Is Engineered Wood Warmer Than Laminate

I am trying to decide between installing an engineered wood product or laminate over a concrete slab.

Is engineered wood warmer than laminate.

Laminate flooring tends to be cheaper than an engineered. This would be my living dining area and would be high traffic. I am also a dancer and would use this floor to practice new moves with my dance partners. Comparing engineered wood with laminate is an interesting and worthwhile exercise and you might be surprised by the results.

Cheaper versions have 1 4 inch cores and the photo reproductions may not be as realistic as more expensive versions. 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. The natural top layer makes engineered wood just as durable as traditional hardwood and provides the same classic timeless look. Engineered wood flooring has the advantage over solid wood that its stable structure means that it is much more resistant to expansion and contraction than solid wood.

Both laminate and hardwood tend to remain warm underfoot but because of the layers of pressed wood in engineered flooring it tends to have a little more give. Engineered floors typically starting from 15 per square metre and can go upwards of 60 per square metre. What this means is that it can safely be fitted in rooms where temperature and moisture fluctuations are significant like bathrooms and kitchens. Though engineered wood is not made out of 100 solid wood you can think of it as smart hardwood a real hardwood floor that is more versatile than a solid wood plank.

Some manufacturers can create veneers that are too thin to stand up to remodeling and refinishing if the owner decides to change the look of the otherwise viable flooring. I am getting contradictory info from the stores i have visited thus far and i think they are just telling me things so i will purchase their. Laminate flooring generally is less expensive than engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood debate right there.

Engineered wood contains a slice of natural wood on top while laminate uses a photographic layer that is coated with a protective layer. Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. Laminate flooring can start from as little as 3 per square metre and generally peak at around 40 per square metre. Engineered hardwood floors are considerably more expensive than laminate faux wood flooring as well as tile and carpeting.

There s actually not that much between them and most of the pros and cons are the same as comparing laminate vs hardwood. Cost second on your list of considerations should be the cost of the flooring and part of the overall cost is the price of installation. For some only solid hardwood will do but for many the pros of an engineered wood floor often tip the scales.