Is Laminate Flooring The Same As Engineered

Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood are sometimes confused with each other because they can look similar.

Is laminate flooring the same as engineered.

Laminate flooring is an inexpensive type of flooring material that is composed of a mixture of wood pulp and resin. Overall price when it comes to installation and upkeep is another advantage of engineered hardwood. It s made of several layers of compressed materials. Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods.

However despite similar appearances there are key differences between them. The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface but structurally they are very similar to a laminate. Since you don t have to worry about it buckling engineered hardwood is very stable and versatile especially compared to laminate flooring. Laminate flooring and luxury vinyl flooring are roughly comparable in price although sheet vinyl does hold a slight edge.

Most importantly engineered wood contains a top layer of solid wood while laminate uses a photographic layer coated with a wear layer to achieve the wood look surface. Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood floors are very similar and often get confused but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors. Laminate is slightly easier to clean and take care of when compared to engineered flooring. Engineered wood flooring has a similar construction as laminate except the top decorative layer is a thick veneer of real wood protected by a coating of a clear acrylic.

Both engineered wood and laminate flooring is comfortable underfoot but because laminate flooring typically floats over the subfloor it may flex a bit underfoot especially if the underlayment is not perfectly smooth and flat. Typically laminates contain an aluminum oxide surface layer that protects against fading spills stains and scratching. Although they are made from similar materials they have key differences that make one option better than the other depending on where the flooring is going in your home. Laminate flooring can mimic almost any hardwood style.

Some homeowners also find that heels and pet nails click annoyingly on the plastic surface. Laminate is essentially a rigid synthetic floor that s also known as composite pergo or floating wood tile. Laminate and engineered wood floors are both very popular alternatives to hardwood floor but they are not created equal. Essentially it s a low cost alternative to more expensive flooring options like hardwood stone and ceramic tiles and can be cheaper than even carpeting and vinyl.