Difference between Hardwood flooring and laminate flooring

Most of us have heard about hardwood flooring and laminate flooring but don't know how one differs from another. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let us see how hardwood flooring differs from laminate flooring!

Hardwood flooring:

Hardwood flooring, which is also known as the hardwood floor, is made of solid, natural wood. The wood is the only material used in the manufacturing of hardwood floors. Modern hardwoods come with a tongue and groove system for easy installation. This flooring is easy to sand and refinish but requires more maintenance to keep it looking great. Most of the hardwood floors can be sanded up to 6-7 times after the existing finish worn down.

It is more prone to damage than other types of flooring, e.g. if you drop a heavy object on the floor you will see dents and it cannot be left wet as it will swell and expand. It is always expensive than other types of flooring but it looks gorgeous and one feels good when walks on it. Hardwood flooring has a longer lifespan than laminate flooring; it can last for 40 to 80 years if maintained properly. Furthermore, it is an eco-friendly product as the planks are produced from the single piece of wood.

Laminate flooring:

It is a very versatile type of flooring. Its core layer is made of high-density fiber as opposed to actual planks of wood. Its top layer is photographic which can mimic the different looks, e.g. hardwood, bamboo, knotted wood, etc. Laminate planks are installed using a tongue and groove locking system which allows you to install or uninstall it with ease. It is less prone to damage like scratches, dents, swelling due to moisture etc.

Laminate flooring has relatively short life-span as compared to hardwood flooring, e.g. 10-15 years. It cannot be sanded or refinished so wear-and-tear and surface scratches eventually damage the floor. Laminate flooring cannot be considered eco-friendly as it is made by bonding various composite materials and melanin resin at high temperature and pressure.

Based on the above information, some of the key differences between hardwood and laminate flooring are as follows:

Hardwood flooring	Laminate flooring
It is made of solid, natural wood. The flooring planks are produced from a single piece of wood.	It is multi-layer synthetic flooring. Its core is made of high-density fiber.
It is manufactured from real wood so retains the unique textured grain and appearance of natural wood.	It is an imitation of real wood, mimics the appearance of natural wood.
It is characterized by texture variation of the wood grain.	Patterns that imitate the wood texture are imprinted on the floor surface.
It is less resistant to moisture damage, staining, denting and fading.	It is more resistant to moisture damage, staining, denting and fading.
It has a long lifespan than laminate flooring, e.g. 40-80 years.	It has a short lifespan than hardwood flooring, e.g. 10-15 years.
It repairs easily and can be sanded or refinished up to 6-7 times.	It does not repair easily and cannot be sanded or refinished.
It requires more care and maintenance. It should be cleaned with specific hardwood flooring cleaners.	It requires less care and maintenance as sweeping, dry mopping or wiping is enough to maintain laminate flooring.
It is an eco-friendly product.	It is not an eco-friendly product.