by Wendy Boe

Created on: April 04, 2009   Last Updated: April 06, 2009

Laminate vs. Hardwood

What are the differences between the two? Pergo flooring is one brand of flooring known as laminate. It has the look of hardwood with the easy maintenance of vinyl. Laminate comes in panels, tiles, or planks. Laminate flooring has made many advances in the last few years. It used to be easy to identify laminate flooring.

Laminate is installed as a "floating floor" because it can be installed over a pre-existing sub floor (vinyl, tile, etc.) Due to this, you can sometimes hear an echo when walking on the floor. There are options to reduce the echo. Acoustical padding muffles the sound. A cork underlayment may be your best option. When shopping, try different padding in the store to test how the floor will sound in your own home. Laminate will scratch and sanding is not an option with this product! For minor scratches, use a special color-coordinating pencil.

For gaps there are color touch-up products that can be used. For chips, deep scratches and gauges there are color burn-in sticks which are used with electrical knives to repair those areas. If the damage to the plank is too severe, it can be replaced without interrupting the rest of the floor. You can replace laminate (a few boards at a time) but you need to make sure that you purchase enough extra laminate to keep extra boards on hand - you may not be able to match the interlock mechanisms or color later on. Finished on-site hardwood floors require a nail-down installation and a specific type of sub floor. While the floor's finish is being applied, the home cannot be occupied. Hardwood requires regular upkeep. The floor is easily damaged by water spills and can fade with light. Refinishing is usually required every 5-8 years. Regular maintenance will keep your hardwood floors looking beautifully forever. Laminate flooring is more durable, but only lasts, at the most, 15 years.

The installation cost is approximately the same as real hardwood flooring. Not all laminate floors are created equal. Beware of cheap imitations. Flooring, like everything else, is made to fit certain price ranges. Cheaper laminate may be okay for a rental property, but not necessarily for your own home. Laminate flooring lacks the naturalness of real hardwood. The newer styles of laminate more realistically mirror the grain and look of a natural hardwood floor.

As with choosing a professional for everything else, find a local, reputable installer that you can trust and who can answer all of your questions and determine which flooring is right for your family's needs.

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