Due to its natural appearance and warmth underfoot, many people prefer traditional hardwood floors for their homes. They are often amongst the benefits of purchasing an older home. Meanwhile, many newer builds are laying down laminate wood flooring to allow for a lower selling price but while still maintaining the natural look of wood.

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Compare the two flooring types to determine which is best for your home, your lifestyle and your budget.

Durability

Consider the wear and tear your flooring will receive in your home. A strong and durable floor will be easier to maintain and will continue to look good for years to come.

Hardwood – Gorgeous and timeless and can add considerable value to your property.

Will show wear, is susceptible to scratching and can become damaged from too much moisture.

Laminate – Manufactured from pressed wood, laminate resists moisture, scratches and wear and tear and is more durable than hardwood. Also easier to clean.

Can be less visually appealing. Poorer quality laminate may exhibit artificial looking woodgrain textures that are not as attractive as the real thing.

Repair

It is likely your flooring will have to be repaired at some point either from heavy traffic or minor accidents.

Hardwood – Sanding and refinishing the wood will repair your hardwood floor, helping it last for years.

Excessive sunlight can cause the natural product to fade.

Laminate – Hard to repair. If the laminate comes in individual sections that snap together you may be able to find and replace the individual damaged pieces from a company such as http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/laminate-flooring, although sunlight and fading may mean the new piece does not match perfectly.

Laminate has UV protection as standard, so fading is less of a problem than for hardwood.

Price

Check out costs of different flooring thoroughly before making a choice to ensure you keep in budget.

Hardwood

Made from harvested trees, the price of hardwood floors will depend on the origin of the tree. Generally, hardwood is much more expensive to buy and install than laminate.

Laminate

Made from composite wood, laminate is much cheaper to buy and also to install than hardwood.

Once all factors have been considered fully, you should be in a much better position to choose the right flooring to suit you and your home.