Manufactured Wood Vs. Laminate Expense

Manufactured Wood Costs

• Manufactured wood, also known as engineered wood, is sold per square foot. An engineered red oak piece of flooring wood costs approximately $3.20 per square foot in 2011, according to the This Old House website. On the lower end of the expense scale, it gets you a hardwood with a 3/8-inch thickness. A high-end dark manufactured wood, such as engineered black walnut, runs $4.70 per square foot. Teak-looking wood comes at only $4.10 per square foot if you opt for bamboo engineered wood.

Eco-Friendly Manufactured Wood Costs

• Choose a manufactured wood that is eco-friendly if cutting trees for flooring is a concern. Vertical-strand bamboo, one such engineered wood, costs $3.90 per sqare foot, according to the This Old House website. This flooring item is made from grass instead of actual tree wood, but it falls into the manufactured wood category too. If you want a floor to be as durably hard as hickory wood, choose woven-strand bamboo manufactured flooring for only $4 per square foot.

Laminate Costs

• Laminate can look like real wood, but it can't be refinished over and over again like real wood. Manufactured wood can only be refinished a maximum of four times before it deteriorates. One benefit laminate has over real wood and manufactured wood is that it is less expensive. Get a cherry wood floor look in a laminate for as little as $1 per square foot. The 1/4-inch thickness is far too thin for refinishing, but at such a low cost you can afford to replace it instead. A teak laminate only costs $2.80 per square foot, which is still cheaper than manufactured wood flooring.

Installation Costs

• Don't forget about the costs associated with installing your new flooring products, regardless of whether you choose manufactured wood or a laminate flooring. Expect to pay approximately $2 per square foot over and above buying the flooring, according to the website This Old House.