Basic comparison of the different

types of wooden flooring

 Wooden flooring: Where to
Start?
• There are mainly three types of wooden
flooring:
– Laminate
– Engineered wood
– Solid hardwood
• Each type has its own unique
characteristics and it depends on the
home owner which one they prefer.
 Laminate Flooring

• Laminate flooring is mainly made of fibreboard, with a

thin photographic image of real wood that is applied on
the core of the fibreboard.
• It consist of three layers:
– Decorative Layer: This layer is a durable, transparent layer
which is stain resistant. This also holds the detailed image of
wood to give the impression of hardwood flooring.
– Fiberboard Core: This is the layer that provides shock absorption
and stability.
– Bottom layer: A layer of melamine is coated on this layer to
provide extra stability.
 Engineered wood

• Engineered hardwood is very similar to

laminate, with the biggest difference that
all layers are made out of wood:
– Layer one usually comprises of real
hardwood.
– Layer two (and sometimes three) consist of
less expensive wood that are glued together
to create a stable and shock absorbent core.
 Solid hardwood:

• Solid hardwood is a single cut of 100%

wood.
 How difficult is it to install?

• Laminate flooring uses an interlocking system for easy installation and can
be put on top of an existing floor.
• Engineered wood can also be laid on top of another floor, but might need
glue or nails.
• Solid hardwood, on the other hand, must be nailed or glued into place.
 Further considerations?

• Due to solid hardwood being 100% wood,

it does respond to humidity and moisture,
and therefore it is advisable to not install in
places such as a basement etc.
• Only engineered wood and solid hardwood
can be sanded and refinished.
Produced by CP Sourcing