Is Laminate Flooring The Same As Solid Wood Flooring? Is It The Same As Laminate Flooring?

Is laminate flooring the same as solid wood flooring? Is it the same as laminate flooring?

First of all, it should be made clear that laminate flooring is not solid wood flooring. It is actually the same product as laminated flooring, only with different names.

1. The Differences between Laminate Flooring and Solid Wood Flooring

Solid wood flooring

It is directly cut and polished from a single piece of natural wood, retaining the natural grain and structure of the wood. It belongs to pure solid wood material, with a natural feel underfoot, but it is relatively expensive and its maintenance is relatively complex.

Laminate flooring (laminated flooring)

Made by "stacking and pressing" multiple layers of materials, its structure is like a "sandwich" :

Surface: It is a layer of wear-resistant paper printed with wood grain, and then coated with a hard wear-resistant layer (similar to sandpaper material), which is wear-resistant and scratch-resistant. Even if there are pets at home or people walk around frequently, it is not easy to get scratched.

In the middle: The base material is high-density fiberboard (made by gluing wood powder, wood chips and pressing them under high pressure, similar to the principle of compressing biscuits), which has good stability and is not prone to moisture and deformation.

Bottom: There is a moisture-proof balance layer, which can reduce the risk of the floor arching due to moisture.

The key point is that the base material in the middle is "artificial board", not a whole piece of wood, so the cost is lower than that of solid wood and the cost performance is higher.

2. Why is it called "reinforced composite" or "lamination"?

"Reinforcement" : Emphasizing that the surface wear-resistant layer is very hard and more durable than ordinary wooden floors;

"Composite" : Because it is composed of multiple layers of materials combined together;

"Lamination" : During the manufacturing process, the various layers of materials need to be pressed together under high temperature and high pressure, so it is also called laminated flooring.

Summary: No matter how it is called, it is "composite flooring with imitation wood grain", not real wood, but it has the advantages of being wear-resistant, inexpensive and easy to maintain.

3. How to Choose Flooring?

If you want a natural texture and have a sufficient budget: Choose solid wood flooring, but be sure to maintain it regularly to avoid water immersion.

Pursuing cost performance and durability with easy maintenance: Choose laminate flooring (laminated flooring), which is suitable for areas in the home with children, pets, or frequent movement.

To sum up, laminate flooring is a wood-like decorative material produced based on industrial standardization. Its technical definition, production process and material properties are significantly different from those of solid wood flooring. "Laminated flooring" as a professional term more accurately summarizes the technological features and structural attributes of the product. In the field of building decoration materials, the two are different expressions of the same concept and there is no substantial difference.