When people buy a home, it is because they're drawn to certain characteristics. However, many also envision slowly transforming the space to be more modern or better aligned with their tastes. This can include replacing old flooring or carpet with beautiful hardwood or its lookalike: laminate. The guide below explores the distinctions between these two popular materials.

Hardwood

Hardwood comes from trees that have been cut down, milled, and sanded. It has a beautiful natural texture and color—usually ranging from whitish-gray to deep brown—and both can be brought to more attention by stains. 

Hardwood flooring requires regular maintenance. For example, it will need restaining every seven to ten years when it starts to fade from foot traffic and sun exposure. It can be somewhat easily scratched, which will require sanding or filling. You can lower the need for this by avoiding wearing high-heeled shoes indoors and lifting, rather than dragging, furniture. You should also sweep the area regularly since dirt and salt can be abrasive and leave light scratches when ground into the flooring by foot traffic.

Sometimes a problem may develop with individual planks—but these can be removed and replaced with new planks that can be stained to match the rest. In general, with care, some varieties of hardwood can keep their appeal for decades, lasting up to a century. 

Laminate

Laminate flooring is a more affordable alternative to hardwood, able to mimic its appearance, as well as that of natural stone or tile, depending on your preferences. However, it typically only lasts 15-25 years. 

Its melamine resin and fiberboard composition makes this material relatively resistant to both nicks and water. Because of this, pet owners like it as it can resist scratches from their furry family members' paws and accidents from potty training. It is also a better alternative to wood in bathrooms since it is less likely to expand and contract with the heat brought about by steam or if you leave a puddle behind. That being said, prolonged exposure to moisture that seeps through the laminate's layers can cause swelling, so you should still wipe up spills quickly. 

If you want to outfit your home with either hardwood or laminate floors, turn to Creations Hardwoods in Colorado Springs, CO. Providing a wide variety of materials, they will help you transform the look of your living spaces. The company started in 2015, but founder Jeff Romero has over 35 years of experience in the industry and has learned to balance quality with efficiency and affordability. Part of this involves never using subcontractors for installations. To see some of this team's past projects, visit them online. Call (719) 360-2658 to get an estimate.