Four Affordable Alternatives to Wood Flooring That Look Just Like the Real Thing

Wood floors might be referred to as the gold standard of floors. They look stunning in any domestic; trends like hardwood floors in kitchens have been popular for years, and there’s a huge variety of wood floor types and patterns available. But timber is likewise one of the most luxurious varieties of flooring and isn’t always the most durable, particularly if you have young kids or pets. Fortunately, like refinishing kitchen shelves, refinishing wood flooring is always an alternative.

For everybody making plans to live far away from wood completely, numerous types of wood flooring alternatives are available that provide you with the look of wood at a decreased cost. Some of those alternatives can also be less liable to put on and tear than hardwood floors, and they’re regularly easier to hold. Here are some of the most unusual alternatives to wooden flooring—one may convince you to allow that dream of hardwood floors to move.

Laminate wood floors

This is one of the most famous wood flooring options because laminate is a smooth dupe for hardwood. An excellent laminate can even be wrong for wood, regarding its looks and how it feels underfoot. The fee variety of laminate timber flooring can vary from, without a doubt, cost-effective in all manners to very high quit—understand that, in terms of appearance, you’ll typically get what you pay for.

Laminate is crafted from distinct layers of particleboard wood with a sealed photographic layer on top. Laminate installation is the same as timber ground setup, with every board joined through a tongue-and-groove joint. While more long-lasting than hardwood, it’s crucial to recognize that laminate is thinner and, if damaged, cannot be sanded down like wood.

Engineered timber flooring

Engineered timber floors are much like laminate wood flooring in that they have a couple of layers. But, instead of a photographic layer on the pinnacle, there’s a thin slice of reawooden. The layers beneath are frequently made of plywood. Unlike laminate wood floors, engineered timber can be sanded down, but it may most effectively be executed a couple of times in the product’s life. While nicely-maintained stable wood floors can last for generations, engineered timber floors didn’t close pretty that lengthy. But if it’s well-cared-for, it doesn’t want to get replaced for at least twenty years. (Some engineered wood floors can last as long as 100 years; don’t expect that for your floors.) The manner of cleansing engineered timber flooring is similar to how to smooth timber floors, so you don’t necessarily get a simpler time caring for it.

Wood tile flooring

Wood tile flooring has grown to be hugely popular in recent years. It’s exactly what it sounds like tile flooring that looks as if wood isn’t made of wood. Generally, it’s made from either ceramic or porcelain tile. (Learn approximately the differences between porcelain vs. Ceramic tile right here.) Tile flooring is environmentally sustainable, long-lasting, and much less high-priced than hardwood, laminate, or engineered timber flooring. It’s additionally leading to wood for rooms like bathrooms, where humidity can cause warping.

Wood tile may be indistinguishable to the eye from actual timber so long as the grout strains are skinny. Thick grout can be a lifeless giveaway. These fake wood floors also feel unique underfoot compared to other timber flooring alternatives. You must be careful not to drop something heavy on this flooring because tile can crack and chip, though it is much less difficult to replace a tile than a slat of hardwood.

Vinyl wood flooring

One of the most unusual varieties othe f faux timber flooring is vinyl. Made of 100 percent plastic, this artificial material can appear like wood but no longer continue. It is one of the most cost-effectively flooring varieties and is extraordinarily immune to moisture, making it best for bathrooms and laundry rooms.