Laminate Flooring

Feature or Concern

Laminates

Straight-Talk

Comparison

Surface Scratches
(not foot traffic)

Considered scratch-resistant.

Depends on sharpness
of object or amount
of pressure. You can
scratch laminate floor; you can scratch
stainless steel also…

Can be more resistant than wood because  the top coat is a composite and not a painted urethane; but wood        can be refinished –
not laminates. Same
with stone

Gouges

Considered gouge-resistant

Same as above

Laminates are more dense than most woods so wood is easier to gouge. Stone can be   more resistant

Wear Resistance from  foot traffic

 Considered wear resistant and generally has aluminum oxide particles in the surface
to resist abrasion

Keep sand and grit off
of the floor (it acts like sandpaper) and you’ll     get tired of the floor    before it wears out.

Wood is the same. Warranties are generally only minimally less for natural wood. Stone
can be resurfaced

Fade Resistance

Considered very fade resistant

Really an unlikely event

   Wood will change in color depending on the species and exposure to sun. Stone will not.

Stain Resistance

Considered very fade resistant

You’d have a hard time staining this product

 Wood can be stained
if something sits on
the surface for too
long and penetrates the
finish. Stone can stain
and be affected by
acid-based spills

Moisture Resistant

The actual surface of
the laminate is
completely moisture
proof

The problem is with the core. Once the core
gets wet it expands dramatically, like a sponge. You must keep water away from the seams since they can eventually seep down    and cause damage. 

Wood can take slightly more moisture, but only slightly. We’re talking about spills and seams   of the wood. Too
much moisture and
wood will warp; a slight warping can
‘sometimes’ shrink
back into place.

Maintenance

Easy to maintain

Use a laminate or wood flooring cleaner – NOT       a mop & water.
No oil-based cleaners.

Wood has the same maintenance
procedure as laminates.

Allergen Factor

Considered to be a
good alternative floor
for those with allergies

Does not hide dust or harbor dust mites. However, you must
keep the dust off the
surface or it gets
blown back into the
air quickly.

Wood and stone, or
any hard surface, is
 the same.