Is it cheaper to install hardwood or laminate?

Laminate, usually by a wide margin. Our Calgary planning range for hardwood installation is 6 to 15 dollars per square foot in Canadian dollars, covering solid and engineered products at very different price points. Laminate typically sits well below that. The comparison is not only upfront cost, though. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished several times across its life, while laminate has to be replaced once the wear layer goes. Over thirty years the cheaper floor is not always the cheaper decision.