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Trying to pick between wood and laminate floors? Lots of homeowners ask us this same question. Your floor is a big purchase. Pick the wrong one and you might spend thousands to replace it too soon.
This guide shows you real differences between wood and laminate. We'll talk about what they cost, how long they last, how to clean them, and what they're worth when you sell your house. You'll learn which one works best for your rooms, your family, and your budget.
We'll look at costs, how to install them, cleaning tips, and which rooms need which type. We'll also share what we tell our customers who come into our showroom. When you finish reading, you'll know which floor fits your home. You'll also know where to see both types in person.
There's no single "best" choice. It depends on what matters most to you.
Pick hardwood if: You want your home to be worth more when you sell it. You plan to stay in your house for 20 years or longer. You can spend $8 to $15 for each square foot with installation. Hardwood can be sanded and refinished many times. It gives your home real character.
Pick laminate if: You need floors that handle water better. You have pets or kids. You want to install it yourself. You need to spend less than $5 per square foot. Today's laminate looks like real wood. It handles scratches better than hardwood does.
Best thing to do: Come see both types at a showroom. Look at real samples in lighting like your home. Get tips for your specific rooms.
Hardwood is solid wood all the way through. Most types are oak, maple, cherry, or other tree species cut into boards. Laminate is a printed picture of wood grain on top of pressed wood material. A clear protective layer goes over the top.
You can see the difference in the grain patterns. Hardwood shows different patterns on every board. That's because each piece comes from a different part of a tree. Laminate repeats the same pattern every few boards. That's because the image is printed and copied.
The thickness is different too. Hardwood is usually ¾ inch thick. Laminate is 8mm to 12mm thick (about ⅓ to ½ inch).
How long they last is really different. Hardwood lasts 30 to 100 years if you take care of it. You can sand it and refinish it many times. Laminate lasts 15 to 25 years. You can't refinish it. Once the top layer gets damaged, you have to replace the whole floor.
Both come in plank shapes. Both come in similar colors. Both work in most rooms. When you visit our showroom, you can see how laminate repeats its pattern. Hardwood boards are all unique.
Laminate material costs: $1 to $5 per square foot. Cheaper laminate starts around $1 per square foot. Better laminate with stronger wear layers and realistic textures costs $3 to $5 per square foot.
Hardwood material costs: $3 to $12 per square foot. Common types like oak and maple cost $3 to $6 per square foot. Exotic types like Brazilian cherry cost $8 to $12 per square foot.
Installation costs: Laminate installation costs $2 to $4 per square foot if you hire someone. Many homeowners install it themselves. Hardwood installation costs $4 to $8 per square foot. We tell people to hire a professional for hardwood.
Total cost example: A 500 square foot room costs $1,500 to $4,500 for laminate with installation. Hardwood costs $3,500 to $10,000 installed for the same room.
Long-term value matters. Hardwood can be refinished 3 to 7 times. This adds decades more life. Laminate has to be replaced when it wears out. You can't refinish it. Budget
Scratch resistance: Laminate wins for everyday scratches. Its hard top layer fights off scuffs from shoes, furniture, and pet claws. Hardwood shows scratches easier. But you can buff out small damage or refinish the whole floor.
Water and moisture damage: Laminate handles spills better if you clean them up in 30 to 60 minutes. Hardwood warps and stains from water in just 10 to 20 minutes. Never put hardwood in rooms that get wet a lot.
Dent resistance: Laminate's dense core fights off dents from dropped things and furniture legs. Hardwood dents from impacts. Heavy furniture and dropped items leave marks you can't fix unless you refinish.
Refinishing advantage: This is hardwood's biggest strength. Sand it down and put on new finish every 7 to 10 years in busy areas. When laminate gets damaged, you have to replace individual boards. This is harder than refinishing.
Fade resistance: Both types fade in direct sunlight over time. Special finishes slow this down but don't stop it completely.
In homes we work with, laminate holds up better with big dogs that scratch. Hardwood shows more wear but you can fix it. You can sand out years of pet damage when you refinish.
Daily cleaning: Both floors are easy to sweep and vacuum. You can damp mop laminate without worry. Use very little water on hardwood. Too much water causes damage.
Deep cleaning schedule: Clean laminate every three months with regular floor cleaner. Deep clean hardwood once a year using wood-safe cleaner only. Don't use harsh chemicals or steam mops on hardwood.
Refinishing schedule: Hardwood needs refinishing every 7 to 10 years in busy areas like hallways and kitchens. Laminate never gets refinished. It's made to last its whole life without this step. The National Wood Flooring Association provides detailed care guidelines for maintaining hardwood floors.
Repair complexity: Hardwood scratches can be buffed out with wood polish. Deeper damage needs full refinishing. Laminate needs board replacement for scratches. This means taking off baseboards and pulling out damaged sections.
Cleaning product rules: Hardwood floors need specific wood-safe cleaners. Never use vinegar, ammonia, or steam mops. They strip the finish. Laminate can handle more cleaning products but still avoid too much water.
Laminate cleaning:
Hardwood cleaning:
The room where you put flooring really affects which option makes sense. Here's what works best in each room.
Kitchens: Laminate works better here. Kitchens have moisture from sinks, dishwashers, and spills. Don't put hardwood near appliances that leak or create standing water. Luxury vinyl plank is another waterproof choice.
Living rooms and bedrooms: Hardwood looks great in these spaces. It adds value when you sell. It creates the upscale look buyers want. Laminate works fine for rental properties where toughness and cost matter more than resale value.
Basements: Only install laminate. Spaces below ground trap moisture. This warps and damages hardwood. Building codes often don't allow hardwood in basements.
Bathrooms: Neither type belongs in full bathrooms. Water from showers and tubs damages both. Choose waterproof luxury vinyl plank instead. If you must use one, laminate is slightly better than hardwood.
Entryways and busy hallways: Laminate's toughness shows up fast here. If you want hardwood, choose harder types like hickory or maple. They fight dents better than softer oak.
Kitchen
Our flooring visualizer takes out the guesswork. You can see your space changed right away.
Upload a photo of your room. Pick a product from our collection. Watch what happens instantly. The realistic picture shows you exactly how different floors will look in your actual space.
Step 1: Upload your photo. | Step 2: Pick a product. | Step 3: See the change right away!
Use the visualizer to pick your favorites online. Then ask for those specific samples to test in person. This gives you both online ease and hands-on proof.
Try Pro Floors and Blinds Flooring Visualizer today!
Hardwood premium: Hardwood flooring adds 2.5 to 5% to your home's value. Studies show this. Buyers look for hardwood in listings. They see it as a special feature worth paying more for.
Laminate perception: Buyers see laminate as a budget option. It doesn't hurt your home's value. But it doesn't boost it either. Laminate is neutral to buyers. It works but isn't special.
ROI timeline: Hardwood pays off if you stay 7 or more years. You get your money back through higher home value. You also enjoy the floor yourself. Laminate makes more sense for short-term ownership or rental properties.
Buyer expectations by market: Expensive homes need hardwood to compete. Buyers shopping above $400,000 expect it in main living areas. Starter homes accept laminate fine. Buyers in this range care more about affordability.
Refinishing before sale: Fresh-refinished hardwood is a strong selling point. It looks brand new. It shows quality care. Worn laminate must be replaced completely. You can't polish it up for showings.
Real estate agents in Spokane always tell us hardwood floors help homes sell faster. They also sell closer to the asking price. Laminate doesn't slow sales down. But it doesn't speed them up either.
Laminate DIY-friendliness: Click-lock laminate systems work for handy homeowners. Most people finish a 500 square foot room in 1 to 2 days. The boards snap together. No nails or glue needed.
Hardwood complexity: Hardwood needs special nail guns, careful subfloor prep, and exact measurements. Professional installation takes 3 to 5 days for the same 500 square foot space. The job needs experience to avoid expensive mistakes.
Tools needed for laminate:
Tools needed for hardwood:
Common DIY mistakes: Laminate installers often skip proper expansion gaps. This leads to buckling. Uneven subfloors cause hollow spots and noise. Hardwood DIYers have trouble with moisture acclimation. Install wood too soon and it warps in weeks.
When to hire professionals: Large areas over 1,000 square feet need professional help. Pattern installations, subfloor repairs, and refinishing existing hardwood need skills you can't learn from videos.
Whether you install it yourself or hire someone, knowing the environmental impact matters to many homeowners.
Hardwood sustainability: Look for FSC-certified wood from managed forests. This means trees are replanted and nature is protected. Domestic types like oak and maple have lower carbon footprints than imported exotics. Less transportation means fewer emissions.
Laminate concerns: Laminate's core uses wood scraps and recycled materials. This reduces waste. Check for low-VOC certifications to protect indoor air quality. Some laminates release formaldehyde or other chemicals during the first few weeks after installation.
Longevity factor: Hardwood's 50-plus year life makes it more sustainable than replacing laminate every 20 years. Making new flooring uses energy and resources. One hardwood floor can outlast three laminate installations.
Recyclability: Neither type recycles easily through normal programs. Hardwood can be reclaimed and turned into furniture or accent walls. Laminate usually ends up in landfills. Its layers don't separate cleanly.
Local sourcing advantage: Regional hardwood types reduce transportation emissions a lot. Ask your supplier where wood comes from. Spokane-area mills provide oak and maple that travel shorter distances than products shipped from overseas.
Priority checklist: Review your budget, project timeline, room moisture levels, household activity (kids and pets), and resale timeline. These five things determine which flooring makes sense.
When hardwood makes sense: You plan to stay in your home long-term. You're installing in main living areas like family rooms or bedrooms. Your budget allows $8 to $15 per square foot. You want refinishing flexibility to refresh the floor in 10 years.
When laminate makes sense: You're working with a tight budget under $5 per square foot. You're flooring rooms with moisture or basements. You have kids, pets, or high scratch risk. You want DIY installation to save money.
Hybrid approach: Most homeowners pick hardwood in showcase rooms and laminate in utility spaces. This balances budget and value. Put hardwood in living rooms and main bedrooms. Then use laminate in kids' rooms, laundry areas, and basements.
Why seeing samples matters: Photos don't show texture or how lighting changes appearance. Thickness affects transitions between rooms. You need to touch both materials. See them in conditions similar to your home.
In our showroom visits, we see most homeowners with homes over 1,500 square feet pick the hybrid approach. They spend money on hardwood where guests see it. They use laminate where toughness matters more than resale appeal.
The best way to choose between wood and laminate? See them next to each other. Call us at (509) 866-6776 to book an appointment at our Spokane showroom. You'll touch samples, compare finishes, and talk with flooring experts who can answer questions about your home. We give free estimates. We can talk about your project timeline.
Let one of our experts help you find the perfect floor!
Spokane - 6018 E Broadway Ave Suite #1
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