Hello Betty! My sister has hardwood floors and I have laminate hardwood flooring. They both look good; but after a time, her flooring warped in a couple of areas due to moisture while my flooring still looks as good as the day it was installed. Here is an article that spells out the differences. My vote is for laminate — especially since you mentioned it would be in high-traffic areas.
Bellawood has high ratings and a good warranty. But expensive. There are others of comparable quality that are not as expensive. I look for the thickness of the wood as I want it to last and withstand years of wear and tear as well as being sanded down and refinished a few times over the years before there is nothing left to sand down and replacement is the only option. When my girlfriend built her house from the ground up 15 years ago they opted for a more budget friendly grade with a 25 year warranty as it is a 5,000 sq. ft home, (they put porcelain tiles in the kitchens, laundry room and bathrooms). Granted it is a neat and tidy 2 person household with one cat and to this day, it looks brand spanking new. In one of my old houses, the previous owners put down solid oak and we have refinished the floors once while I lived in it and are still in excellent shape and we will refinish the downstairs before we sell it, and those floors have taken a beating over the last 25 years - lots of kids, lots of pets, lots of guests, spills, dribbles and drops. That house has wood floors throughout the kitchen. Think of your lifestyle, your family, how long you intend to live there, etc. Then set your budget for flooring. Is this a family home to be handed down? If so, spend the money and get the best you can possibly afford. If selling in the short term, spend less, your dream will probably not be the same as the new owners.
Edit:””” 3 years later😂 I decided to paint them white and I am so very pleased with the results!We bought a new house with these ugly cabinets. I really cann...
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I am looking for BUDGET options for my kitchen. It is very strangely laid out. I have 3 doors (laundry, bedroom and outside) that do not help the layout. I am planing...
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Hello Betty! My sister has hardwood floors and I have laminate hardwood flooring. They both look good; but after a time, her flooring warped in a couple of areas due to moisture while my flooring still looks as good as the day it was installed. Here is an article that spells out the differences. My vote is for laminate — especially since you mentioned it would be in high-traffic areas.
https://www.coswick.com/blog/deciding-between-hardwood-and-laminate-flooring-which-is-better/
Bellawood has high ratings and a good warranty. But expensive. There are others of comparable quality that are not as expensive. I look for the thickness of the wood as I want it to last and withstand years of wear and tear as well as being sanded down and refinished a few times over the years before there is nothing left to sand down and replacement is the only option. When my girlfriend built her house from the ground up 15 years ago they opted for a more budget friendly grade with a 25 year warranty as it is a 5,000 sq. ft home, (they put porcelain tiles in the kitchens, laundry room and bathrooms). Granted it is a neat and tidy 2 person household with one cat and to this day, it looks brand spanking new. In one of my old houses, the previous owners put down solid oak and we have refinished the floors once while I lived in it and are still in excellent shape and we will refinish the downstairs before we sell it, and those floors have taken a beating over the last 25 years - lots of kids, lots of pets, lots of guests, spills, dribbles and drops. That house has wood floors throughout the kitchen. Think of your lifestyle, your family, how long you intend to live there, etc. Then set your budget for flooring. Is this a family home to be handed down? If so, spend the money and get the best you can possibly afford. If selling in the short term, spend less, your dream will probably not be the same as the new owners.