Conclusion: Engineered Hardwood vs. Laminate. Here’s how the two match up in the most important categories to homeowners: The winner of engineered hardwood vs. laminate flooring really depends. For frequently wet locations, ceramic tile or luxury vinyl are much better choices. With laminates, on the other hand, the DIY installation is so easy that you often need no professional help. Laminate Flooring Benefits. Comparing to other wood flooring products, the engineered flooring is a better choice. After it is shaped, a thin layer of natural wood is placed on top to give you the traditional look of old-fashioned hardwood floors. Engineered wood flooring lasts between 20-100 years if properly maintained, whereas laminate needs to be replaced after 10-20 years. There’s actually not that much between them and most of the pros and cons are the same as comparing laminate vs hardwood. Laminate floors are among the easiest of all flooring materials for DIYers. Of the two flooring materials, laminate flooring is somewhat easier to care for, since the surface layer is plastic and can easily be wiped clean. Engineered Wood. It’s important to note that while these are moisture resistant materials, they shouldn’t be used in bathrooms – there are timber-look tiles on the market which are much better options for wet areas. Engineered Hardwood vs. Laminate flooring, Laminate Flooring Installation Cost Guide. Some styles of engineered wood flooring are designed to be assembled with random board widths. Engineered hardwood flooring can be installed below, on, or above grade and over a variety of surfaces, including existing vinyl or tile floors in many instances. But if DIY installation and low cost take precedence over appearance, then laminate flooring is a good choice. Both types of flooring come in hundreds of different colors and styles, and you will easily be able to find one that matches your design needs. Laminate Vs Engineered Wood Flooring. Most people find it possible to cover a room with laminate flooring in an afternoon. Laminate flooring works similarly to engineered, as it is made up of different layers but starts with a HDF high density fibre core, with the rest being printed layers. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Engineered Wood Floors: What to Know Before You Buy, Best for Durability and Maintenance: Engineered Hardwood, Best for Resale Value: Engineered Hardwood, Laminate vs. 1. This can greatly reduce your labor costs. Engineered flooring Engineered wood may even rival solid hardwood for prestige, though knowledgeable home-buyers will recognize that it does not have the longevity that solid hardwood does. Laminate flooring is a modern marvel! Some homeowners also find that heels and pet nails click annoyingly on the plastic surface. Most prospective buyers will recognize engineered hardwood flooring as decidedly superior to laminate flooring. Neither laminate or engineered wood is a great choice for humid, damp locations, although both are better than solid hardwood in these situations. This process almost duplicated the actual feel and stability offered by real, solid hardwood flooring. Laminate flooring can’t be refinished and must be replaced when it becomes too worn in order to restore the look of the floor. However, some forms of engineered wood flooring come close for ease of installation. There are some key differences in engineered wood vs. hardwood. But it will never be viewed as favorably as any form of genuine wood. It’s core is usually plywood or high-density fibreboard (HDF) and the top layer is composed of a of hardwood veneer which is glued atop the core to mimic nearly any species of hardwood. Laminate is far easier to maintain than engineered wood flooring. Engineered wood floors can be used even in those areas whit light moisture, such as basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. Laminate flooring planks are usually 3 to 7 inches wide and about 48 inches long. What's The Difference Between Solid Wood and Engineered Wood? Unlike engineered wood flooring, laminate floors contain no hardwood, despite what they may be made to look like. However, laminate flooring cannot be refinished; when the flooring becomes badly marred, it must be removed and replaced. Laminate runs $1 to $7 per square foot, depending on the quality. Laminate flooring and engineered wood flooring are two obvious choices if you want a flooring that looks like solid hardwood but at a more affordable price. 2. Laminate flooring is often thought of as a cheaper option than engineered wood flooring. While it is possible to pick up seriously cheap laminate wood flooring, it is not the case across the board that laminate wood flooring is cheaper than engineered. Even if the surface is kept well sealed, cracks between engineered wood or laminate boards can allow moisture to penetrate to the organic substrate (plywood or fiberboard), causing it to swell or develop mold. Laminate flooring is a artificial flooring product composed of a ply or fibreboard backing with a printed plastic top. Generally, engineered wood is a more convincing but more costly option compared to laminate. Laminate flooring and Engineered Hardwood floors are very similar, and often get confused, but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors. Laminate flooring is a fully man-made material that consists of several layers. The real wood veneer layer offers the style and unique look of naturally occurring planks. Both laminate and engineered wood have merits and drawbacks, which you must weigh in order to make the right decision. But there are also floating versions of these floors, and engineered wood floorboards can also be glued down when installing then over a concrete subfloor. The biggest advantage that engineered hardwood flooring holds over laminate flooring is that its surface is real hardwood. Engineered flooring has its place and can look beautiful as well. Recent years have seen innovations that allow embossing and texturizing to the surface, which makes the flooring more realistic. And with an engineered wood floor, there is often the added cost of professional installation, which can bring the cost up to the $15 to $20 per square foot range. 4. Cheaper versions have 1/4-inch cores, and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. It will always look better than laminate, especially close-up. In laminate flooring, pre-designed patterns that imitate the look of wood texture, are imprinted onto the floor surface. Laminate flooring will sometimes compromise a home's value, but very high-end laminate flooring is by no means a drawback when it comes to marketing a home; it offers better resale value than carpet or vinyl. Engineered Wood Comparison Guide, Hardwood Flooring in Bedrooms Review: Pros and Cons, Vinyl vs. Laminate Flooring Comparison Guide, Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Review: Pros and Cons, Wood Parquet Flooring Review: Pros and Cons, Wood Flooring Basics: Engineered Wood, Solid, Laminate, Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring in Bedrooms, Laminate Underlayment: What to Know Before Installation. Laminate flooring is constructed from thin, pressed wood board with a repeating printed image of wood fused onto a fiberboard core. The cost to install flooring is approximately $2 to $4 per square foot. Here, laminate flooring holds a big advantage, since it is one of the most affordable of all flooring materials. This gives the flooring good dimensional stability, and it certain applications it is an even better choice than solid hardwood flooring. When installing an engineered wood floor, there are a few things to consider, from the condition of the subfloor to the method that you will use to install the flooring. Engineered Wood vs. Laminate Flooring. The following prices are meant as a general guide only. Unlike laminate, Engineered hardwood is also made from plywood and wood. The base is fiberboard, with a photographic image layer bonded over the top. Not sure whether to go with engineered hardwood vs. laminate flooring for your home remodel? A smooth expanse of wood flooring adds warmth and anchors a room. Engineered wood contains a slice of natural wood on top while laminate uses a photographic layer that is coated with a protective layer. Laminate flooring is almost always installed in a floating application with the planks fitting together in a tongue and groove style, which makes a faster, easier installation than hardwood. The differences between engineered wood flooring and laminate flooring begin in their composition. Now that you have the fundamentals down, let’s compare and contrast engineered hardwood vs. laminate flooring. Actual costs may vary depending on the product selected and your location. If you choose to install laminate flooring, you also need to be aware that you may need to invest in an additional layer of underlay in order to keep the floor stable and looking its best. The best way to describe engineered hardwood flooring is to think of it like a hybrid car; it’s a little bit of laminate and a little bit of hardwood. Both are strong, durable floors that are less expensive than natural wood, but laminate flooring typically costs less. Engineered oak flooring on the other hand is composed of solid oak top layer which has been attached to a strong and steady plyboard base. Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood. It is made of an mdf material (pressed wood) and then it has 1/4 inch wood veneer on the top. Once set, an engineered oak board is no difference from a solid oak floor. As it tends to provide more durability than laminate, you’ll find engineered floors offer better value for money in the long term. Hybrid Flooring Vs. Laminate Flooring: Thickness. Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood are sometimes confused with each other because they can look similar. The top is real hardwood, but it does not go solid all the way through. Both flooring materials have decent resistance to heat and sunlight. Hardwood flooring generally costs $3 to $10 per square foot;exotic or less common species will be more expensive. Even though all hardwoods are pretty durable, since laminate is pressed wood, it’s even more durable and resistant to scratches and dents. At a distance, these floors can look fairly realistic, though upon close inspection the faux nature becomes apparent to most people. Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood, averaging around 12mm, whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. Laminate flooring is one of the easiest flooring materials to install, which makes it a favorite of DIYers. However engineered wood flooring will last significantly longer than laminate due to its stronger core and resistant properties. A low-cost alternative to natural wood, laminate is a durable floor that comes with a highly realistic image layer that mimics wood planks (or other materials like stone or even metal). Some homeowners also find that heels and pet nails click annoyingly on … Laminate flooring prices vary between $1 and $5, while engineered wood prices range between $3 and $13. The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface, but structurally, they are very similar to a laminate. However, the plastic surface layer is impervious to water, provided moisture is mopped up immediately. Laminate flooring, while it has become better at mimicking wood and other materials, will always come up short as a replica of wood. Wes Posted on March 5, 2014 Posted in Engineered wood flooring, Installation and project guides, Interior design, Laminate flooring, Uncategorized No Comments. Engineered Wood Flooring . These flooring materials are equally easy to care for, but the prefinished engineered hardwood has a very tough surface finish and can be refinished at least once. 3. Laminate flooring is regarded as a 10- to 20-year flooring material, depending on the original quality of the material and how much wear it received. Laminate flooring costs$1 to $3 per square foot. When it comes to engineered hardwood vs. laminate, both options come with benefits; engineered hardwood has diverse styles and colors and is water-resistant, while laminate is cheaper and more durable. On average, the installation cost of laminate floors is 50% less than solid hardwood. Engineered flooring can be purchased for $2 to $10 per square foot. One thing to note about laminate flooring is that it is not made from plastic but from a collection of wood fibers with a top layer of resin acting as a “wear layer”. Reduced shipping rates on non free shipping products. Deane Biermeier is a contractor with 27 years experience in home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. Although both are made using adhesives, high pressure, and heat, engineered wood is 100% real wood which means it is more resilient to moisture than traditional hardwood. Engineered hardwood floors, while often easier to install than solid hardwood, is more likely to require professional installation. Engineered flooring boards can be as narrow as 2 1/4 inches or as wide as 7 inches, with lengths that can generally range from 36 to 48 inches. Yes, engineered wood is more expensive than laminate. Engineered hardwood is a thicker flooring and is typically nailed or glued down, so it does not have the problem with flexing. It’s a flooring material we covered at length in our laminate flooring guide, and it does have several things in common with engineered wood. Engineered wood flooring is comprised of several layers of fiberboard, unfinished hardwood and plywood compressed together, and these layers usually lay in opposing angles for strength. One of the biggest competitors for engineered wood, solid wood flooring aside, is laminate. Engineered wood floors bond a thin layer or real hardwood over multiple layers of high-quality plywood, fiberboard, or unfinished hardwood. Laminate flooring. For the look of a genuine wood floor, there is no choice: Engineered hardwood is the way to go. Laminate vs Engineered Wood Flooring. Is engineered wood more expensive than laminate? While some types of laminate are advertised as "water-resistant," this flooring material has a core layer of fiberboard that can be damaged if water seeps through the many cracks between boards. Engineered wood flooring has a similar construction as laminate except the top decorative layer is a thick veneer of real wood protected by a coating of a clear acrylic. In addition, laminate floors have no protection from moisture; if installed below grade or in a damp area, the many layers of resin and fiberboard have a tendency to swell, which can cause buckling and warping of the floor. Generally speaking, engineered hardwood offers greater resale value to a home than does laminate flooring. Laminate . Floating floors can be cheaper to install, while finishing wood fl… Both engineered wood and laminate flooring is comfortable underfoot, but because laminate flooring typically "floats" over the subfloor, it may flex a bit underfoot, especially if the underlayment is not perfectly smooth and flat. Engineered Hardwood Flooring. Real wood is characterized by tremendous texture variation of the wood grain, which is why no two planks of hardwood flooring, whether solid or engineered, appear exactly alike. 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