Engineered Wood Flooring vs Laminate Flooring

Laminate vs Engineered Wood Flooring

You want to change your flooring and opt for a parquet floor, but you do not know which one to choose? Can you differentiate laminate flooring from engineered wood flooring? Then look no further! After reading this article, all of your questions will be answered!

Laminate parquet: a good alternative to wood and LVT flooring

Do you know that laminate flooring is not really a parquet floor? The term "parquet" refers to a floor consisting mainly of wood, while laminate flooring is not a wood compound. Indeed the laminate flooring is not real wood but an imitation of it. Composed mainly of resin, a High-Density Fiberboard (HDF) or Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) and a decorative layer (paper or decor sheet), laminate flooring is therefore a pure imitation of wood. However, one of the characteristics of this product is the wide range of designs it offers. Thus it allows to reproduce several materials such as parquet, concrete, tiles and marble. In addition, it can even replicate exotic wood species, avoiding negative impact on the environment and the ecosystem. If you want to acquire a tropical wood flooring, opting for a laminate flooring is therefore the eco-responsible choice.

Trendy, convenient and versatile!

On the market since the 1980s, laminate flooring has gained increasing popularity as it offers wood imitation at a very affordable price. If you're wondering how to lay laminate, it's not as complicated as it sounds. The installation of this type of parquet is with a lock system, which is therefore within the reach of all DIY enthusiasts.

The maintenance of laminate flooring requires no water. Water might damage it badly. A piece of advice, before buying a laminate floor, you should be aware that this product degrades more quickly and can not be sanded or renovated. Nevertheless, it is considered an excellent alternative to give your home a natural touch and this at low cost. Easy to maintain and economical, it is however less robust than a hardwood parquet or an engineered wood flooring.

If you decide to buy laminate flooring, you might be surprised at how much varierty this product offers. Indeed, thanks to the new technical innovations in laminate flooring, some models have been designed for bathrooms and damp rooms, to give them an original and atypical appearance. Resistance to water is one of the strengths of these new products, such as the Quick-Step Impressive collection, specially designed for damp rooms.

Engineered wood flooring, a safe and classic product

The authenticity of the wood for the engineered wood flooring is one of the most appreciated characteristics of the product. Indeed, engineered wood flooring consists of wood (unlike laminate flooring) and consists of three layers: the top layer (or facing) made from noble wood, the second can be made from HDF or MDF for instance. The third one is most of the time a supporting layer. The various layers of wood have been specially designed to fight the expansion of a parquet floor, that is to say the deformation due to changes in temperature and humidity. It is therefore a modern version of the hardwood parquet that combines the durability and the quality of the product. If you want to know more about the difference between hardwood flooring and engineered flooring, we invite you to read the article Hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring: what's the difference?

An original floor, quick & easy to install

The engineered hardwood floor offers a wide variety of products. Each style has its own engineered wood floor. There are a lot of designs, which means a lot of choice.

One of the questions that one has in mind before buying a floor is: How do I successfully install my engineered wood flooring without creating chaos?

Keep calm. Laying the engineered wood floor can be carried out by a professional or for the more reckless, it can be installed without too much difficulties thanks to the drop lock system. Thus speed and simplicity are the watchwords for laying this type of floor. However it can also be glued, for all do-it-yourselfers mastering this technique. It is of course necessary to know that an underlay is necessary for this category of flooring in order to reduce noise when you walk on it.

Made from natural materials, the engineered parquet is environmentally friendly because only one layer is made of noble wood. Reducing your ecological footprint is in this era just like engineered hardwood flooring. Moreover, the engineered wood flooring is durable, as soon as you buy your parquet floor you can be sure to keep it at least 50 years old, if you maintain it properly. If your parquet has been scratched or stained, you can even sand it to give it a new youth, unlike laminate flooring where the damaged board will have to be replaced.

Various surface finishes are possible for the engineered wood flooring: a varnished or vitrified finish will guarantee, in particular, a simple maintenance, an oiled finish will bring an authentic side, while the wax will return its natural properties to the wood . For more information, please refer to the article Engineered wood flooring: which surface finish fits you best?

Finally, if you are still hesitant, even if the engineered wood flooring is more expensive than a laminate floor, it is still more accessible than a hardwood parquet. Indeed the flooring is available in various offers in different price ranges. Depending on your means, you can find shoes at your feet or rather parquet flooring at your feet.

Engineered wood flooring  & laminate parquet: what benefits are there?

To summarize, we invite you to take a look at this table which will briefly show you the respective properties and features of the two types of flooring. Then you can make your choice according to the room to be renovated, the style and the decor desired.

Order your engineered wood or laminate flooring in just a few clicks on BRICOFLOR UK!

You can find all our engineered wood floors and laminate floors on BRICOFLOR.UK online shop. To help you in your renovation and purchase process, you can order samples, in order to choose the engineered or laminate parquet with the finishing that suits you best! Please notice that not all our products are on the website, but feel free to contact us to have more information, just call 01264 980370. We guarantee you the best prices, free samples and an individual offer with your order. You can also send us an email at info@bricoflor.co.uk Buy your flooring online at bricoflor.co.uk