There are different types of flooring, some are more common than others in modern homes (gulvxtra). Here are the most popular flooring types.
Engineered wood
This type of hardwood is more affordable than solid hardwood. It is made from a combination of genuine hardwood with ply plank layers, they look like solid hardwood, but they are more resistant to moisture.
Engineered hardwood is excellent for areas with high humidity, i.e. damp basements (https://www.gulvxtra.no/Tarkett). To add to that, engineered hardwood floors are cheap since they use less solid wood.
One disadvantage of this flooring is that it can’t be refinished frequently like hardwood floors and this is because it has a thin too veneer.
Pros
Saves you money
Installation is easier, cheaper and quicker.
It is DIY-Friendly
Cons
Fades in the sun
Requires high maintenance level
Wears out quickly
Low quality engineered wood can be harmful to your family’s health
Can not resist moisture
Not waterproof
It can be easily scratched and dented
Some of its products cannot be refinished
Hardwood flooring
It is made from wood cut from trees. Most floors are made of cherry, walnut and oak, amongst others (https://www.gulvxtra.no/Parkett). Hardwood floors come finished in two ways, unfinished and prefinished.
Unfinished hardwood is sanded down and finished to look shiny and resist moisture after being installed. On the other hand, pre-finished already has the finish applied before plank installation.
Pros
Buyers are willing to pay the top dollar for homes with hardwood floors
They are long-lasting
It works with all styles of decorating, from traditional to modern
Cleaning is easy since you can just sweep
Homes with hardwood floors sell faster than homes with carpeting
Cons
Very expensive
Always noisy
Needs refinishing most of the time
Laminate flooring
Laminate is a great option because it is affordable. Its design is almost similar to that of engineered wood floors. The main difference between real wood flooring and laminate flooring is that laminate doesn’t have a real wood top layer.
Pros
The wear layer of laminate floor is very tough
Laminate floors come as tiles or planks
Easy installation
Cons
It can’t be refinished the way hardwood is
It is susceptible to moisture damage
The wear layer of laminate flooring has plastic that does not degrade in landfills.