Hardwood is succeptable to what we call “Seasonal Gapping”. This means that you may notice gaps that appear and disappear in your floor as the seasons change. This tends to be more noticeable in homes with gas/propane heating systems. This is a normal condition that cannot be prevented.
Hardwood is a natural product and will vary in color, shade and sheen, both in your home and from the original sample. Natural light will also impact its appearance. Depending on the species and grade of the wood you selected, there is always the possibility you will see knots, checks (small cracks), and other minor imperfections.
Laminate is a floating floor system. This means it “rests” on the existing subfloor beneath it. There is no such thing as a perfectly flat floor so you may notice that the floor moves or “deflects” when walking on it. This sometimes can be more noticeable in some parts of the floor versus others. Your estimator will check to the best of their ability the levelness of your sub-floor this way you can make the best possible decision regarding the selected products for your new project. (For example, carpet tends to hid sub-floor issues in some instances.) As noted above, if the installer discovers any issues with the subfloor when removing the existing flooring materials, they will bring it to your attention immediately and let you know of any additional charges that will be incurred to level the sub-floor