Is Engineered Flooring Better Or Laminate Flooring?

These days many people choose wood-effect flooring over other forms of floor covering, such as carpets, vinyls, or tiles. This is not surprising though, because this option is relatively easily to lay, can be more hard wearing than some other options, and offers the further benefit of being a floor covering that never goes out of fashion. Traditional wood flooring remains a popular choice, and may be the best choice in some circumstances, but a lot people choose engineered flooring instead, and laminate flooring also continues to be a popular choice with buyers. Both these choices usually prove to be more cost effective than solid wood flooring, but many people are unsure which one is the better option and whether engineered flooring is better than laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring usually consists of an MDF board that has been given a top layer (lamella) of thin plastic that bears a wood grain effect, and once the flooring has been laid it is extremely hard to distinguish between it and real wood flooring. Engineered flooring is constructed in a slightly different manner, may have three or more layers of real wood and each layer is placed with its grain running at a 90 degree angle to the layer above it. This criss-crossing of the grains ensures the boards are very strong and durable. It also gives them an increased stability that makes them suitable for installation on all types of subfloors.

When weighing up the pros and cons of each of these two popular types of flooring, an informed buyer is probably better asking themselves which is the best option for their personal circumstances rather than whether or not engineered flooring is better than laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring looks good, is hard wearing, and should be suitable for use in most people’s homes. It is however, more easily scratched than engineered flooring, a fact that makes it less suitable for use in high foot traffic areas, such as shops, businesses etc., and a scratched floor is never a good-looking floor. With its top layer of real wood, engineered flooring offers a more durable surface and is harder to scratch. The top layer of engineered flooring is usually 3-7 mm thick and, if circumstances make it necessary, it can be sanded up to 5 times. 

Choosing the right flooring is not a decision that should be rushed into, mistakes can be annoying and cause further expense; so it is important to weigh up all the pros and cons, and make an informed decision before buying. For those who still find the decision a difficult one to make, it may be best to ere on the side of safety and choose engineered flooring. It is the most popular type of wood flooring in the world and not without good reason. Engineered wood flooring is as versatile as it is practical and is tolerant to some surfaces that other flooring (including solid wood flooring) are not, it is stronger than laminate and, should scratching occur, the scratch can be removed by sanding; so the most popular choice may also prove to be the best choice.