WHAT BENEFITS DO LAMINATE FLOORS HAVE OVER SOLID HARDWOOD FLOORS?

Long planks of solid wood flooring are often composed of hardwood species. To ensure that the boards interlock when mounted, tongues and grooves were cut into the opposing edges. It is always fastened to the flooring with nails, which calls for some competence. Since this flooring is made of solid wood, it may be sanded and refinished numerous times over its lifespan.

A basic layer of fiberboard made from leftover wood is the first step in making laminate flooring. A design layer that is printed to seem like wood or another substance is placed on top of this. The design layer is shielded by a strong, transparent wear layer that resists stains and scratches well. With press-and-hold and hold edges that clamp together to attach the boards, laminate flooring boards are made of relatively thin material that ranges in thickness from 6 to 12 mm (or 1/4 to 1/2 inch). This floor is airborne and doesn’t need to be nailed or glued down. Although laminate flooring is far less expensive than hardwood, it will not last as long because it is constructed of a synthetic fiberboard composition and has a laminate finish.

Solid hardwood and laminated flooring have a variety of characteristics in common, yet these characteristics make them distinctive or beneficial in their own right. A couple of them are given below for comparison.

1. OUTWARD APPEARANCE
   • A premium, incredibly beautiful, and indisputable prestigious building material is solid hardwood flooring. Red or white oak, two, even more, affordable real hardwood species, are typically more appealing than the phony premium species used in laminate.
   • High-quality laminate flooring can almost resemble real wood from a distance. However, people can nearly always detect that laminate flooring is not genuine hardwood upon closer investigation. Modern, high-quality laminates now feature a more random repetition pattern and a surface granular texture that is more integrated.

2. SENSITIVITY TO HEAT AND WATER

• Despite being common in kitchens, solid hardwood is also not advised for moist areas. Floods and standing water can harm solid hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring can be installed over thermal heating systems, but be careful not to overheat the wood as this will cause the boards to shrink and the seams to open up.
• The fiberboard core and edges of laminate surfaces can expand and chip if water gets into the joints between planks, despite the fact that laminate surfaces are very water- and stain-resistant. In moist environments like bathrooms, it is not advised. It is possible to put laminate flooring over radiant heating systems because of its high level of heat resistance.

3. MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING

• Scrubbing or vacuuming, followed by damp mopping with a wood cleaner, is all that is required to clean a solid hardwood floor. Wood floors in modern homes are protected with an acrylic varnish, so waxing or polishing them is never recommended.
• A vacuum or mop may be used to clean laminate flooring with ease. A damp mop that has been sprayed with laminate floor cleaning should be used for mopping. There is never a need to varnish. A steam cleaner should never be used, and limit your water usage.

4. DURABILITY AND UPKEEP

• Hardwood floors have a very long lifespan. Depending on use and maintenance, hardwood may require periodic recoating or refinishing. It is advised to periodically reseal the floor, and when the damage is severe, the floor can be sanded down and refurbished. Use caution while selecting this procedure because most floors deteriorate after three or four sandings.
• Laminate flooring provides a mediocre level of impact resistance. Expect a maximum of 10 years of use. Water penetration scrapes from chair legs, and even UV radiation can all pose risks to laminate that reduce its longevity.  It is impossible to refinish or sand laminate flooring. Replacement is the only option when it has been damaged.

5. COST AND PRICE

• Solid hardwood flooring costs between 500 PKR and 600 PKR per square foot. The cost of common hardwoods like oak, maple, and ash ranges from 600 PKR to 800 PKR per square foot, with more expensive species.  Narrower flooring made of uncommon species and wider flooring made of the same species costs at least 500 PKR per square foot, with prices rising sharply after that.
• Typically, laminate flooring costs between 200 PKR and 300 PKR per square foot. There are also options for designer flooring, which can cost up to 500 PKR to 800 PKR per square foot. The better, more luxury products can be differentiated by their thicker wear layers.

WHAT MAKES LAMINATE FLOORING PREFERABLE TO SOLID WOOD FLOORING?

Although occasionally refinished, hardwood floors normally endure far longer than laminate flooring. If you want to install the flooring yourself or have a tight budget, laminate flooring may be an alternative. The discerning eye would never mistake laminate flooring for genuine hardwood, yet it can still be a useful flooring option in many circumstances. Laminate flooring is the perfect investment if you want to increase the value of your house while staying within your budget. Also Installing laminate flooring is typically less expensive than hardwood flooring. However, if you choose laminate rather than hardwood, you can save money depending on how long you want to live in your house. Although the qualities of both flooring options are essentially the same, some individuals find laminate flooring to be a little nicer.

When picking the floor, it is often crucial to consult interior architects or designers. To learn more about our product variety or the best flooring, visit Ebony Woods or get in touch with us.