ᐅ Laminate vs. Hardwood Flooring

I had planned to install laminate flooring throughout the house, as I had good experiences with this type of flooring in my rental apartment. However, I’m now having doubts. Would hardwood flooring be better in high-traffic areas like the hallway and children’s rooms because it is more durable? How long does laminate flooring typically last when children walk over it with dirty shoes? Is it worth investing in high-quality laminate? Some laminate products are almost as expensive as second-grade hardwood.

Ultimately, I want a durable floor— is hardwood significantly better in this regard?

Parquet flooring is significantly more durable than laminate. When a parquet floor shows wear and aging damage, it can be sanded down and resealed—it will then look like new. This is not possible with laminate flooring. However, when purchasing parquet, make sure to choose solid wood parquet; there is also engineered parquet with only a veneer layer, which cannot be sanded and refinished in the same way.

But fundamentally, laminate and parquet are entirely different types of flooring. The only similarity is the appearance, as most laminate floors are designed to resemble wood. Laminate could just as well be compared to vinyl flooring, which also comes in wood-like designs.

I would personally choose laminate flooring. When hardwood floors are sanded, there is always this fine residual dust everywhere. Besides, I tend to renovate the apartment every few years (new curtains, new wallpaper...), so the floor can be replaced at the same time.

Everyone has their own experience. But I tend to prefer high-quality parquet flooring. Laminate is cheaper and easier to install, however, parquet has a longer lifespan.

I also prefer hardwood flooring, but please do not use second-grade options. I have had issues with laminate flooring in the past. Exposure to sunlight and water caused the laminate surface to discolor. It did not look good.

Parquet flooring definitely lasts longer than laminate. We decided to have tiles installed in almost the entire apartment. However, we installed parquet in the bedroom and children's room.