Nothing quite adds beauty and natural warmth to a room like wood flooring. From its magnificent natural appearance to the warmth underfoot, wood is beautiful and timeless. Part of the appeal of older traditional homes is the fact that they come with original hardwood floors. Modern homes looking to achieve the same natural look of wood but at a lower price point use laminate flooring to lure homebuyers.
Both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring are manufactured from actual wood, which means that it preserves the distinct appearance and textured grain of natural wood. Laminate, on the other hand, is only an imitation that looks very similar to real wood. While the two may appear the same, they are actually very different.
10 Reasons to Choose Hardwood Flooring Over Laminate
1. Hardwood floor adds value to your home
Hardwood floors, both solid & engineered, are designed to last a lifetime – making them a great investment for homebuyers. Hardwood floors often never have to be replaced, only refinished, unlike laminate that needs full replacement every 15-25 years. Some hardwood floors in old buildings are decades old, such as the floors in Washington’s Mount Vernon for example.
2. Easier to clean
Even when compared to tiles or carpets, hardwoods are still easier to clean. Routine care may comprise vacuuming, sweeping, and cleaning up spills with a mop and non-aerosol spray. Additionally, hardwoods don’t trap dust particles in concealed places, hide bacteria in its fibers, or grow mold within its grout.
3. A natural product available in a wide range of grain patterns, colors, and styles
The warmth, beauty, and design appeal of hardwood floors is unmatched. While laminated floors over a wide array, there is now more diversity in hardwood floors than even before.
4. Eco-friendly
Compared to the manufacture of other building products, like steel, bricks, or concrete, wood is a much cleaner material.
5. Recyclable
Hardwoods can be recycled 100 percent.
6. Ideal for homes with allergic members
Since hardwood does not trap dust or fumes, it will not harbor mold or dust mites, improving the air quality in your home great for those who suffer from bothersome allergies related to pollen, dander, dust, etc.
7. Easy to redecorate
To change the entire look of your hardwood floor, all you have to do is paint, stain, dye, or apply inlays, without having to replace the materials.
8. Easy to repair or re-apply finishes
Hardwood floors can be easily recoated or touched up. If well maintained, you may never have to completely re-sand. We recommend a licensed professional before attempting to re-sand or refinish any of your hardwood floors.
9. Better for your joints
Hardwood floors tend to give a little, which makes them good for your spine and joints. This is why standing on tile, stone, or laminate can make you get tired faster than on hardwood.
10. Finally, hardwood is the greatest renewable resource in North America, considering that the continent has maintained the forest cover that was there centuries ago (in the 1600s).
Read more about Eco-Friendly Hardwood Floors.
