Wood flooring has been an extremely classic and popular flooring choice for several years. It looks gorgeous in any home, and there are several styles available. However, it’s also one of the most expensive flooring options. It’s also not the most durable. If you’re interested in the look of wood at a lower cost, you’re in luck. Here are four common wood alternatives that would look great in your home.
1. Laminate wood flooring
This is one of the most common wood flooring alternatives because it looks and feels exactly like real wood. There are both affordable and expensive options, but you usually get what you pay for. Laminate is generally more durable than real wood, but it’s also thinner and can’t be sanded down if damaged. Cleaning laminate wood flooring is also very easy and low maintenance.
2. Engineered wood flooring
Engineered wood flooring is made of plywood, with a thin slice of real wood on top. It can be sanded down, but only once or twice. While real wood can last for generations, engineered wood flooring won’t last quite as long. But if it’s well maintained, you can count on at least a couple of decades. Caring for engineered wood flooring is very similar to caring for real wood.
3. Wood tile flooring
Wood tile flooring is becoming more and more trendy. It’s tile flooring that looks like wood, but it’s made of either ceramic or porcelain tile. Tile is durable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable. It’s also great for rooms that experience humidity, like bathrooms. The downsides are that it feels very different than real wood and can crack and chip if anything is dropped on it. Fortunately, it’s much easier to replace a tile than a piece of real wood.
4. Vinyl wood flooring
Vinyl is one of the most common types of fake wood. It’s made out of plastic, and it often looks exactly like real wood. It’s affordable and easy to clean, which makes it great for bathrooms and laundry rooms.