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What Is The Difference Between Hardwood and Laminate?

Young Man Cleaning Floors At Home

Hardwood Or Laminate Which is the Best?

Choosing a new flooring type can be intimidating for a variety of reasons. Not only are you worried about how it will look once installed, but there are many different flooring materials to choose from and your budget to keep in mind.  It is easy to get overwhelmed with all of your flooring choices. Laminate and hardwood flooring are some of the most popular options for flooring in Minnesota, so this guide is designed to help you decide which is the better choice for your purposes and budget.

What Flooring Is The Best Price?

While solid hardwood has a longer lifespan, there is no question that hardwood flooring will always cost more than laminate. Laminate averages between $1 to $3 per square foot, while hardwood flooring is about $4 to $8 per square foot. But, of course, it all depends on the type of wood, etc. 

However, before automatically shifting to laminate, remember that designer forms of laminate that replicate hardwood can cost more, so sometimes the savings is not as obvious. 

Which Flooring Has the Best Appearance?

Without a doubt, hardwood is more attractive than laminate and is classic. In addition, hardwood carries a certain prestige with which no other type of laminate can compete. However, from a distance, some laminate does an excellent job of replicating the look of hardwood flooring.

Unless someone closely inspects your laminate, they will not notice that your laminate is not hardwood flooring. Newer laminate incorporates random patterning into their flooring to create a more natural and realistic look. Hardwood flooring is still the clear winner regarding appearance for most. You will not be able to trick anyone with a faux wood laminate indefinitely. 

What Flooring is Easiest to Clean and Care for?

Hardwood flooring in Minnesota is easier to maintain than it used to be. Nowadays, you can vacuum or sweep hardwood floors, which simplifies cleaning. However, if you need a more thorough cleaning, damp-mopping with a wood cleaner will be enough. The bright side of newer hardwood flooring installation is that a polyurethane varnish is applied to seal the floors, so you don’t have to worry about waxing or polishing. 

Laminate flooring can also be cleaned with a broom or vacuum, but water needs to be applied sparingly. A damp mop with floor cleaner is the best choice, but you should never use a steam cleaner because it will melt the glue under the laminate. Also, too much moisture can be bad with both floorings. 

Which Flooring Offers the Best Lifespan?

Solid hardwood flooring is the clear winner in this category because hardwood can last about 100 years if you properly keep up with maintenance and cleaning. This makes the extra maintenance tasks worth it.

 On the other hand, the laminate’s lifetime usually only lasts about 15 to 25 years. Therefore, if you are looking at a home investment that will last for the lifetime of your home, hardwood flooring is the best choice for your Minnesota home.

Talk To An Expert

While laminate flooring is an excellent option for some homes, it is clear from this guide that hardwood flooring wins overall. If you are interested in exploring your hardwood flooring options in Minnesota, contact Dave’s Floor Sanding & Installing, Inc. We have been in the business for a long time and can help you with your hardwood flooring needs!