- Home
- Education
- Flooring Basics
- Engineered vs. Laminate Flooring
Engineered vs. Laminate Flooring
Which type of flooring is best? Here is information to help you make an informed decision.
What is the difference between engineered & laminate flooring
The surface of laminate flooring is a photographed image of finished hardwood and cannot be refinished. Warranties are expressed by the thickness of the wear-layers in mm (millimeters). Laminates are not fastened to the subfloor but are installed floating over a pad.
Engineered flooring is the most versatile of floors. Depending on the style, engineered can be floated over a pad, nailed to a subfloor, or glued to cement. These are made by actually adhering real hardwood to multiple layers of plywood or Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). Some engineered flooring can be sanded and refinished, if the veneer is thick enough. How many times it can be sanded will depend on the thickness of the veneer or top wear layer and finding someone knowledgeable enough to handle the work. Engineered floors can be excellent for radiant heat and below grade installations.
LL Flooring Technical & Installation
Which is better, engineered hardwood or laminate? This depends on your flooring goals, budget, and the details of your specific installation. You may want to try LL Flooring's Floor Finder tool to answer some quick questions and narrow down your search. There are beautiful and stylish options for laminate flooring, engineered hardwood, and more.
Learn more about new flooring on our Flooring Basics page.
Follow LL Style on Instagram & Facebook
Find the flooring store closest to you: https://www.llflooring.com/stores/
Or reach out to a flooring expert to describe your project! https://www.llflooring.com/support/customer-care/