Laminate versus Engineered Flooring

BarraOG

Hi,

I want to put down a durable wooden floor in most of our home. We have small children and its inevitable that there will be people traipsing around inside with shoes on. I want to put down something that will look fine for years to come and am therefore prepared to pay more. Looking in the shops I've seen a few floors I like but I've no idea how the will stand up to wear and tear. What tips can you give in this regard? Is there any point in putting down an engineered floor if I find a laminate that I think looks good?

antiskeptic

BarraOG wrote: »

Hi,

I want to put down a durable wooden floor in most of our home. We have small children and its inevitable that there will be people traipsing around inside with shoes on. I want to put down something that will look fine for years to come and am therefore prepared to pay more. Looking in the shops I've seen a few floors I like but I've no idea how the will stand up to wear and tear. What tips can you give in this regard? Is there any point in putting down an engineered floor if I find a laminate that I think looks good?

You can't fix laminate. You can sand a wooden floor

Laminate looks and feels like laminate. Wood looks like wood

Solid floor is tricky in that it is harder to lay and can pull apart due to deformation of the wood. Engineering is simply to lay more dimensionally stable.

If you get engineered hardwood, you can get it refinished occasional (bugged and recoated) without having to sand down. Dents will remain, but the overall finish can be renewed to as good as new

If not planning on sanding deep down to remove dents then the engineered will last forever.

delfagio

Laminated flooring all the way.

Waste of time and money getting engineered floor or solid wood. It will get ruined.

A good laminated floor from the likes of Balterio etc are very good.

Laminated floors these days are extremely durable and able to withstand high heels and wear and tear, I would say better than solid wood or engineered flooring

BarraOG

delfagio wrote: »

Laminated flooring all the way.

Waste of time and money getting engineered floor or solid wood. It will get ruined.

A good laminated floor from the likes of Balterio etc are very good.

Laminated floors these days are extremely durable and able to withstand high heels and wear and tear, I would say better than solid wood or engineered flooring

Thanks, I've seen a few Laminate brands, which ones are best: Quick-Step, Bacterio, Express Clic, Canadia, Whiteriver and Hygena. And which ones are to be avoided?

cpoh1

delfagio wrote: »

Laminated flooring all the way.

Waste of time and money getting engineered floor or solid wood. It will get ruined.

A good laminated floor from the likes of Balterio etc are very good.

Laminated floors these days are extremely durable and able to withstand high heels and wear and tear, I would say better than solid wood or engineered flooring

There's no accounting for good taste at the end of the day.

Laminate is cheaper, more durable and will last longer than an engineered or solid wood floor but it will look and feel like laminate no matter what brand you go for.

My advice, splash out for a decent wooden floor in your halls and living rooms and save the laminate for the bedrooms.

kkelliher

I remember speaking to an old school carpenter and he put floors like this which I always felt was on the mark.

The higher spec the wood in a floor material the more it costs and the less durable it generally is, whereas the cheaper the floor the more durable it is as it contains less wood and natural products.

BarneyMc

Personally I'll be going laminate.

emo72

Solid oak floor down myself about 10 years. It marked really easy. I wasn't too precious about it though. I'd use a laminate if I could choose again. Don't spend a fortune on it and then in 10 years when you get sick at looking at it change it. It's just like changing a carpet.

cpoh1

BarneyMc wrote: »

Personally I'll be going laminate.

Horses for courses, if youre on a budget with large square footage laminate is the way to go. Have it in my bedrooms.

Dont be fooled though, laminate will never match the feel, finish or look of a decent timber floor.