Hardwood versus Laminate Floors

This is a very general comparison between engineered hardwood floors and laminate floors to help you to better understand these floor groups. Please note, hardwood floors come in some many different species, finishes and construction types and that it is very difficult to place them all in one general category, so pre-finished engineered hardwood flooring is used for this comparison. See your local flooring store for additional advice and recommendations.

Special Note: This is a very general comparison and characteristics will vary depending on the manufacturer and consumer usage. Always read the manufacturer's written brochures for specific product details, recommendations and warranties.

	Prefinished Engineered Hardwood Floor	Laminate Floor
Visual Appearance	excellent	good
Scratch Resistance	good⁴	very good
Stain Resistance	fair¹	excellent
Fade Resistance	fair²	excellent
Impact Resistance	good	excellent
Ease of Maintenance	good	very good
Moisture Resistance	fair	good
Ease of Repair	good	poor
Can floor be refinished?	yes (not acrylic impregnated)	no
Install over concrete slab	if glue or float	yes, floating
Manufacturer's Warranty	good	good
Installation Methods	glue, staple, float	some pre-glued glueless, floating
Easy To Install (DIY)	glueless floating - yes staple-down - maybe glue-down - messy	Yes
Life expectancy of floor (in years)	25+³	< 20

some hardwood flooring factory finishes have very good stain resistance
some wood stains when exposed to direct UV sunlight may change color more than others
Quality hardwood floors can last for a lifetime with proper care & refinishing
Some UV-cured urethane finishes have aluminum oxide crystals embedded in the finish and are extremely durable

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