Is Engineered Flooring Better Than Laminate?

Nowadays the homeowners prefer the wood type of floors over tiles, vinyl or carpeting. When remodeling their home, some homeowners would prefer hardwood flooring. But the problem is that the hardwood floor is not easy to install and you would need the professional services of hardwood floor installers. It is also not resistant to moisture. On the other hand, laminate flooring is not really genuine wood but it is made from a composite of wood chip on bottom with melamine infused on top.

Engineered wood floors have the advantage that they are made from genuine wood. It is made of layers. On top are layers of finish wood and underneath are layers of non-finish plywood. The underneath plywood provides a greater durability and strength to the engineered wood floors.

For every type of hardwood floors, there is an equivalent type of engineered floors. There are hickory engineered flooring, oak engineering flooring, bamboo and maple. The finish layer on top of the engineered flooring is pre-finished, meaning that it’s already sealed and sanded. Another advantage of engineered floors comparing with the laminate floors is that you can sand the engineered floors after scratches develop. 

Engineered wood floors can be used even in those areas whit light moisture, such as basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. Comparing to other wood flooring products, the engineered flooring is a better choice. It is true that engineered flooring can be more costly than laminate flooring, but provides a better investment value over the long run. The engineered wood floors can be periodically sanded to erase scratches and to recondition the wood grain. And once installed, the engineered flooring can be difficult to distinguish from hardwood flooring. The engineered flooring is usually less expensive than solid plank floor.

The engineered wood floors were originally developed to be used in basement, or on the first floor of a home built on a concrete slab. The technology for engineered flooring has improved over the last 20 years and now the engineered flooring can be used anywhere. Engineered wood floors have the advantages that they are more stable and more resistant to moisture. Depending on how thick is the top veneer, engineered flooring can last from 20 to 100 years.

Even if the laminate floors will generally cost less than engineered flooring, you have to consider the costs of replacing some planks in the future, in the areas with high traffic. Laminate floors are not so durable and wear off fast. Engineered flooring feels more solid than the laminated floor. Some people dislike the hollow sound that comes from a laminate floor. 

Another advantage of the engineered flooring is that you can even install them over the existing hardwood floors when you are remodeling your house. The multilayer structure of the engineered wood floors increases the floor stability. This stability of engineered flooring allows for multiple types of installation. You can glue them down or nail them down. Installing engineered flooring is always easier than installing hardwood floors.

Laminate floors and engineered wood floors both have advantages and disadvantages. When considering the advantages and the disadvantages of each of these two popular types of flooring, a buyer should ask himself which one is the best option for his personal circumstances.