Choosing the right type of flooring for your home can be difficult. There are pros and cons to each that must be considered before making a final decision.
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Vs |  |
| Hardwood | Laminate |
Hardwood Pros
Repairs – While hardwood floors can be scratched, the scratches can be repaired easily by sanding out the imperfections and then refinishing the area. This means that hardwood has the potential to last much longer than laminate.
Maintenance – Hardwood floors are generally easy to maintain, as long as you remember that moisture causes them to warp and shift. The best way to avoid this is to only use cleaning products that are safe for wood floors, wipe up spills with a dry cloth and use a broom or vacuum, never a mop.
Go Green – Hardwood flooring is both renewable and recyclable so if you are someone who likes to help the environment, hardwood flooring might be the choice for you. While carpet and vinyl floors will eventually end up in a landfill, hardwood can be refinished and recycled.
Appearance – Hardwood is more natural-looking than laminate flooring because it is cut from natural wood, and each piece is different in appearance.
Increased value of home – it is estimated that hardwood flooring adds a 20-25% premium to your home.
Hardwood Cons
Price – Hardwood can cost twice as much as laminate flooring or more, depending on what type of tree it is harvested from.
Damage – Hardwood is more prone to water damage than laminate flooring, and is more susceptible to scratching, it is especially common for damage to occur in areas of the home with heavy traffic. However, the damage can be repaired (as opposed to laminate which must be replaced). Hardwood is also susceptible to sun damage and care should be taken to ensure direct sunlight is limited.
Laminate Pros
Price – Laminate flooring is made from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures. The image of hardwood covers the composite to form the laminate; this is why it is comparatively inexpensive.
Durability – Laminate wood flooring is more durable than hardwood because it is made from pressed wood. It is able to resist scratches, moisture, and wear and tear better than hardwood flooring. It is also much easier to clean and maintain because it doesn’t always have to be kept completely dry and doesn’t require wax or polish. However, when scratches and warping do occur, they are much more difficult to repair.
Coloring – Laminate flooring does not yellow or fade from sunlight or other elements.
Laminate cons
Appearance – Because laminate is made of paper printed with a high quality photographic image (usually of wood) each piece can end up looking exactly the same. In fact, probably the easiest way to tell whether a floor is made of hardwood or laminate is to take a close look at the grain.
Repair – laminate flooring does not repair easily. If your floor is made up of individual pieces that were snapped together during installation, you may be able to remove damaged pieces and replace them with new ones. However, depending on age, the new pieces may not match completely.
If you are considering repairing or replacing your wood or laminate floors, get competitive estimates from local flooring specialist in Mesa AZ. Fill out a bid request form and let the pros fight for your work.
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