Laminate Flooring

Laminate vs Hardwood

Laminate wood flooring looks and feels like hardwood, but several significant differences exist. Most laminate looks so much like hardwood that many people can hardly tell the difference. Some may not see it at all! How exactly is laminate different from hardwood? Let the experts at Hicks Carpet One help you out!

First, laminate is not made from wood. Typically, laminate is created from synthetic materials such as resin, fiberboard, etc. It’s usually built of four layers: wear, core, base, and decorative. The wear layer provides the surface with scratch and scruff resistance that many hardwood materials are prone to. Under the wear layer are the core and base layers, adding extra strength, stability, and water resistance. The top decorative layer has a high-resolution image of natural hardwood.

Laminate wood flooring doesn’t stop at its looks, either. It can have the actual feel of hardwood as well. You can opt for random ticking that resembles an oak floor, enhanced wood grain that may or may not correspond to the wood image, or registered embossing for an authentic feel that matches the wood image. Random ticking is the noise hardwood floors make when people step on them. Some may find this sound a deterrent, but others may find it to indicate authenticity. The perk of laminate flooring is that you can decide if you want your floors to have this quality.

Enhanced wood grain can significantly transform your floors. It brings a rich, deep color that can tie your room together.

Registered embossing provides the ultimate realistic look to laminate flooring because it matches the decorative layer’s underlying pattern texture instead of the wood grain texture. If you want your laminate flooring to look as natural as possible, registered embossing is the way to go. A combination of enhanced wood grain and registered embossing also brings the laminate flooring’s look of authenticity to a whole another level.

Nonetheless, laminate needs to be maintained similarly to hardwood. It should avoid moisture, and the surface should be swept regularly. Though the laminate maintenance is similar to hardwood, the laminate flooring is more robust, durable, and affordable than hardwood. Laminate installation is much easier than hardwood because it can be installed without nails or adhesive. With laminate flooring, you can truly have it all with the look and feel of hardwood flooring without all of the hassle hardwood requires.

To learn even more about laminate wood flooring, contact us or visit our showroom at 9901 Broadway Suite 109, San Antonio, TX, 78217!