What is the difference between an engineered floor and a laminate floor?

Engineered hardwood floors are manufactured using wood, through and through. (See above) The overall appearance of an engineered hardwood floor is the same as an old-fashioned wood floor, pleasing and natural. Professional installation is recommended in most cases. Engineered wood floors will typically carry a higher square foot cost than laminate floors. Laminated floors have a single core layer made of fine particles and glue, fused together by heat and pressure (think particle board) onto which a thin finished layer is glued, (hence laminated), much like a Formica kitchen counter top. The finished synthetic layer will often have a simulated wood look. Some laminates replicate other natural products such as stone, quarry tile, Mexican field tile, etc. All laminate floors are made to be floated over the subfloor beneath. Cushion and vapor barriers are required by nearly all laminate makers, and vary in options and costs. Most laminate floors use an intricate tongue-and-groove system ...  more