3 Reasons Why Faux Wood Floors are Better Than the Real Thing

Want hardwood but are worried about the cost and upkeep? Here are three reasons why faux wood flooring is better than actual hardwood floors.

Older homes still have the original hardwood floors but newer homes usually use a laminate (faux wood) to get the look of natural hardwood but at a lower price. Laminate actually performs better than hardwood in many ways. When investing in a new floor, you may be faced with a choice between laminate and hardwood. But before you decide, you need to consider factors such as durability, appearance, ease of repair and maintenance, and longevity. Want hardwood but are worried about the cost and upkeep? Here are three reasons why faux wood flooring is better than actual hardwood floors.

1. Humidity

Hardwood tends to swell with increased humidity. This creates stress in the wood that causes the planks to twist and rise creating a tripping hazard. When the humidity decreases, the hardwood will shrink and gaps will open between the planks. This will make the floor lose its aesthetic value. Compared to hardwood, vinyl plank flooring is less affected by changes in humidity. But exactly what is luxury vinyl plank flooring?

It is a floor made from laminate, a synthetic multi-layer flooring material whose layers are fused together in a lamination process. Its inner layer composes of fiberboard materials and melamine resin. It’s because of this layered construction and its locking edges that make it more unresponsive to humidity. 

2. Faux Wood Flooring Repair

Flooring materials get exposed to agents that can cause wear and tear. This means that at some point they will need some repair work. If you bought laminate flooring materials that come as individual pieces, then you can just buy new pieces and replace the worn-out ones. This makes your floor look as good as new. 

You can only repair hardwood by sanding the imperfections then refinishing. This will not make the surfaces look as perfect as before, and the refinishing process is a bit expensive. If a piece needs replacement, the cost will even be much higher.

3. Durability 

Flooring materials are usually exposed to the traffic load of the people who walk on them and also the items that may get dragged on them. These cause wear and tear over time. In deciding which material to use on your floor, you must take durability into consideration. Laminate is more durable than hardwood. It’s more resistant to scratches, wear and tear, and the effects of moisture. On the other hand, a hardwood floor can get damaged from excessive moisture and is quite susceptible to scratching. Once scratched, hardwood will lose its visual appeal and the cost of restoring it to the original look can be quite prohibitive. Hardwood is also prone to breakage, especially in heavily-trafficked areas. 

Is money a factor in deciding between hardwood and laminate? Then go for a material that costs less but still serves the purposes you desire–and that’s faux wood flooring. Did you enjoy this article? Keep reading our blog for more tips on how to improve your home and real estate advice.