Laminate hardwood flooring is a great alternative to real wood flooring. In fact, in many ways, high pressure laminate hardwood floors are better than real wood hardwood floors in that the hardwood laminate flooring is more protective against scuffs, dents, and many other problems that real wood often encounters.

In general, the decision of hardwood vs laminate flooring does not have to be confusing. One of the best ways to solve the hardwood versus laminate debate is to make a list of what you want the floor to do and what conditions the floor will have to stand up to, as well as how much money you want to spend on the project.

Depending on the species of wood that you want, real hardwood can be very expensive when compared to hardwood laminate products. The reason for this is simple: the real hardwood product is made from thicker pieces of wood, whereas the hardwood laminate is made from thin slices of the same wood, attached to a backing.

Cost will also be an issue when you are ready to install hardwood. Laminate flooring does not require the use of any special tools such as nail guns. The laminate flooring is not glued to the sub-floor, but rather it is fitted edge to edge and held together with a small line of adhesive. It simple terms it is more or less snapped together rather than fastened down to the underlying structure. This free-floating method allows the laminate flooring to move as the humidity and temperature of the room varies, and this reduces the chances of the wood splitting or cracking, which can be a common problem with real hardwood floors.

Also in the laminate vs hardwood flooring debate is the level of protection that each offers. If you have ever dropped something heavy on a hardwood floor you already know how easily they can dent or become scratched. When this happens only costly repairs will fix the problem. Laminate flooring is designed to absorb shocks and will therefore offer much more protection against falling objects. In addition, hardwood laminate products will hold up very well in high traffic areas such as hallways and kitchens.

Most people are curious about how to clean laminate hardwood flooring, and the good news is that cleaning is very easy and simple. For those wishing to learn how to install laminate hardwood flooring there are several books and videos on the subject, each detailing the exact steps that you need to take.