Flooring, wood and wood alternatives.(Home & Yard: More Value for Less)(Buyers guide)

Natural-wood flooring offers warmth and the ability to be refinished more than once. But tougher copycats could be better for active families.

Real solid hardwood remains the premium choice for flooring and figures prominently on the list of talking points when homes are sold. More of it is sold with hand-scraped and other distressed finishes. But when it comes to real-world scrapes, scuffs, and other wear and tear, you may want to consider the fake stuff, especially for high-traffic areas.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

You'll find wood and wood-look flooring at flooring suppliers and lumberyards as well as at home centers such as Home Depot, Lowe's, and Menards. Flooring suppliers tend to have the widest selection, particularly for exotic woods, while home centers usually offer better prices.

Oak is the most popular and readily available choice among the hardwoods; others include maple, cherry, and hickory. (Pine, a softwood, costs less.) All can typically be sanded and refinished more than once. Major brands include Anderson, Armstong, Bruce, Tarkett, and Shaw, among others. Price: about $7 to $12 per square foot installed for prefinished wood flooring.

Plastic laminates are the fastest-growing wood-floor alternative. Essentially dense fiberboard with a photo of the real thing beneath a clear protective layer, they can mimic nearly anything from oak to marble. Installation is easier than wood, since most can be clicked together and laid in place--called floating--rather than being nailed like solid wood. The best also withstood wear and other damage much better than wood in our tests.

On the downside, while you may be able to do minor touchups on plastic laminate, it can't be refinished and must be replaced when its outer layer wears through. Some versions can have a repetitive pattern that compromises realism. Brands include Armstrong, Mannington, Mohawk, Pergo, Wilsonart, and others. Price: about $4 to $8 per square foot installed.