Is Laminate Flooring The Same As Engineered

Laminate and engineered wood floors are both very popular alternatives to hardwood floor but they are not created equal.

Is laminate flooring the same as engineered.

Since you don t have to worry about it buckling engineered hardwood is very stable and versatile especially compared to laminate flooring. 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 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. 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. 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. Laminate is essentially a rigid synthetic floor that s also known as composite pergo or floating wood tile.

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. Laminate flooring can mimic almost any hardwood style. However despite similar appearances there are key differences between them. The surface layer is a type of plastic therefore it can be easily wiped down with general cleaning supplies.

Some homeowners also find that heels and pet nails click annoyingly on the plastic surface. The natural top layer makes engineered wood just as durable as traditional hardwood and provides the same classic timeless look. Laminate flooring is an inexpensive type of flooring material that is composed of a mixture of wood pulp and resin. Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood are sometimes confused with each other because they can look similar.

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 also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. 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. Both laminate flooring and vinyl flooring are usually less expensive than natural hardwood engineered wood and many types of ceramic or porcelain tile.