May 15th, 2024
There are multiple great alternatives to hardwood floors. The most popular options are vinyl plank flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. These two alternatives will save you money and can frequently be better choices than hardwood. However, both luxury vinyl and engineered hardwood have pros and cons.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is an excellent option for many reasons. LVP flooring is waterproof. They are the most waterproof flooring you can buy. A piece of LVP can be completely soaked in water, then dried off, and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. This is one of the most significant selling points for the product. Another pro of LVP is its durability. Since the flooring pieces aren’t actually made of wood but rather something much tougher, they make great floors for rough-and-tumble lifestyles. In areas with lots of traffic or furniture that moves, it’s hard to beat VLP, especially for the money. Finally, they come in many styles at many different price points. This gives homeowners many options to choose from at whatever their budget may be.
Even with the steep rise in the popularity of luxury vinyl flooring, there are a few negatives to consider. First off, luxury vinyl ultimately looks better than natural hardwoods. The technology has grown over the years, but even the most expensive vinyl can never look as good as natural wood. This difference can be felt when walking in socks or bare feet. Although it may look like wood, it does not feel like wood. Another con of all vinyl floors is that they cannot be refinished. Unlike hardwood or engineered hardwood, there is no way to sand down the floors to the wood and refinish them for a brand-new look. Finally, some types of luxury vinyl plank flooring are designed to be glued down rather than snapped in or floated. This makes it difficult if you ever need to replace any or all of your flooring.
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered hardwood flooring truly is a genius product. The flooring pieces are made chiefly of pressed wood or some other inexpensive but sturdy wood product. A thin cut of genuine hardwood is then attached to the top of the wood plank, giving the exposed side of the floor a piece of hardwood floor. This hardwood exterior cam then stained and finished like an ordinary piece of hardwood. However, many types of engineered hardwood come pre-stained and finished to reduce the total cost to the consumer. This ability to refinish and repair damaged pieces of engineered hardwood is a significant benefit when choosing between flooring types. Another pro for engineered hardwoods is the added level of luxury you can get for a fraction of the price compared to traditional hardwoods. However, there are some cons to engineered hardwoods.
Engineered hardwoods are not waterproof. They are less waterproof than regular hardwoods as the pressed wood under the hardwood veneer is more susceptible to water damage. They are also harder to repair than typical hardwood floors, so they will usually always need to be replaced if damaged. Finally, they are weaker than both vinyl and genuine hardwood floors. These factors should be considered when choosing engineered hardwood floors.
Whether you choose luxury vinyl plank floors or engineered hardwood flooring, both are truly great investments. These two products have made huge improvements even up to a few years ago. Many people choose these two products over traditional hardwood floors simply because they perform so well and are loved by so many. Both luxury vinyl floors and engineered hardwood are vast and sometimes confusing markets. If you live in New York or Florida, we would love to help you choose the brands and styles that make the most sense for you. Please reach out to us anytime for any of your flooring needs.