According to Better Homes and Gardens, engineered wood flooring is manufactured out of between 3 and 5 layers of wood. Layers are places under pressure and glued to each other to form planks of engineered wood flooring. They are positioned in a fashion that has grain patterns arranged perpendicularly from the wood layers below. Laminate flooring can be engineered to look like wood and provide a similar texture. Laminate flooring has a composite-wood fiber core under a print layer that can resemble wood grain. A top layer of clear resin is featured on top of laminate flooring.
Laminate flooring is very scratch-, impact- and stain-resistant, according to Floor Facts. Laminate floors will not fade due to overexposure to sunlight. According to Demesne, engineered wood flooring is nearly impervious to humidity. The layers help curb the natural expansion wood will experience from humidity. Laminate flooring and engineered wood flooring will last for decades with proper maintenance.
Laminate flooring, on the lower end of the price range, can cost between just under $1 to just over $2 per square foot, according to Cost Helper. Higher-end laminate flooring can cost upwards of $7 per square foot. According to Service Magic, engineered wood flooring strips can cost anywhere between $7 and $10 per strip.
Both types of flooring can be installed with relative ease. Do-it-yourselfers can purchase laminate and engineered flooring materials from most large home improvement stores. Self-installation considerably lowers the ultimate price tag linked with a flooring installation project. According to Cost Helper, having professionals install flooring can add up to $5 extra per square foot of flooring installed. Consumers may opt to provide some level of padding underneath the flooring itself, which will further add to costs.
Laminate flooring is easily available in thicknesses ranging from 6 to 12 millimeters. Low-end laminate flooring is usually between 6 and 7 millimeters thick, while high-end laminate flooring usually features thicknesses ranging from between 8 and 12 millimeters. According to Demesne, engineered wood flooring is typically cut to thicknesses ranging from between 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch.