Wood Laminate Vs Engineered Wood

Laminate flooring is a fully man made material that consists of several layers.

Wood laminate vs engineered wood.

If you re seeking an alternative to hardwood but laminate doesn t sound like the material for you consider engineered wood or luxury vinyl. Comparing engineered wood with laminate is an interesting and worthwhile exercise and you might be surprised by the results. Laminate vs engineered wood flooring. If you re set on having a real hardwood look an engineered hardwood is an easier installation and more affordable price point than a solid hardwood.

Engineered wood flooring. Photo by johnson mcleod design consultants cons of wood look tile. The natural top layer makes engineered wood just as durable as traditional hardwood and provides the same classic timeless look. Engineered wood features a thin veneer top layer of solid wood.

Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood debate right there. Major differences solid hardwood flooring as the name suggests is comprised of flooring boards that are solid hardwood material through and through. Both resemble true hardwood but each comes with its own benefits and disadvantages.

Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. Hardwood is more durable in many ways but tile stands up to scratches from the paws of furry friends better than wood. Appearance of laminate flooring vs engineered hardwood engineered hardwood floors give the look of a hardwood floor and come in a range of looks textures styles and colors. Then there s the core of the plank typically made from layers of plywood or high density fiberboard hdf.

Below are cr s top scoring options for engineered wood laminate linoleum prefinished solid wood porcelain tile and vinyl flooring plus a runner up in each category. There s actually not that much between them and most of the pros and cons are the same as comparing laminate vs hardwood. Then a transparent wear layer is applied to protect the surface. Laminate runs 1 to 7 per square foot depending on the quality.

The boards usually 3 4 inch thick are generally milled with a smooth top surface and tongue and groove edges that interlock to hold the boards together. For many folks that ends the laminate vs. Engineered wood contains a slice of natural wood on top while laminate uses a photographic layer that is coated with a protective layer.