Why Is Hardwood Better Than Laminate?

Looking to renovate and wondering if you should pick hardwood or laminate flooring? For some people, this may be a difficult decision – especially if you factor in cost. But upon inspection, it’s easy to come to a natural conclusion.

Structure

At first glance, to an untrained eye, hardwood and laminate may appear to look similar. Laminate flooring is constructed to simulate wood. It involves multiple layers: at its core is fibre board, which lacks wood’s durability. Several layers surround the core that look like wood and help protect against water and scratching. It’s also chemically treated – sometimes with formaldehyde, which is proven to contribute to significant health concerns, especially for those with respiratory issues, when it off-gasses – a process that can take months, if not years.

Hardwood, on the other hand, is comprised of individual planks of hardwood that are three-quarters of an inch thick. Because hardwood comes from slow-growing trees, it’s both dense and durable. Not only is hardwood sturdy, but it’s also manufactured to stand the test of time, making it an attractive selling feature. With hardwood, you bring nature – and all its organic variations – indoors. Each plank unique and has its own character. As the saying goes, “it’s often replicated, never duplicated.”

Installation

Laminate is typically simple to install. It’s not without its drawbacks however: while the seams do easily click together, connections can be tight and prohibit contraction and expansion, which happens naturally with humidity changes.

Hardwood installation uses a shiplap or tongue and groove system, providing an interconnected floor that allows for boards to naturally contract and expand over time. Because of the unique way the boards are constructed, it’s unlikely you will notice any heaving or gapping when this occurs.

Surface Finish

Laminate flooring does its best to replicate hardwood; a photographic layer is embedded with a photographed stained wood image that permits many design possibilities. However, the wood grains often look too consistent and therefore unrealistic, giving away its unnaturalness.

Hardwood flooring comes in both prefinished and unfinished varieties. If you opt for prefinished, you have a ready-to-install option right out of the box. If you choose unfinished hardwood, you can achieve a truly custom result.

Hardwood floors, while more costly, always have our backing. If you’re looking for the “best hardwood floor installers near me,” you’ve come to the right place: Bull Tough Flooring Ltd. is the place for hardwood flooring in Calgary. Contact Bull Tough today; you’ll be floored by the results!