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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle. | Posted under Interior Decorating
Laminate vs Hardwood Flooring Choices
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HardwoodHardwood flooring has the advantage of lasting longer than any other type of flooring. If it is a solid hardwood floor, it can be refinished a limitless amount of times or restained to change its looks. With the polyurethane finishes that are available today, the hardwood flooring can be protected from water for use in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, which previously were off limits to wood that could be damaged from moisture. Hardwood can be bought in planks, strips, or parquet squares with a number of other options. FinishesUnfinished-This option allows the customer to stain the wood any color that he/she chooses, which is an advantage to those who have a particular stain in mind that may not quite match a manufacturer's offerings. This disadvantage of unfinished hardwood flooring is the sanding and finishing that has to be done professionally after the flooring is installed. Even if you can do the finishing yourself, the finishing process could delay use of the floor for several days due to the mess of sawdust and the vapor of the finish used, not to mention the time it takes to sand, stain, and apply several coats of protective polyurethane. Prefinished-This option comes with a finish that is applied by the manufacturer. This could be an advantage if you are remodeling and want a cleaner installation without sawdust from the sanding. It will also allow the use of the floor to be expedited since there will be no stain or finish to have to dry. One disadvantage is the colors are limited to those offered by the manufacturer. Another disadvantage is that most prefinished hardwood floors are engineered, which is discussed in a section below. ConstructionSolid-Hardwood flooring can be solid through and through. The advantage to solid hardwood is the ability to refinish it as many times as you like. Because there are no veneers, you will not damage the planks by sanding off an old finish and applying a new stain and protective coating of polyurethane. The disadvantage could be that most solid hardwood flooring is sold unfinished, so all the mess and time to finish it at the installation phase as discussed earlier could be a problem for you. Engineered-The other option in construction of hardwood flooring is a piece of layered wood, much like plywood, called engineered hardwood. This layered piece of wood is topped with a hardwood veneer, although the bottom layers are most often a softwood. Most engineered hardwood flooring is prefinished. The disadvantage here is that it can only be refinished once, if at all, depending on the thickness of the hardwood veneer. Once you have sanded through the veneer, you would hit the softwood, which cannot be finished as a top floor. If damage occurs to the veneer, you may have to replace the plank rather than repairing it by refinishing. CostHardwood flooring is not cheap. It will cost somewhere between $27 to $45 per square yard to install. Unfinished hardwood flooring will cost less, but the labor charges to finish it will typically make it close to the same as the more expensive prefinished hardwood. Laminate FlooringLaminate flooring has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Laminate flooring will not cost as much and it does not require the amount of maintenance that hardwood flooring needs. FinishLaminates can have a smooth or textured decorative layer to imitate the look and feel of real wood, stone, or tile. The top layer can have a matte finish or a glossy finish that is usually accomplished with polyurethane on hardwood flooring. The major advantage to laminate flooring is that the finish never has to be refinished. However, that could be a disadvantage if you ever decided you would like to change the color of the wood. ConstructionAnother advantage of laminate flooring is its durability. With the protective top layer and special backing, laminate floors can stand up to typically moist rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms without buckling. Another advantage is that the click together styles can be walked on immediately after installation. A disadvantage is that it does not sound like real wood when you walk on it, but gives a hollow sound instead. Another disadvantage may be the time needed for the planks to acclimate to the temperature and humidity, although not all brands need that extra couple of days. CostLaminate flooring will cost between $27 to $36 per square yard to install. You can save labor charges by installing the laminate flooring yourself. Many manufacturers have made the installation process very easy and include an instructional video for those who would rather do-it-yourself. As you can see from this summary of advantages and disadvantages, the choices can be a positive or negative depending on what you are looking for in your flooring. If you want a long lasting flooring that you can refinish later on, choosing hardwood would be best. If you are not the type to change stains over a long period of time, the laminate can offer that look and feel of real wood without the maintenance hardwood requires. Of course, cost is usually a factor, also. Laminates will cost less and still offer good durability and beauty. Laminates and hardwoods have both good and negative qualities. Your choice will be based on your specific needs. About The Author: Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on flooring ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com |
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