be very confusing because, prior the introduction of plastic laminate flooring into the U.S., a lot of flooring dealers referred to engineered wood flooring as a wood "laminate" flooring. The distinction between the two products is becoming hazy with the advent of hybrid products that combine laminate floor construction with a real wood veneer. The terminology is sometimes confusing as well. For instance, many people confuse "Laminated Hardwood" with "Laminate Flooring". We'll try to clear things up and hopefully, you will feel better informed after reading this!

Let's begin with real wood flooring. There are a few different types of wood flooring available for you. The first, and perhaps the oldest, in existence is the "solid wood floor". These floors are generally 3/4" thick and can be purchased raw or pre-finished. The other style of wood flooring, which is now becoming much more popular, is the "engineered wood floor". Engineered wood flooring is the type of floor that is most commonly confused with plastic laminate flooring. This is a wood floor that has a top wear layer, usually 1/8" thick on better products, and then has one or more layers or "plies". The top layer is generally made out of oak, maple, cherry, etc. These engineered wood floors are gaining in popularity because, in a lot of applications, they will be more stable than the solid wood floor, cost less than the solid wood floor, and can be refinished like the solid wood floor. Engineered wood floors are also able to be installed using methods not available with solid wood floors, as there are styles that can be glued down, free floated, or stapled.

Now let's discuss what is now referred to as "laminate" flooring. These days when we say laminate flooring we're talking about "plastic laminate" flooring. A lot of consumers don't even refer to it this way; they simply say "Pergo" flooring. The reason for this is that Pergo, a brand name, was one of the first to introduce their product in the U.S. As of about six months ago there was estimated to be almost one hundred different brands of laminate flooring on the market worldwide. The easiest way to describe laminate flooring would be to say that it is similar to your mica countertop, only much stronger. The surface is actually a plastic type composition applied to the core using heat and pressure. The core is usually made of high density fiber or particle board and the backing can be a paper or another layer of laminate. Plastic laminate floors are extremely durable, however they cannot ever be refinished or recoated once they are scratched or worn. Another down side to the laminate flooring is that the pattern is printed and many of the boards, in some cases all of the boards are identical in appearance. Those are generally the main differences between real wood floors and plastic laminate floors.

Okay, so now that you know the differences between these types of flooring, let's discuss which is better for your needs. You have to evaluate your individual situation to make an educated decision and we can help you make this determination. Listed below are a few questions and hypothetical situations you may want to review that will assist you in making your choice:

What style house do I have and which floor will be better suited to that style?(e.g., Will real wood or laminate flooring better suit my home's decor?)

Selecting the right flooring style, such as laminate or hardwood, for your home's decor is very important. Floors have two purposes-practical and decorative. By choosing just the right type of flooring you can create warmth and personality to best suit your room. You should also consider how your new flooring choice blends with the décor of adjoining rooms, thus creating visual flow. Hardwood and laminate floors can both enhance the overall look and feel of any room, creating the style and mood you have been searching for.
What are my long term goals with regard to a new floor? (e.g., How long do you plan on being in the house?)

Regardless of the price of your home, if you're planning on being in that home beyond seven to ten years and don't want to replace the floors again for the duration of your stay, then there is no doubt that a good quality real wood floor would be the better choice. The main reason for this being that you will be able to resurface the real wood floor when it shows signs of wear and tear, whereas you will may have to replace the plastic laminate floor altogether.
Have I established a budget?

If you have established a budget of, let's say, $3.50 per square foot or less for material and you don't plan on exceeding that budget then the plastic laminates should absolutely be your choice. I say this because, although you can get real wood flooring for $3.50 per square foot or less, the type of the real wood flooring available to you at this price level will not give you the same performance you can expect out of plastic laminate floors at this price or less. To get a real wood floor with a good quality finish that will have a durability level close to that of the plastic laminate flooring you should expect to pay somewhere between $3.75 to, in some cases, over $7.00 per square foot. An average price range for what we consider to be a good quality wood floor is $4.00 to $5.00 per square foot. As an added note, we are basing these unit prices on the prices that we sell wood flooring for. If you were shopping retail, you would add anywhere from 15% to 30% to these figures.
What type of traffic do you have in the house and how much abuse will the floor have to endure?

The level of traffic and/or flooring "abuse" in your home will also play an important role in your decision. Let's say you have a family with three kids, two dogs, many relatives that visit often, and a lot of friends that take advantage of your big screen television and endless supply of free beer. If this is like your home than you better make sure that you either go with a plastic laminate or a "very good" quality wood floor! Heavy traffic, such as in this home would make installing a low quality wood floor a mistake. It will not hold up to your expectations whatsoever. As an added note, although the plastic laminate floors may be more resistant than inexpensive wood floors, there are also lower quality laminate floors that will not hold up well under high traffic either.
Does resale value have any relevance in my decision?(e.g., Am I looking for a floor that will be an investment and increase the value of my home?)

If resale and the value of your home is a concern than you definitely want to consider good quality real wood flooring. When speaking with any realtor that knows their business, they should advise you that real wood flooring is considered an upgrade to your home and increases the value, while plastic laminate flooring does not. Real wood flooring is truly an investment into your home. The plastic laminate flooring, while holding up well during your stay in the home, really does nothing for the resale value. Since plastic laminate cannot be resurfaced, it is considered temporary. Anyone buying a house where laminate flooring is installed knows that it will need to be replaced most likely during the period of time that they will be living there.

Please understand that while we've listed these questions and situations as a way to help you make an educated decision, you will need to consider all these factors combined in regards to your home and needs. In some cases, your individual situation may differ from these examples. For instance, if you don't have heavy traffic in your home, and you like the look of real wood, then there's nothing wrong with using an inexpensive, real wood floor. This also holds true if you only plan on being in your home for a short period of time and want to increase the value for resale. Another case where inexpensive, real wood might be a good choice is if you are buying and remodeling a home strictly for the purpose of reselling it for a profit.

There still may be some people that would like to ask what we at JarrStar personally think. Our own personal feeling on this subject is that if you can afford the real wood flooring, go for it! In the long term, good quality wood flooring ends up being not only an investment, but also a better buy since it can be resurfaced. Additionally, nothing beats the look and feel of real wood. However, if your kids, pets, friends, and/or family are just plain tough on your floors and you can't afford real wood floors then go with the laminate flooring, unless you'd consider tile and/or carpeting.