I'm finishing my main floor living room, and am debating between hardwood and laminate flooring. Which one is the better choice?
Faye K. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and our renovations expert Howie Track, answered;
I’m often asked which is better: hardwood or laminate. While it’s difficult to say without knowing where the flooring will be installed, there are pros and cons to each one that should be considered when deciding between them.
Laminate is inexpensive and scratch and dent resistant. However, your choice of colour and design is somewhat limited. While laminate is available in finishes that are made to look like tile and hardwood (to name a few), such finishes tend to look less than authentic. As well, damaged laminate is difficult to repair.
Hardwood looks and feels great, and is available in an almost endless number of colours and designs. However, hardwood can be very expensive and takes a lot longer to install. As well, hardwood requires greater care to maintain and protect. For example, proper maintenance requires the right balance of temperature and humidity.
These two types of flooring are very different and shouldn’t really ever be considered for the same application. That said, if the budget is really tight, then laminate is the best choice. If the budget is a bit more flexible, then hardwood is the way to go.
Howie Track is a Contractor and Owner of Traxel Construction. For his contact information, visit www.traxelconstruction.com
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