For homeowners looking to invest in a new floor, the common debate usually comes down to hardwood or laminate? While hardwood floors have a beautiful, natural look, laminate is a cheaper option. Regardless of your preference, there are pros and cons to both hardwood and laminate wood floors.

Price

One of the major factors that comes into play when installing floors is the price. To determine which option is best for you, consider your budget and the cost of laminate and hardwood floors.

• Laminate Pros: This type of floor is created from composite wood that is pushed together in a high temperature. Once pushed together, a hardwood image is put on the composite wood, forming it to the laminate. Laminate wood materials are not only cheaper, but installation can be up to 50% cheaper than a hardwood floor installation.
• Hardwood Cons:The pricing of hardwood floors depends on how exotic the trees are that it was made from. Typically, hardwood floors cost more to buy and to have installed at your home.

Durability

Depending on the amount of the traffic the floors in your home sees, you’ll want a floor that is durable enough to withstand it.

• Laminate Pros: Laminate floors are made from pressed wood so they’ll avoid moisture, scratches and the normal wear and tear. This durable surface is also much easier to keep clean.
• Cons: While laminate floors are more durable, they can be a bit harsh on the eyes. The wood can almost look artificial from the low quality of laminate used.
• Hardwood Pros: Not only are hardwood floors beautiful, but they can also add substantial value to your home.
• Cons: These types of floors can scratch easily and can damage from extreme moisture or areas with a lot of foot traffic.

Repair

As far as home repairs go, your floors are one aspect that will definitely need it at some point. From scratches to everyday wear and tear, both floors will require some repairs.

• Laminate Cons: With laminate floors, repairs don’t come easily. If the flooring you installed are individual pieces, there’s a possibility you can replace the induvial boards. Pieces may not match up correctly because of age or sunlight.
• Hardwood Pros: Any necessary hardwood floor repairs can be fixed by sanding and refinishing. These repairs will last for years giving it an advantage over laminate floors.

Before you choose which floor you want to go with, consider the above pros and cons of each. Whether you have laminate or hardwood floors installed, your home can benefit from both options. For more information on laminate or hardwood floors, contact Park Avenue Flooring today! Receive a quote by calling us at (508) 922-2170 or by filling out our contact form.