Hardwood vs. Laminate

Flooring has become the do-it-yourself job of choice for people looking to make a major upgrade to a room or an entire house. Your carpets are getting matted and permanently drab and the prices of materials make it very affordable to try a project like this on your own.

Question is...should you go with hardwood or laminate? I know laminate is tempting - it looks good, it's cheaper, and it seems easy enough to do it yourself. But for me the answer is still hardwood. Even though laminate has improved a lot in the last 5-10 years, there's still no beating the quality and value of hardwood. It's more durable. It results in a more organic pattern and original floor. And if properly cared for it can last for decades. It truly is an investment in the value of your home. No one really knows how long laminate will last...it hasn't been around that long and so still hasn't proven its long-term value.

One of these days, I think that laminate will be at a quality where I can recommend it as an alternative. Until then, it's hardwood all the way for me.

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