Q: I was wondering what the difference between bamboo flooring, hardwood floors, and laminate flooring? I have two cat’s and two dogs, I’d like something that can handle their sharp nails and last for a long time. So what flooring would be best for me?
Thank You
A: There are major differences between these three types of floors, so let’s go over some quick basics on each type, then we’ll delve into what will be your best bet to handle pet traffic over time.
Hardwood floors are the traditional wood floor, made of wood through and through. Hardwood comes in two fashions, solid and engineered. Solid hardwood is sawn lumber directly from any given species of tree, then milled and finished to produce flooring. Engineered wood floors are composed of multiple layers of wood glued together using cross-grain lamination techniques.
Engineered wood flooring is more resistant to expansion and contraction due to temperature changes and moisture. Thinner and more dimensionally stable, engineered wood floors are also more dent-resistant and ideal for installation over concrete or in environments with far more temperature change than solid wood flooring.
Laminate is a recent development in the flooring industry, introduced in the US in 1996. The surface of laminate is typically made of an extremely tough-wearing aluminum oxide with a printed photograph adhered to the surface which gives it that hardwood look. The core of the laminate is usually made of high density fiberboard. This construction allows laminate flooring to look good while at the same time being both affordable and durable.
Bamboo flooring is an engineered flooring made from bamboo. Bamboo itself is actually a perennial growing grass. Bamboo is considered as the fastest growing woody plant, reaching full maturity in five to six years. Bamboo, like hardwood, comes in a “solid” and engineered format. All bamboo flooring is technically engineered, but the solid format is made purely from bamboo slats which are fused together via lamination techniques, where as the engineered variety uses a substrate made from a different species of wood, typically poplar.
Now that we’ve covered some basics, let’s discuss what you will want to look for to deal with the traffic of your pets. Scratch and abrasion resistance comes down to the finish used on the product. This being said, the toughest finishes out there are found on laminate. This does not mean that bamboo and hardwood are not viable options, but if your primary concern is durability, then laminate is going to be your best bet in wood flooring. Another option here would be to get a wood looking vinyl floor, such as the Konecto or Congoleum lines, as they are very durable. The truly “best” floor when it comes to durability is natural stone, but if you want a wood look, then vinyl or laminate is your best bet.
For your purpose, I would suggest looking into a commercial level laminate, these are typically rated AC4 or AC5, as they are built for larger amounts of traffic and have finishes which can take some serious abuse.
Also, make sure you keep your dog’s nails trimmed to help maximize the lifetime of your floor. This includes make sure you maintain a regular cleaning routine for your floor and use place mats at exterior doors to prevent dirt and debris from getting onto the floor. The most common cause of scratching is from debris which is dragged along the floor.
