Choosing Laminate vs Hardwood

Spring Break is over and it’s back to the grind.  Sometimes I don’t mind the grind.  I appreciate having things like: a routine, clean laundry, and groceries. For some reason, throw a few days of free time in there and I can’t manage any of that.

So let’s get grinding! Today I’m bringing you another installment of the story of my new floors, dramatically titled: “The Story of My New Floors.”  (Part one here).

Long before I had the chance to work with Lumber Liquidators, I already had an idea of what I wanted.  Laminate floors.  Record scratch Whaaaaa??  Not fancy, luxurious hardwood?  Nope. It’s true.

Like I mentioned before, my brother Nate is a professional remodeler who owns a restoration business. With all his experience, he has chosen to install laminate flooring in his past two homes, and I’ve always loved it.  It looks fantastic for a fraction of the cost, and is ridiculously durable.

((Insane side note: One day a few weeks ago, Brooke White, yes THAT Brooke White of American Idol fame, and one of my favorite humans on the planet, just so happened to be in town. She was shooting a new music video and needed a good looking kitchen and laundry room to film in.  Somehow, someone in the know suggested Nate’s house, and she ended up filming there! Anyway, my sister-in-law Kalli said that the very first thing Brooke said when she walked in the door was not “Hi!” or “Nice to meet you!” or “We’re shooting a music video in your kitchen, now get out of the way,” {of course she wouldn’t say that, she’s the best}, but the first thing she said was “I LOVE your floors! Where did you get them?” So. If it’s good enough for my brother and Brooke White, it’s good enough for me)).

Here’s a shot of Nate and Kalli’s stupidly stunning kitchen and laundry room.  Definitely music video worthy. Here’s the music video.

But let’s talk about me for a minute.  I visited Lumber Liquidators to see what was in store.

If you’re looking into new flooring for the first time, all the choices and information may seem overwhelming.  But Lumber Liquidators stores are laid out and organized really well, and they are happy to help you with any questions.  I mean, like super happy.  Their customer service went above and beyond.  I mentioned to my husband Matt several times while we were in there that “These guys seem to REALLY like their jobs.”

The samples on the floor are some of their more popular selections, so you can see exactly what a particular flooring will look like installed and out of the box, not to mention how it holds up to heavy use.

After much perusing, bringing samples home, weighing pros and cons, I finally found my winner.  It’s got a lot of gray in it (shocker!) but plenty of brown tones too. It has a weathered appearance, but just slightly.  More like driftwood vs. something that fell off a rotting barn. In fact, that’s the name of it, Delaware Bay Driftwood.

Here’s a peek!  I’m not being coy, this is actually the only picture I have so far.  Remember how Spring Break kicked my behind? More pictures to come soon.

Now then.  Let’s address the controversy.  Just days (DAYS!) after my floors were installed, news broke out that was highly unfavorable to Lumber Liquidators. The gist of it was that their laminate flooring contained off-the-charts levels of formaldehyde. My stomach instantly tied up in knots. I think I even cried. This was bad news.

As I read everything I could find about it, I learned that my floors (made in Austria) weren’t affected. Huge sigh of relief. The study showed that a small percentage of laminate imported from China was problematic.

But I still find myself mired in a mess! Can I tell you, my reader, to trust Lumber Liquidators? Do I believe that their flooring is safe?

After reading and contemplating both sides of the story, yes, I do believe what Lumber Liquidators had to say in defense of the allegations.  You can read all about it here. The fact that they’ve been a trusted name in the business for over 20 years, that they have a track record of insisting on safety and sustainability, and that they’ve offered to test the air quality in the homes of their customers and ensure their satisfaction are what speak volumes to me. But be aware. Inform yourself.

So, are hardwood floors the better choice because laminate might be dangerous? What I’ve found suggests not. Hardwood floors can also contain formaldehyde, as formaldehyde is a substance that occurs naturally in wood, and formaldehyde is a common ingredient used in flooring adhesives. Like I said, I think the best thing to do is just inform yourself as much as possible and make the best decision for you and your family. Here are some more pros and cons to consider:

Laminate PROS:

• more durable than hardwood
• more affordable than hardwood
• easier to clean
• no defects, no waste
• can be installed in ‘moist’ areas
• stain resistant
• scratch resistant

Laminate CONS:

• doesn’t repair as easily
• doesn’t add as much value to your home as hardwood
• ‘hollow’ sound
• may require transition pieces

Obviously this is not a comprehensive list, and there are many more considerations to weigh, but for me, the pros of laminate outweighed the cons. It’s WAY more affordable, it resists scratching and denting and general wear and tear much better than hardwood, it’s recommended in ‘moist’ areas such as the kitchen.  It’s true that if it became damaged, you would not be able to sand it down and repair it the way you would with hardwood, but it’s so durable that I don’t forsee that becoming an issue.

Some people argue that laminate has a ‘hollow’ sound, which I have not noticed.  My flooring has an average thickness at 10mm, and also comes with a pre-attached acoustic foam underlay, so I’m sure that makes some difference.

WHEW! This was WORDY! Thanks for hanging in there.  I’ll be sharing the final wrap-up soon!

Disclaimer:  Lumber Liquidators provided product for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.