If you’re looking to fit new flooring in your home – whether it is across the entire property or in just a few rooms – you have plenty of choice in terms of materials. Two of the most popular options, however, are real wood and laminate. Although there is fierce debate about which of the two is best, the advantages of each ought to be considered carefully before you choose which is best for your home.
Real wood
Pick a real wood floor and you’ll find something that is both aesthetically pleasing and incredibly practical. If you’re hoping to establish a countryside cottage feel in your home, selecting solid wood is definitely something you should invest in.
Doing so means you will have a floor where the wood’s swirls and rings are prominently displayed, giving you a stunning product. As each tree is different, choosing solid wood for floor means you will always have something unique. Laminate, on the other hand, is produced in a factory, so it is quite possible you can end up with flooring that is completely identical to that of your neighbours or friends.
This needn’t be the case with real wood, as there is plenty of scope for you to get a floor that stands out from the crowd. While many people go for a natural wood look, you might want to consider ordering parquet flooring if you want something a little bit different. As this sees various shades of timber put together to create an eye-catching geometric pattern, it is something that can really give a wonderful finishing touch to a property.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that solid wood is hardwearing and, once it is installed, you ought to find it will last you for many years to come. If, for whatever reason, it is damaged, you should be able to get it easily repaired. Dents and other imperfections can often be removed by sanding, while regular sweeping or vacuuming is all that’s required to get rid of dust and dirt.
Real wood also has fantastic insulation properties in that it enables your property to lock in heat when it is cold, while also helping the home to stay cool when it is very hot. Choose this and you might not have to use your central heating as much, enabling you to save money.
Laminate flooring
There are many reasons why you should get real wood flooring, but that isn’t to say that laminate should entirely be discounted. Indeed, the former tends to have a higher price tag, so the latter can be a better option if you have a very tight budget for making improvements to your home.
It’s also worth bearing in mind the fact laminate is made from pressed wood means that it is often better at resisting moisture and scratches than solid wood, something that may prove especially useful in homes populated by accident-prone children.
If laminate suffers substantial damage, however, it cannot be as easily repaired as solid wood. Even if you choose a floor that comes in pieces that can be removed, any replaced sections are likely to stand out. This is because laminate’s colour changes as it ages, so you might end up with an inconsistent and uneven looking floor.
Of course, the choice between whether to have laminate and real wood flooring is one that you’ll have to make yourself, though both are certainly capable of giving your home the wow factor.
