I have been spending a lot of time researching and inspecting. For those who have actual experience with both these type of floors, would you please give me your take on whcih one to go for.My biggest concern keeping me away from going solid hardwood, is the scratching/denting, particularly the scratching part factor. It apperars that lamiate flooring is a lot harder and more durable to abuse.It is my house, but I do not want to live like a guest in it. Taking the shoes off, watching not to pull the chair to fast, etc.Thanks for your input.
Mannington floors makes a new vinyl called Adura. It is sturdier than the other choices and comes in planks and tiles. Look at the flooring stores in your town, or go online and look for it. They have some hand scraped pieces and beautiful strips of wood..
So you either do your best by the wood floor and accept the increased amount of scratches/dents, (pets or kids?) or do the laminate. I think laminates with grain patterns tend to be somewhat predictable with their patterns. Many engineered wood floors can be re-sanded and finished.
Laminates are extremely durable and are great for homes with a high degree of foot traffic (children and pets add significantly to traffic in a home). They are incredibly easy to maintain and will not fade, even in direct sunlight. The core is often impregnated with a plastic resin called melamine to increase the floor’s strength, stability and resistance to moisture. As an added advantage, products that have high levels of melamine do not require acclimation before installation. All this makes laminates the most scratch-resistant, hard-wearing, and cost-effective flooring around. Solid hardwood can also work for you; if budget is not too much of a concern, go with exotic floors or handscraped floors. Handscraped floors have a more scratch-resistant surface and better hides the scratches that you will eventually get. Exotic floors, on the other hand, are 2x-3x harder than oak or maple. Not only is it hard to scratch, the distinctive look of the floors make any room look exceptional. While durability is always a sought-after characteristic in floors, please bear in mind that NO FLOOR IS. There is still a certain amount of maintenance and care required to ensure that your floors stay beautiful for a long time. :)
I love hardwood floors but they do damage easily. I have laminate in my home and also have three large dogs that have yet to do any damage to this floor. Our laminate floor has been down for about 6 yrs and looks like new.
