Wood Flooring installation vs Laminate flooring which is rig
Every Home is Different
I've been in the flooring business for over 23 years and the question I get asked most often is, "What is better wood flooring or laminate flooring ?" My answer is different every time. Why ? Because every home is different and everyone has a different lifestyle. A young family with 3 kids and 2 dogs is going to need a different floor then a retired couple with no pets. Kids and pets mean heavy wear and tear and possibly drinks being spilled or pet accidents. So the family with the kids I would recommend a good quality laminate possibly an Aquaguard from Floor & Décor or even a waterproof vinyl. However, the retired couple is an excellent candidate for a hardwood flooring. Now, if my young couple with kids has to have wood flooring I always recommend a mid range color, nothing to dark, or to light . Mid colors hide a lot. I would also recommend that the floor be hand scraped and distressed. A midrange color in a hands scraped and distressed wood floor is going to preform the best. Smooth shiny dark or light wood floors show everything from everyday wear and tear to footprints and dirt. You don't want to be constantly cleaning your wood flooring and getting upset every time you see a new scratch. Hand scraped and distressed wood flooring comes with marks, lines, and grooves all over the wood flooring so if you put a new scratch on your wood flooring chances are you won't even see it. The retired couple can have that shiny smooth floor that show footprints because of their lack of foot traffic from only 2 people.
BUDGET:
I've been in the flooring business for over 23 years and the question I get asked most often is, "What is better wood flooring or laminate flooring ?" My answer is different every time. Why ? Because every home is different and everyone has a different lifestyle. A young family with 3 kids and 2 dogs is going to need a different floor then a retired couple with no pets. Kids and pets mean heavy wear and tear and possibly drinks being spilled or pet accidents. So the family with the kids I would recommend a good quality laminate possibly an Aquaguard from Floor & Décor or even a waterproof vinyl. However, the retired couple is an excellent candidate for a hardwood flooring. Now, if my young couple with kids has to have wood flooring I always recommend a mid range color, nothing to dark, or to light . Mid colors hide a lot. I would also recommend that the floor be handscraped and distressed. A midrange color in a hands raped and distressed wood floor is going to preform the best. Smooth shiny dark or light wood floors show everything from everyday wear and tear to footprints and dirt. You don't want to be constantly cleaning your wood flooring and getting upset every time you see a new scratch. Hand scraped and distressed wood flooring comes with marks, lines, and grooves all over the wood flooring so if you put a new scratch on your wood flooring chances are you won't even see it. The retired couple can have that shiny smooth floor that show footprints because of their lack of foot traffic from only 2 people..
VINYL : Another option
Maybe neither wood flooring or laminate flooring is right for you. Another option that is quickly taking over the market is vinyl flooring. Also called LVT , vinyl plank, waterproof flooring, or luxury vinyl. Vinyl is quickly becoming the choice of a lot of customers who are on the fence and can't decide between wood and laminate. Vinyl, which has a price range of $3.00 to $5.00 sf is a great option for that young family with kids and pets, if they can fit it into their budget since it is more expensive then laminate. Vinyl is waterproof so drink spills and pet accidents will not damage your floor. It's, fairly, resistant to scratches but you have to be careful because it's a lot softer then laminate. This is where doing your homework and researching your product is really important. Find a vinyl with a rigid core that is less likely to dent from furniture and everyday wear. When you're not sure which flooring product to choose, the best thing to do is give us a call. With 23 years of experience and over 6500 installations I can help you pick the product that is right for you and your family.