The truth is, not all hardwood is created equal. Hardwood has a distinct surface that makes it easy to tell apart from laminate and other types of flooring.
If you want to know if your floor is actually made out of wood or not, then follow these steps:
Laminate has a repeating pattern, while hardwood has a unique grain.
If you want to know if your floor is laminate or hardwood, there are a few simple ways to tell. The easiest way is to look at the grain of the wood. If it's a repeating pattern, then it's likely laminate. However, if the grain looks unique and irregularly shaped—like with real hardwood—then it's probably genuine hardwood! It may be tempting to think that all floors made from laminate have repetitive patterns, but this isn't necessarily true: some manufacturers will actually use real wood for their laminates.
*Be wary of cheap laminate options in your local big box stores— these tend to fade quickly and have an unnatural appearance compared with high-quality hardwoods.
Touch the surface
If you're able to feel a smooth, slippery surface, it's probably laminate. If the floor feels rough and textured, it's likely hardwood.
Last but not least...
When all else fails, and you're still not sure about whether or not your flooring is hardwood, you should be able to check with your manufacturer for specifics on what makes up their products.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to invest in a new floor, or simply wondering if yours is the real thing or not - make sure you test it out. The best way to do this is by touching the surface and seeing if there is any grain texture. If so, then congratulations! You’ve found hardwood.