Changing the flooring in your home is easier said than done. There are numerous factors to take into consideration and you are going to have to make specific decisions right off the bat. It is critical to know what you are dealing with in order to make decisions which are going to be desirable down the road. Let’s take a look at the biggest question most homeowners have as soon as they start to think about making a change. It comes to the battle between hardwood and laminate floors. Which one is better? What are the pros and cons of each? Let’s take a look at which one is the right fit for you.

Hardwood Floors

Let’s begin with hardwood floors. The biggest advantage in the eyes of homeowners has to do with aesthetic appeal. Hardwood floors are as natural as they come and the beauty of glistening hardwood is hard to beat. This beauty is what appeals to most when they first lay their eyes on a slab of hardwood. Another advantage is the easiness of maintaining it. They are as durable as they come and many homeowners have lived their entire lives with the same hardwood flooring under their feet. Yes, they are that durable!

What about the drawbacks? The biggest drawback and what holds most home owners back is the price point. It is more costly to get hardwood flooring put in than laminate flooring. Therefore, you need to have a bigger budget in order to go down this path. Also, it might be a tad noisy when you walk on it and for those who like peace and quiet, this might not be the right choice for you. It all comes down to your preferences at the end of the day.

Laminate Flooring

What about this type of flooring? What are the benefits of laminate flooring? This flooring is regarded as being far more customizable than hardwood flooring. You are going to be able to do a lot more with it in terms of shapes and sizes. This can let you innovate a bit more than hardwood flooring would ever let you. Also, it is regarded as being a more cost-efficient option in comparison to hardwood flooring, which is key for those on a tighter budget. It is also far easier to install and time can be saved when going with this option.

The drawbacks come in the form of it not being ‘real’. The wood is not real and this could be a con for many. You might not want to walk under flooring, which is not authentic and natural. There are also many issues with the texture of the flooring. You might notice it being far more slippery to walk on and not having enough traction as you would be expecting when you first walk on it.

It is also regarded as having lower resale value when you put the property on sale. People want to see hardwood flooring.