Pros
Durable
To make choosing the ideal flooring for your home a little easier, we’ve compiled a few of the best flooring options that are known for providing the best return on investment for homeowners. It also doesn’t hurt that these flooring options come with plenty of benefits that your family will love.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood is a type of hardwood that is constructed from 100 percent solid lumber and then milled into a specific thickness and width. The result is a beautiful hardwood floor in which no two pieces are exactly alike.
Engineered Hardwood
Another type of hardwood floor you should consider is engineered hardwood floors. Since engineered and solid hardwood floors offer a comparable ROI for homeowners, the choice between the two often comes down to personal preference and needs.
While both types of hardwood floors are made from 100 percent hardwood, engineered wood is constructed in layers of wood veneers. This cross-layer construction gives engineered hardwood the same beauty and charm as solid hardwood while making it more resistant to humidity.
Cons
Susceptible to liquid damage
Laminate floors are sensitive to moisture. Oversaturation of any liquid, not just water, can cause the planks to buckle, stain and break down if left untreated. Though waterproofed laminate floors are becoming the norm, it is still important to exercise caution, especially if water gets underneath the floor. Water-damaged planks or tiles must be removed and replaced entirely.
Cannot be refinished
Due to its composite construction and wear layer, a laminate floor can never be refinished. Once it has been damaged or worn out, laminate flooring must be replaced.
Artificial appearance: Unfortunately, no matter the quality, laminate flooring will not pass for its real counterpart when closely examined. Everything from pattern repetition to how the floor sounds and feels underfoot (a laminate wood floor will be noisier, for example, than a hardwood floor) are indicators that a laminate floor is, well, laminate.
Not moisture-proof
Being made of wood, laminate flooring is not impervious to the effects of moisture. Therefore, it’s not suitable as a hard flooring for bathrooms and should be used with caution in kitchens or laundries. Light surface water for cleaning shouldn’t cause issues, but saturation must be avoided.
