Laminate vs Engineered Timber: It’s a hard choice!

When it comes to choosing the perfect hard flooring for your home, the decision often narrows down to a choice between Laminate and Engineered Timber. Both options offer unique benefits and challenges. Making the choice really depends on your specific home, lifestyle, needs and preferences. We wrote this article with the aim of providing clear, simple and comprehensive information to help you make an informed decision.

What are Laminate Floors?

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer product designed to mimic the appearance of natural wood. It consists of:

1. Wear Layer: A clear, protective top layer that provides durability and resistance to fading, scratches and stains.
2. Design Layer: A high-resolution, textured photographic layer that replicates the look of wood.
3. Core Layer: Made of high-density fiber board (HDF), this layer offers stability and strength.
4. Backing Layer: A moisture-resistant layer that provides additional stability and protection against cupping or warping.

Laminate floors are laid ‘floating’, meaning they are not glued to the subfloor. The boards have a locking system on all edges and are clipped together. Laminate floors are laid on top of a 2mm underlay.

Laminate planks usually range between 8 and 10mm total thickness, board widths and lengths vary.

What are Engineered Timber Floors?

Engineered timber flooring combines the beauty of natural wood with enhanced stability. It consists of:

1. Top Layer (Wear Layer): A thin layer of real hardwood, typically 2-6mm thick, which can be sanded and refinished. This layer is usually finished in layers of polyurethane for protection.
2. Core Layer: Multiple layers of plywood, rubber wood or high-density fiberboard (HDF) arranged in a cross-grain configuration for added strength and stability.
3. Backing Layer: A stabilising layer that provides structural support and moisture resistance.

While it can be laid ‘floating’ we recommend engineered timber flooring is glued to the subfloor.

Timber planks usually range between 14 and 21mm total thickness with varying board widths and lengths

Advantages and Disadvantages

Laminate Flooring

Advantages:

• Price: Generally more affordable than Engineered Timber.
• Durability: Highly resistant to scratches, stains and fading. A great choice for families and sunny homes.
• Stability: Good resistance to expansion and contraction when exposed to sunlight.
• Maintenance: Low maintenance; easy to clean.
• Variety: Available in a wide range of designs, boards sizes, textures and colours. Unlike real timber, because laminate is a man made product, you can choose the look.

Disadvantages:

• Feel: Can feel less natural underfoot compared to real timber.
• Repair: Difficult to repair if damaged; often requires replacing the entire plank or run of planks.
• Moisture Resistance: While the surface and joins are water proof / water resistant (depending on the range) we don’t recommend this product for bathrooms, toilets or laundries.
• Refinishing: Cannot be sanded or refinished.

Engineered Timber Flooring

Advantages:

• Appearance: Provides the natural beauty and warmth that can only be created with real wood.
• Durability: More stable than solid wood, with better resistance to changes in temperature and humidity.
• Refinishing: Can be sanded and refinished, extending its lifespan.
• Feel: Feels more like traditional hardwood underfoot.
• Value: Adds higher resale value to a home compared to laminate.

Disadvantages:

• Price: More expensive than laminate flooring.
• Installation: While this product can be laid ‘floating’ we recommend this product is glued to the subfloor. All skirting boards need to be removed.
• Maintenance: When compared to a laminate, engineered timber requires regular maintenance to keep it looking its best.
• Variation: Because each plank is cut from a real tree there can be a lot of variation between planks in things like colour, knots and grain which cannot be controlled.
• Scratch Resistance: More susceptible to scratches and dents compared to laminate.
• Fade Resistance: Engineered Timber will fade over time, especially in direct sunlight. We recommend window coverings and UV tint, reducing the woods exposure to light.

Suitability for New Zealand Homes

Laminate Flooring: Ideal for busy households, sunny areas, families, homes with pets and areas with high foot traffic due to its durability and low maintenance. While laminate can be installed in bathrooms, we don’t recommend it.

Engineered Timber Flooring: Perfect for homeowners seeking the authentic look and feel of real wood. Its ability to be refinished makes it a long-term investment. However, it requires careful maintenance and is less suitable for high-moisture areas.

Floor Preparation Requirements

Laminate Flooring:

• Requires a clean, dry, and very flat subfloor.
• An underlayment is recommended to provide sound insulation and moisture protection.
• While skirting boards can be cut to allow the laminate to be fitted underneath, it is preferred that skirting boards are removed before installation.

Engineered Timber Flooring:

• Requires a stable, very flat, and dry subfloor.
• Skirting boards have to be removed before installation

Laminate and Engineered Timber Comparison

Conclusion

Laminate and Engineered Timber Floors each have distinct advantages and drawbacks. Your choice depends on your budget, aesthetic preferences, lifestyle and specific household needs. At Midway Flooring, we offer a range of quality options to suit every taste. We recommend a visit to our showroom where we can chat to you to get a feel for your project before walking you through products that will work for you.

Adam Nicholson – Director, Midway Flooring