Things to consider when deciding between hardwood and laminate flooring for your home

Designing any room in your home begins with choosing your flooring. While choosing the floor during construction or home remodeling might not be the first thing you think about, the flooring you choose will influence your room's overall aesthetic. It will also influence how everything else in the room flows.

Using laminate flooring is a good option for an affordable, heat resistant, and moisture resistant room flooring solution. While hardwood flooring is the ideal selection for those seeking a floor covering that is easy to clean and maintain, has a longer lifespan, and is aesthetically pleasing. It all depends on your aesthetic preferences and budget when choosing the right flooring type.

Different factors to consider before choosing between hardwood and laminate flooring for your home

Appearance

It is possible to alter your room's overall appearance by choosing laminated or hardwood flooring. The texture and material of solid hardwood floors make them an attractive option.

On the other hand, laminate wood flooring has its advantages. As the thickness of the layers varies from piece to piece, laminate flooring by Clever Choice offers the advantage of customizability. The flooring may look like wood from a distance or at certain angles.

Water and Heat Resistance

In rooms such as your bathroom, laundry room, or basement, hardwood and laminate floors are not the best options for flooring because they don't have high water resistance. The durability of hardwood flooring makes it suitable for use in areas such as the kitchen.

In addition, laminate floors are water-resistant and can withstand minor spills on the board's surface due to the wearing layer. However, the moisture seeps into the edges of the fiberboard and eventually makes its way into the fiberboard, causing swelling and chipping that could affect the surrounding boards.

Maintenance and Repairs

Maintaining hardwood floors correctly can extend their life by 10 years or more. Regularly recoating and refinishing hardwood floors are part of hardwood floor maintenance. Hardwood floors can be sanded down and refinished in case of severe damage, but this should only be done four times in most cases.

The laminate flooring quality can begin to deteriorate as soon as 10 years have passed. Laminate flooring can however, be maintained properly to extend its lifespan. Hardwood flooring can be repaired, whereas laminate flooring cannot. However, laminate flooring cannot be refinished or sanded. As laminate flooring cannot be repaired, you are forced to replace the damaged tiles.

Cleaning and Care

Simple cleaning methods can be used on hardwood floors. Utilize a vacuum designed for solid hardwood floors to get the best results. Older flooring types require polishing or waxing, but new flooring is already coated with polyurethane varnish, so it doesn't require much maintenance.

Mopping, vacuuming, and sweeping laminate flooring are all recommended methods to clean laminated flooring. When cleaning laminate floors, use a laminate floor cleaner rather than an all-purpose floor cleaner to achieve the best results.

Conclusion

Choosing laminate floors or hardwood floors is never wrong. Hardwood flooring is the better choice if you want wood that looks as real as possible, can endure years of wear and tear and can last a lifetime. On the other hand, laminate flooring is an excellent option if you need something more affordable and versatile and don't mind installing it yourself. At Clever choice, we can help you find the right flooring to help you meet your aesthetic needs. Providing the highest quality flooring solutions at the most competitive price is the primary focus of Clever Choice as we strive to create a friendly, helpful, and professional customer experience.