Laminate or parquet: which is better in 2026
⚡ Short answer: laminate is an affordable, quick-to-install floor with a wood pattern, but it has to be replaced once worn. Parquet is real wood: it costs more up front, but it can be renewed by sanding and lasts for many years. Laminate suits a small budget or a temporary space. For your own home, where you plan to live for a long time, parquet is the better choice. At parketi.ge engineered oak parquet starts from 179 GEL/m².
This is the question that comes up most often when choosing a floor: laminate or parquet? Both give a wood look, but inside they are completely different materials. In this article we explain simply how they differ, what each costs at our warehouse, and which is better for whom in 2026.
What is laminate
Laminate is a layered floor covering. The core is high-density fibreboard, topped with a decorative layer printed with a wood pattern and a hard protective wear layer. So laminate looks like wood, but there is no real wood on the surface. Its strengths are well known: low price, glue-free floating installation, ready to use straight away and good scratch resistance. Its weaknesses: the surface cannot be sanded, water in the joints is a danger, and once worn it has to be replaced completely.
Our laminate catalogue includes Belarusian class 33 laminate (24 GEL/m²) and Austrian laminate with oak decors (58–65 GEL/m²). Laminate is currently supplied to order; please check the lead time by phone.
What is parquet
Parquet is flooring made of real wood. There are two main types:
- Solid parquet: made entirely of one wood species (oak, beech, acacia) and can be sanded many times.
- Engineered (3-layer) parquet: the top layer is a premium hardwood (oak in our range), while the lower layers keep the plank stable. It gives a plank look at a more accessible price and comes factory-oiled or lacquered.
The main advantage of parquet is that it is real wood and can be renewed. Scratches and wear disappear with sanding and refinishing, so the floor can serve you for decades.
Comparison table
| Laminate | Engineered parquet | |
|---|---|---|
| Top layer | Decorative layer with a printed wood pattern | Real wood (e.g. oak) |
| Sanding / renewal | Not possible; wear cannot be repaired | Possible within the wood top layer; oiled surfaces can also be renewed locally |
| Lifespan | Until worn, then replaced | Lasts longer thanks to renewal |
| Moisture and water | Sensitive to water, especially in the joints | Real wood; does not tolerate high humidity or standing water |
| Natural wood | No | Yes |
| Long-term cost | Cheap at first, but replaced entirely once worn | More expensive at first, but serves for years with renewal |
Price: what you pay now and later
At the shop price laminate is clearly cheaper: from 24 GEL/m² with us, while engineered oak parquet starts from 179 GEL/m². Herringbone starts from 189 GEL/m². But the cost of a floor is not just the purchase. When laminate wears out it cannot be restored, so you buy and install it again. Parquet at that point needs sanding and refinishing, and the old floor looks new again. That is why the difference shrinks over the long term.
Consider installation prices too. Our parquet installation costs:
- Herringbone: 60 GEL/m²
- Straight plank (deck) pattern: 50 GEL/m²
- Chevron and other patterns: price on agreement
Who laminate suits
- A rental flat or office where a low budget matters most
- A temporary renovation you will replace in a few years
- When the renovation has to be finished very quickly
Who parquet suits
- Your own flat or house where you plan to live for a long time
- Anyone who wants the warmth, scent and texture of real wood
- Anyone who wants to renew the floor after years rather than replace it
- Classic patterns such as herringbone or chevron, which laminate cannot reproduce like real wood
Moisture, kitchens and bathrooms
Neither laminate nor parquet likes standing water. For laminate, water in the joints is especially dangerous, as the boards can swell. Parquet is real wood and reacts to changes in humidity, so in both cases spills should be wiped up promptly and the room kept at normal humidity. For bathrooms, tiles or a dedicated covering are better.
Care: day to day and years later
Daily care is simple for both: a vacuum cleaner, a dry or well-wrung damp cloth and a mild cleaner. The difference shows after a few years. Laminate needs no other care, but a deep scratch or worn spot stays on it for good. Oiled parquet is periodically refreshed with maintenance oil, and lacquered parquet is renewed by sanding and re-lacquering. With proper care, parquet often looks even better over time.
Underfloor heating
With underfloor heating, always check what the manufacturer allows for the specific model. Thanks to its layered construction, engineered parquet is generally more stable than solid plank, but the final recommendation always depends on the specific product and installation method. We will answer this question in detail at the warehouse.
What to ask before buying
- For laminate: wear class, country of manufacture, stock and delivery time.
- For parquet: wood species, grade (e.g. rustic, select), thickness of the wood top layer (for engineered) and finish: oil or lacquer.
- For both: the area you need including a cutting allowance, and who will install it.
The thickness of the wood top layer matters because it determines how many times engineered parquet can be renewed. For example, our herringbone is sold with a 3 mm or 4 mm top layer (189 and 219 GEL/m²): the thicker layer can be renewed more times.
Our advice
If your budget allows, engineered oak parquet is the most natural alternative to laminate: it has a plank look, can also be floated, and it is real wood. Before you decide, see both materials side by side at our warehouse at Kedia 15, or call us: ☎/WhatsApp 599 69 59 64.
Frequently asked questions
Laminate or parquet: which is better?
If a low initial price and a fast renovation matter most, choose laminate. If you want real wood that can be renewed by sanding years later, choose parquet.
Can laminate be sanded?
No. The surface of laminate is a decorative layer and cannot be sanded. Worn laminate is replaced. Parquet can be sanded.
How much do laminate and parquet cost at parketi.ge?
Laminate starts from 24 GEL/m² (currently to order). Engineered oak parquet starts from 179 GEL/m², herringbone from 189 GEL/m².
How much does parquet installation cost?
Herringbone installation is 60 GEL/m², straight plank (deck) pattern 50 GEL/m². Other patterns are priced on agreement.
Where can I see both?
At our warehouse: Kedia 15, Tbilisi. ☎/WhatsApp 599 69 59 64.