It’s easy to choose between good products and lousy ones, but how do you decide between three great choices? CRATE customers often wonder which of our three wood flooring options they should select. We offer laminate, engineered, and real wood flooring as part of our remodel systems. Each product has its own special strengths.
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In this article, we’ll review the differences between laminate, engineered, and real wood floors with the goal of helping you make the perfect choice for your project.
Laminate Wood Flooring
Laminate wood floors are only wood in name and appearance. They’re manufactured by adhering a printed laminate to pressboard and can be the least expensive floor option, running about $1 to $2.50 per square foot. (All prices in this post are material-only.) These easy-to-install floors are about ¼” to ½” thick and have a lifespan from 10 to 20 years. This makes them an excellent investment and they can keep your home looking great for a long time. However, they cannot be refinished and eventually fade and wear in high-traffic areas.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood floors are made by applying a real wood veneer to a plywood board. The real wood content in these floors plus the greater thickness (up to ¾”) gives them a longer lifespan than laminate. They typically look sharp for 20 to 30 years and can usually be refinished once. These floors are more difficult to install than laminate and their durability will depend on the quality of the floor’s finish coat. Engineered wood floors cost between $2.00 and $5.00 per square foot.
Real Wood Flooring
Real, true wood is used to create these wood floors. There are no man-made materials involved. These floors are much stronger than laminate or engineered wood and can last up to 75 years. They have an overall material thickness of up to ¾” and cost between $6.00 and $15.00 per square foot. Real wood floors are the most difficult to install, but they can be refinished multiple times. As with engineered floors, real wood’s durability will depend on the floor’s finish coat.
Ready to Choose?
Obviously, the price of these wood floors increases from laminate to engineered, to real wood. This means the cost is going to be part of the decision process. However, there are other factors involved in choosing a floor, such as traffic in your kitchen or bath and how you are planning to maintain the floor. Perhaps you need a little help? Start with these two easy steps:
- Download our infographic PDF by clicking here.
- Let our design pros help you make the right flooring decisions.
We can help you get just the right floor and with these great choices, there is no wrong answer! Contact us today for more information and to get started on a kitchen or bathroom remodel!
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