Laminate Flooring vs Other Flooring Materials

Your home's floors see a lot of action, from muddy pawprints and shoes to high heels and children's toys, all of which can cause wear and tear. When building a home or renovating a space, you want to ensure your flooring is up to the task and can withstand whatever you and your family throw at it for years to come. That's why it's important to weigh your options and decide what's best for your family. 

When you're in the market for new flooring, you’ll discover several types, including laminate, engineered hardwood, hardwood, and vinyl. Understanding the differences between laminate and other flooring materials can be challenging, but it's something you need to know to make the right flooring decision. 

After all, you don't want to waste money installing flooring that not only doesn’t suit your home's aesthetic or overall look but also doesn’t last. You want to choose the flooring material that best suits your and your loved ones' needs and offers your home the most convenience, comfort, and style. 

At Baker Bros, we understand this, which is why our expert team has provided a laminate flooring comparison to other flooring materials to help you choose if laminate flooring or something else is best suited to you and your home. 

What Is Engineered Hardwood?

Engineered hardwood flooring typically consists of layers, including a single dense layer of high-density fiberboard (HDF) or plywood. The typical lifespan of these floors can range from 20 to 30 years, depending on the care they receive. The layers of engineered hardwood include: 

• Veneer or wear layer: This layer gives your flooring its characteristic look. The wood wear layer can be made from just about any wood species, but generally, old-growth wood such as hickory or oak is used.
• Core layer: HDF or plywood cores provide moisture and water resistance, especially when combined with water-repellent materials like wax. Plywood cores are oriented with a lattice structure to provide stability and durability. On the other hand, a high-density fiberboard core is denser than plywood's single solid layer. Engineered hardwood can have one or the other. 
• Backing: This is your floor's foundation, typically made from HDF or plywood. It's durable and holds the flooring together. 

What Is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is well-known for its exceptional performance, affordable cost, alluring styles, and versatility. As such, it is one of the most popular flooring products on the market today. Laminate floors can last from 15 to 25 years, and the layers of laminate flooring include: 

• Wear layer: This transparent top layer comprises aluminum oxide, providing a protective barrier against spills, stains, water, and daily mishaps.
• Core layer: Located directly above the laminate's back layer, the core layer is a high-density and durable fiberboard that acts as a barrier, protecting against indentations and moisture.
• Design layer: The design layer comprises melamine resin and sits directly above the laminate's core layer. It displays a high-resolution photograph of the laminate floor's surface. 
• Back layer: The back layer of laminate provides floor balance and protects the laminate planks from damage caused by moisture and water.

What Is Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood floors are made from natural wood harvested from species explicitly classified as "hard." These hardwood species produce denser wood with a slower growth rate than softwood varieties. 

The density of hardwood makes the flooring much more durable than softwood options, with hardwood floors lasting between 30 to 100 years with proper care. Examples of species used for hardwood flooring include: 

• Oak
• Cherry
• Walnut
• Maple
• Birch
• Brazilian Cherry

Hardwood floors are manufactured in various shapes, such as parquet, thinner strips, and planks. The wood can also be finished and stained to suit the owner's taste. 

What Is Vinyl Flooring?

Vinyl flooring consists of several layers of synthetic materials, and there are various types of vinyl flooring available on the market. Vinyl flooring typically lasts between 10 and 15 years. The layers of vinyl flooring can include: 

• Ultraviolet (UV) acrylic coating: Protects the vinyl flooring against sun damage.
• Wear layer: Guards the floor against scuffs or scratches.
• Photo or image layer: Provides the appearance of the flooring.
• PVC layer: Offers stability and support.
• Core layer: Serves as the main body of the floor, made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
• Built-in underlayment: A soft layer that helps with uneven subfloors.

Common types of vinyl flooring include:

• Luxury vinyl tile
• Vinyl tile
• Luxury vinyl planks (LVP)
• Sheet vinyl

What Is A Floating Floor?

A floating floor is a flooring system designed with components that interlock without the need for glue, nails, or other fasteners. It sits above the subfloor material but is not attached to it. Several materials are suitable for floating floors, including luxury vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, and engineered wood flooring. 

Engineered Hardwood vs. Laminate

Engineered hardwood and laminate flooring are both excellent for achieving a wood-look appearance in high-traffic areas. So, what is the difference between engineered hardwood and laminate?

The major difference between these two flooring options is that engineered hardwood surpasses laminate in terms of appearance. Engineered hardwood uses real wood veneer and generally looks more attractive. Compared to laminate, engineered hardwood also offers greater long-term durability. 

And for those who might think laminate floors would outperform engineered wood in a toughness contest, you would be mistaken. Some engineered hardwoods on the market have a Janka hardness rating of up to 2500, making them superior in terms of toughness. 

However, when it comes to water resistance, both engineered hardwood and laminate are strong contenders, offering substantially more water resistance than solid wood floors. Both are suitably water-resistant, so it's a tie on this front. 

Laminate Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring

Many homeowners dream of having hardwood floors. They are well known for their natural look and ability to add an inviting and warm feeling to a house. However, there are flooring types that successfully mimic the appearance and feel of natural wood. So, is there a need to use real hardwood, and is there a difference between laminate flooring and hardwood flooring? 

Essentially, yes. Laminate flooring is a synthetic floor type with floorboards ranging from 6mm to 12mm thick. Its edges snap together, eliminating the need for glue or nails and making installation easy. On the other hand, hardwood flooring is a natural wood flooring material usually made from hardwoods like oak and cherry or softwoods like pine. It must be nailed down, making it more difficult to install. 

Additionally, hardwood floors may not be as water- and damage-resistant as laminate flooring, but they are still relatively easy to clean and maintain. All you need to do is vacuum to remove dirt and dust and use a wet mop to wash and sanitize. Unfortunately, depending on the type of laminate flooring you use—textured, for example—you may find it harder to clean and maintain. 

However, when it comes to appearance, laminate flooring can be just as stunning as hardwood flooring and, some would say, even more customizable. Laminate flooring comes in several colors, textures, and patterns, allowing you to mimic high-end styles for a fraction of the cost. 

Laminate Flooring vs. Vinyl Flooring

There are two top choices when looking for attractive, durable, and economical flooring: vinyl and laminate. Both are easy to install and care for, so to the untrained eye, it may seem that the only difference between these two flooring options is the name. So, what is the difference between vinyl and laminate flooring?

Broadly speaking, laminate and vinyl flooring are interchangeable when used in residential applications. Most elements that drive the decision between vinyl and laminate flooring are personal, based on preferences surrounding texture, style, and cost. You will however find that laminate is significantly more scratch resistant and indentation resistant that most vinyl and hardwood.

The exception to laminate and vinyl’s interchangeability concerns moisture and water. In environments with high moisture, vinyl flooring is the ideal choice, especially in bathrooms. However, for whole-house installations, laminate flooring is the better choice as it provides more benefits overall. 

The Difference Between The Cost Of Laminate Flooring And Other Materials

Whether you need to repair an existing floor or replace it, your choice will depend on the installation cost, your preferences, the materials used, and their benefits.

On average, engineered hardwood floors will cost around $5 to $10 for installation and labor, and another $6 to $14 per square foot for the engineered hardwood itself. 

For laminate flooring, you can expect to pay around $3 to $5 for labor and installation and about $2 to $6 per square foot for the material. 

The price of vinyl flooring can vary depending on the type of vinyl used. For rigid vinyl planks, luxury vinyl tile, luxury vinyl planks, and sheet vinyl, you should budget around $3 to $7 for installation and labor. Meanwhile, the cost per square foot of these materials can range from $2 to $6. 

Contact Baker Bros To Discuss Your Flooring Options

Now you know how laminate flooring compares to other flooring materials. Armed with this information, you should have a better understanding of which flooring is best suited to your needs. 

However, for tailored assistance when deciding between laminate flooring and other flooring materials, speak to our team at Baker Bros. With years of experience selling laminate flooring and other materials, we can answer any questions you might have. So feel free to visit us in-store and let us help you choose the flooring that will meet your expectations.