Skip to main content
Sites-llflooring-Site
Couple in an LL Flooring store looking at floor samples

Spring Black Friday Sale

Up to 25% Off Hardwood, Vinyl, Laminate, & More.

""

Order Your 4 FREE Flooring Samples Today

We offer hundreds of samples to choose from, making it easy to find the right floor.

""

Picture our Floors in Your Space

Use the innovative Floor Visualizer to get the full showroom experience without even leaving your house.

Start here to schedule your FREE in-home flooring installation estimate

Please provide a valid email

Please provide a valid phone number

Learn More
truck

Laminate vs. Hardwood: Which One Is Right For You?

Hardwood and laminate both carry their own unique style and characteristics. Find out which flooring type is perfect for your home.

5 min read
Published on June 16, 2022

Selecting a flooring type for your home is a huge task. After all, it's where your children play, your pets scurry, and where you enjoy spending time with loved ones. Your choice of flooring goes beyond appearance. It's important to consider a variety of factors, such as the moisture content of your home, foot traffic, and more.

If you're debating on solid hardwood or laminate, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll compare the two flooring choices to help you make the best decision for your home.

Solid Hardwood

Solid hardwood flooring is constructed from individual planks of solid wood. It's harvested from trees such as oak, maple, and walnut. One of the main benefits of hardwood is that it can be sanded, stained, and pre-finished on-site with a protective top coat. You can then refinish it multiple times throughout its lifespan.

Because this type of flooring is made of authentic wood, it evokes a sense of warmth in your home. Here are more things to think about before installing hardwood flooring

Tobacco Road Acacia Solid Hardwood Flooring
Virginia Mill Works
3/4 in. Tobacco Road Acacia Solid Hardwood Flooring 4.75 in. Wide

 

How is Hardwood Installed?

While an experienced DIYer can install solid hardwood, we recommend hiring a professional installer. Otherwise, you'll have to rent special tools like a floor nailer or stapler.

How Do You Care for Hardwood Flooring?

The toughness of hardwood flooring will depend on the species. For instance, hickory, mahogany, and maple are known for their toughness. In addition, the finish on hardwood flooring is scratch-resistant. Spills are simple to clean on hardwood, but must be addressed quickly. You can easily care for your newly installed hardwood flooring by regularly sweeping. Use a microfiber mop and approved solution for a deeper clean, such as Bellawood Floor Cleaner. Hardwood flooring develops character over time. It good practice to leave your wood floors uncovered for the first year, to allow the character to develop evenly across the surface. Installing window tints or coverings to sunnier spots can help even out this wonderful ageing process.

How Does the Sizing Differ With Hardwood Flooring Planks?

Hardwood flooring traditionally comes in 1.5 or 2.25 inch wide boards that are 48 inches long. However, most planks these days measure 3.25 to 5.25 inches wide. Wider planks are thought to give a more modern feel, so you can also expect to see planks that come up to 6 inches wide or more.

What is the Average Lifespan for Hardwood Flooring?

With proper maintenance, regular sweeping, and deep cleaning with a neutral cleaner⁠—plus the addition of felt pads to furniture legs to prevent scuffing and the quick clean-up of any spills⁠—hardwood flooring can last decades. Although hardwood isn't as resistant to scratches and stains as laminate, you can sand and refinish it multiple times during its lifetime (although pre-finished hardwood rarely requires it).

Is Hardwood Flooring Moisture Resistant?

Solid hardwood can be affected by moisture. Really dry conditions can be detrimental to it, and seasonal changes can result in a natural effect called "seasonal gapping". Moisture from the subfloor can cause cupping or buckling and we recommend addressing it as part of the installation process. Generally, keep the conditions, especially the relative humidity, in your home stable and your flooring will look great.

This video featuring designer Camila Pavone of Effortless Style Interiors shows her process of choosing Bellawood's Character Grade White Oak Solid Hardwood Flooring.

Laminate

Laminate is a composite product that consists of multiple layers. The wood base layer is topped with an image and transparent wear layers. The idea behind laminate flooring is for it to look like authentic wood planks. Whether laminate flooring is the best option for your home depends on various factors.

Some things to take into account include the level of moisture in certain areas in your home and the amount of foot traffic. Here are other key points to consider with respect to laminate:

 

 

Tobacco Road Acacia Waterproof Laminate Flooring
Dream Home
12mm Tobacco Road Acacia w/ pad Waterproof Laminate Flooring 6.18 in. Wide x 50.6 in. Length

 

How is Laminate Installed?

The quick-click installation is seamless and intuitive, making it ideal for DIYers. The planks click together at the edges, so there's no need for adhesives. Laminate also comes prefinished—no sanding or sealing is required. Additionally, you can install laminate on any level of your home, including basements.

What is the Average Cost of Laminate?

Laminate flooring typically costs between $1 to $3 per square foot. Pricing will depend on the thickness and quality of the print layer. Therefore, laminate is an excellent choice for a limited budget.

How Do You Care For Laminate Flooring?

Laminate maintenance is relatively straightforward, as it's easy to clean with light mopping and vacuuming. Additionally, we recommend putting felt pads on furniture legs to prevent scratches and scuffs as well as wiping up any spills quickly. You'll also be pleased to know that laminate is less likely to fade from sunlight.

What is the Average Lifespan of Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is resistant to scratches and dents, and depending on its finish it can last a couple of decades up to a lifetime. While laminate can't be refinished, you can replace a plank if damaged⁠—always keep a few spares to one side so you'll have a match.

How Does the Sizing Differ With Laminate Flooring Planks?

Laminate flooring generally comes in a wide range of sizes. Our laminate planks range from 4 to nearly 13 inches wide. Thickness ranges from 6 to 12 millimeters, depending on the quality of the laminate plank.

Is Laminate Moisture Resistant?

Laminate is ideal for areas that encounter moisture, like a bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, or basement. The top layer of laminate planks is moisture-resistant, but you'll need to address spills immediately as water can penetrate the seams and cause them to swell. Standing water can easily damage this type of flooring. Consider our water resistant or waterproof laminate options for really busy, lived-in households where little accidents are a regular occurrence.

This video with Instagram Designer Cait Pappas from Denver, Colorado explains her choice or Laminate.

Which Flooring Type Is Right For Your Home?

Whether you choose between solid hardwood and laminate depends on environmental conditions, your budget, and your preference. Regardless of which you go with, both options enhance your space and offer many benefits. To explore a variety of laminate and hardwood planks, among other options, head on over and browse the selection at LL Flooring.

Also read Not Your Grandma's Laminate!

Or this Guest Post on solid hardwood style from Camila Pavone.

Browse these collections to see great options for each flooring type:

Waterproof Laminate Flooring in many wood styles from blonde to dark wood, and from contemporary to rustic and distressed.

All Hardwood Flooring is the premier selection of wood flooring available, including water-resistant engineered hardwoods and solid hardwoods in a variety of species and finishes, for endless choices of style and function.

You can add 4 Free Samples to your cart and have them shipped right to you to compare for yourself, no credit card needed. If you still have questions, contact Customer Care or your closest LL Flooring Store to speak with an expert.