Is Engineered Wood The Same As Laminate

You can obtain beautiful exotic wood species at a much lower price when compared to solid hardwood because engineered wood only uses a thin veneer layer.

Is engineered wood the same as laminate.

The main difference between the two floors is that engineered hardwood floors have an actual hardwood surface but structurally they are very similar to a laminate. It s core is usually plywood or high density fibreboard hdf and the top layer is composed of a of hardwood veneer which is glued atop the core to mimic nearly any species of hardwood. Laminate flooring and engineered hardwood floors are very similar and often get confused but there are some key differences to take into consideration when comparing the two floors. The cost will also depend on the type of wood veneer used in it.

Engineered hardwood is more of an investment. The primary advantage engineered wood has over laminate is that it is a much more convincing replica of real hardwood flooring. Engineered wood flooring. Neither brings the high value prestige of solid hardwood engineered hardwood or designer ceramic tile or natural stone floors.

At the same time quality laminate or vinyl flooring usually will not put off prospective home buyers. The best way to describe engineered hardwood flooring is to think of it like a hybrid car. It s a little bit of laminate and a little bit of hardwood. Laminate flooring is a fully man made material that consists of several layers.

Laminate is also much thinner than engineered wood averaging around 12mm whereas engineered wood tends to be thicker like hardwoods. The natural top layer makes engineered wood just as durable as traditional hardwood and provides the same classic timeless look. This is because the top layer is actual real hardwood. Solid wood is considered as the most expensive material among all these other engineered wood materials available in the market.

Quality laminate flooring and vinyl flooring lend a comparable amount of value to a home. Engineered wood contains a slice of natural wood on top while laminate uses a photographic layer that is coated with a protective layer. Since engineered wood looks feels and walks like a solid hardwood it has a premium price compared to a laminate floor. The base is fiberboard with a photographic image layer bonded over the top.

Laminate and engineered wood floors are both very popular alternatives to hardwood floor but they are not created equal. Then a transparent wear layer is applied to protect the surface. Plywood is less expensive than the solid wood but it will be more expensive than both of other two types of engineered woods.