No, this is not the opening line of a joke, it’s one of the questions we get asked most often! Although laminate and wood flooring are similar in their appearance, both offer a beautiful wood look for your home, but it can be hard to know which one is going to be the best option for you. In this blog post, we look at the main differences between the two and what benefits each offers.
Laminate vs Wood
The main difference between laminate and wood flooring is in their material composition.. Laminate flooring has a pressed wood core which is topped with an image layer, followed by a clear one, giving it the appearance of wood flooring. While wood flooring is 100% solid wood which is usually varnished or waxed for protection
Although wood flooring offers some amazing benefits, laminates also offer their own set of benefits. So which one is best for your home?
Benefits of laminate flooring
The first thing to note about laminate flooring is its clear top layer adds extra protection, making it very scratch-resistant. This means that the stunning wood look should remain unblemished throughout normal use. A feature that can be important for young families or homeowners with pets.
The protective layer also makes laminate flooring soft to walk on. Paired with a foam underlay, laminate flooring makes a comfortable floor when compared to much harder wood flooring. It also doesn’t discolour as easily as some other hard flooring types so it’ll keep its appearance for many years.
Benefits of wood flooring
Unlike laminate flooring, natural wood flooring is just that, 100% wood! This makes it even more durable than laminate. It’s also warmer than laminate flooring due to wood’s natural insulating properties. You can find out more about the warmth of wood flooring by reading one of our other blog posts.
When kept well, wood flooring can last for many years and can actually look better as the years go by. Best placed in high traffic areas, wood flooring has an ageless appeal and is always trending in the flooring world.
Should I get laminate or wood flooring?
As you’ve read, both types of flooring come with their own range of benefits so it can be hard to decide which is going to be best for you. One thing to bear in mind when making that decision is the time it takes to install.
Laminate flooring is generally quicker to install than wood flooring, making it a good option if you need your home renovation to have a quick turnaround.
Which is best for pets?
Although we’ve said laminate flooring is scratch-resistant, wood flooring is also highly durable. So either option is pet-friendly. As they are both hard floors, they won’t hold on to allergens like fur or dust.
If you’re still not sure, that’s completely OK. Deciding on what flooring is best for your home is an important one to make. We recommend that you come to either our Worthing or Storrington showroom to see all of our ranges for yourself.
You’ll also be able to speak to our friendly team of flooring experts who will be able to answer your questions and give you advice. Whatever hard flooring you choose, we will have you covered!