If you’ve just bought a new house, this might be something to think about. Because do you leave the classic hardwood floor lying or do you give a fresh new look to your interior through laminate? We compared the two and wrote down our findings for you!
Hardwood vs. laminate: the costs
Sometimes the costs for your dream floor and the floor you can actually pay are far apart. That’s why it’s good to take your budget into account when choosing a floor.
- Hardwood: Hardwood is made from harvested trees; the price depends on the wood used for your floor. If you go for real hardwood, on average you will spend more on the materials and getting the floor laid.
- Laminate: laminate is made of composite wood. These are different types of wood that are compressed into new wood. Not only are the materials cheaper, but the installation of laminate also costs on average 50% less than laying a hardwood floor!
Hardwood vs. laminate: durability
Think about using the floor. What’s going to happen in the room? If there’s a lot of living in it, it might be more convenient to choose a more durable floor. On the other hand, if you don’t expect there to be a lot of traffic in the room, you can choose a less sustainable option.
- Hardwood: Hardwood is vulnerable wood. It can easily be scratched and damage caused by too much moisture is also a known problem with hardwood. For a room in which a lot of people live, this is probably not the best choice. Nevertheless, hardwood looks very beautiful and can therefore increase the value of your house.
- Laminate: because laminate is made of compressed wood, it is more durable. It is more resistant to scratches and moisture and remains beautiful longer. It is also easier to keep clean! What’s less about laminate is that it often looks less beautiful than a hardwood floor. Laminate that is of lower quality sometimes looks a bit artificial.
Source: ShutterstockHardwood vs. laminate: repair
Your floor will probably need maintenance at some point. From minor accidents to severe wear and tear, laminate and hardwood both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Hardwood: hardwood can be re-sanded and varnished. This is an advantage that laminate does not have. Hardwood can last for years.
Laminate: laminate is not easy to repair. If you have click laminate, it may still be possible to replace individual planks, but this is generally difficult. The laminate will discolour due to age and sunlight. A new plank can then have a completely different colour than the old laminate.
Hardwood vs. laminate: the best spot
In addition to price, durability and maintenance, it is also important to think about where you want to lay the floor.
- Hardwood: hardwood floors are beautiful and durable, especially in rooms where there is not too much traffic such as bedrooms or dining rooms. However, if you have pets or have a room where there is a lot of living, you will quickly discover scratches and wear and tear on hardwood floors. It is also not a good idea to put hardwood in damp rooms (bathrooms or cellars for example) or in rooms where the sun shines a lot. This also causes damage to the hardwood.
- Laminate: Laminate is very durable. In rooms where there is a lot of foot traffic or where pets live, it is less likely to show signs of wear and tear than hardwood. However, it is also important for laminate that it does not get wet very often. It can withstand moisture better than hardwood, but it is not made for damp rooms. However, it can withstand sunlight quite well, so sunny chambers are no problem for laminate.
Source: ShutterstockWhatever you choose, hardwood or laminate: your house will benefit from a wooden floor! Take another good look at the advantages and disadvantages of hardwood and laminate and make a well-considered choice.
