Here at Jigsaw Flooring Solutions, a question we are frequently asked is ...So what’s the best? Laminate or Engineered Wood

This is one of the most common questions we are asked. It’s a question we can’t really answer in all honesty. What we will attempt to do here though is put them to the test head to head so to speak. So ladies and gentlemen if you’re ready....Let’s Get Ready To Rumble!!!!!

This is going to be a virtual fight to the finish and will be based entirely on the strengths and weaknesses of both products. One thing to note though is that both of them are perfect in their own way and for their own use:

Tale of the Tape

Both our contenders are inexpensive, highly durable and both give the effect of an expensive solid wood floor for a fraction of the cost. This is where the similarities end.

In the Blue Corner

Laminate flooring is essentially a simulation of wood, a photograph of a hardwood plank if you like, this resin infused image is laminated and stuck onto composite wood chip material, yes, underneath it is technically real wood. But in all honesty it’s a bit like a dog being born in a stable and calling itself a horse.

The Advantages of Laminate Flooring

Budget: Here at Jigsaw Flooring Solutions, our Laminate flooring starts from as little as £11.56 per square meter.

Durability: With the best will in the world, a real hardwood floor is vulnerable to damage from things like high heels, pets, children’s toys etc, laminated flooring has the advantage of a much harder surface, and generally scratches don’t ruin the effect.

Range: Because of the way the product is produced, laminate flooring can be as creative as you are, you can pretty much have any finish you would like. This means that you can have a millionaire-like palatial floor, with a servant’s budget.

Installation: laminate can be easily laid as a floating floor. The product basically "snaps" together using a tongue and groove system. In fact to be honest it is laughably simple to install.

The Disadvantages of Laminate Flooring

Well the obvious disadvantage is that Laminate is not genuine wood floor in the truest terms of the word. A fake wood floor, even if it looks like a million dollars is still a fake wooden floor when all is said and done.

Another disadvantage with Laminate flooring is its limited life cycle. It cannot be sanded down and refinished. Thus the flooring is going to have to be changed much more than a true wooden floor, laminate flooring is unlikely to last much longer than 7 years without showing the effects of age.

In the Red Corner

Engineered flooring is a fantastic alternative to Solid hardwood Flooring. The product consists of a hard wood plank (which comes in various thicknesses) laid on top of ply-boards which make up about 80-90% of the floor.

The Advantages of Engineered Flooring

Budget: Here at Jigsaw Flooring Solutions our engineered flooring starts at £15.00 per square meter, obviously this is slightly more expensive than laminate, but still a massive saving when compared to solid hardwood flooring.

Durability: For all intents and purpose engineered flooring is practically a hardwood floor. It comes in various finishes and can be oiled, waxed or lacquered to protect it from damage. Engineered flooring more than holds its own when compared to solid wooden floors.

Because of the way it is manufactured it is less likely to be affected by humidity or the changes between hot and cold temperatures. This means it can expand more easily and is less prone to warp. It is also handy for those of you lucky enough to have underfloor heating as it can be laid directly over it.

Range: You will find a massive range of sizes and finishes at Jigsaw Flooring Solutions. We stock one of the largest stocks of engineered products in the UK. We are certain that we will be able to meet any requirements you might have.

Installation: You have a number of choices when it comes to installation of engineered products. Dependent on the thickness of the board you have purchased you might just be able to nail it down, if you have gone for a thicker option then, as long as your existing floor is both level and stable you can just install it as a floating floor just as you would with a laminate one.

Life Cycle: because you can actually sand the surface area of an engineered floor and refinish it, there is no reason it can last you for up to 20 years. All our engineered products at Jigsaw Flooring Solutions come with a 20 year guarantee ensuring you have peace of mind knowing that we will replace any floor found to be faulty *

As you have probably gathered by now, an engineered floor is almost identical to solid wooden flooring and costs about 20-30% less. In fact to the untrained eye it is practically impossible to tell the difference.

So, The Verdict......

As I mentioned earlier both of these products are fantastic in their own ways it really is a case of horses for courses.

For those that have pets, are on a limited budget and are not planning to live in the house for a long time, then, in my opinion laminate is going to be their best option.

Meanwhile for someone that wants a sold hardwood floor but maybe doesn’t have the budget to match and can tolerate having to probably spend a little bit of time, with the upkeep of their floor, then an engineered product is going to be the perfect solution for them

• exclusions apply see our website for details