How To Tell Difference Between Hardwood And Laminate Floor

These methods apply most of the time but there are always exceptions.

How to tell difference between hardwood and laminate floor.

Let s explore the differences between laminate and hardwood floors. Hardwood on the other hand can be affected by light and liquid. The boards usually 3 4 inch thick are generally milled with a smooth top surface and tongue and groove edges that interlock to hold the boards together. If your remodeling project or new construction calls for the look and feel of traditional hardwoods then your three main flooring options will be laminate hardwood and engineered wood floors.

The major difference between the hardwood and engineered wood flooring is that the hardwood flooring consists of a single layer of hardwood cut and placed for acting as a floor. Hardwood on the other hand can be resurfaced every 10 20 years to remove any dings scratches or dents on the surface. Solid hardwood flooring as the name suggests is comprised of flooring boards that are solid hardwood material through and through. Depending on the thickness of the veneer that tops the flooring the quality of flooring used and how well you maintain your floors engineered hardwood can last a lifetime.

Both are very durable with laminate being less susceptible to scratches and easier to clean. Here s how to tell the difference between hardwood and laminate flooring note. Laminate flooring is produced in a factory to replicate hardwood flooring and in most cases it can be a real challenge to distinguish between the two. Being able to tell the difference between hardwood and laminate flooring takes a keen eye here are a few simple ways to distinguish between the two.

Homeadvisor s flooring guide explains the differences between laminate and engineered hardwood and reviews the pros and cons of each. Most laminates have a protective layer so the flooring won t wear that much. Engineered flooring is typically between 3 8 to 3 4 thick whereas solid hardwood is 1 2 to 3 4 thick. Check the floor for scratches and dents.

1 look for discolouration. Hardwood damages more easily than laminate so if the floor is covered in small dings and gouges it is probably hardwood. While hardwood flooring is the more authentic choice and has a longer life laminate flooring is usually the more affordable option. And some laminate floors are more expensive than hardwoods too.

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