When choosing new flooring for your home, aesthetics are likely a big factor in your decision. Wood, or wood-look flooring is a popular choice due to its simplicity, timelessness, and versatility, but there are a few different flooring materials made of wood, or with a wood effect.
Let’s compare the main contenders for a natural wood look and feel: hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, and vinyl.
Appearance
It’s important to clarify that although these materials can give your floors the aesthetic of wood, not all are completely indistinguishable from the real deal. Hardwood will, understandably, provide the most genuine wood appeal, but the top layer of engineered wood flooring is also composed of natural hardwood, so the aesthetics are comparable.
Laminate flooring consists of compressed wooden material, and vinyl flooring products are 100% synthetic, made from multiple sheets of plastic pressed together. Despite this, laminate and vinyl can be expertly engineered to give a realistic wooden plank appearance but may show some clear differences when compared to natural wooden floors.
Lifespan and durability
The longest-lasting flooring out of these options is hardwood, with an average lifespan of anywhere between 30 and 100 years. Hardwood planks are strong and durable, but any scratches, scuffs or dents that do occur can be fixed by sanding and refinishing the boards. This process can be completed multiple times throughout the lifetime of hardwood floors to restore their original appearance. As the top layer of engineered wood planks is composed of hardwood, they can also be refinished to remove imperfections, but the layer is relatively thin, so this can’t be done anywhere near as many times as whole hardwood boards. Engineered wood flooring has an average lifespan of 20 – 40 years.
Both laminate and vinyl flooring are composed of layers, with the uppermost layer protecting the design of the boards against scratches, scuffs, and dents. Neither laminate, nor vinyl can be refinished, so any damage will require replacement of the planks in the affected area. The average lifespan of laminate flooring is around 15 – 25 years, and vinyl flooring is around 10 – 20 years, although luxury vinyl plank (LVP or tile (LVT) can last around 15 – 20 years.
Water-resistance
Vinyl flooring has the best water-resistance out of all the materials we’ve discussed, with a layer to protect from moisture. Some are even completely waterproof. Prolonged exposure to moisture can damage the adhesive of vinyl flooring, however, the planks themselves will likely remain unaffected. Laminate flooring also has a protective layer that shields the boards from immediate water damage, however, if water is able to seep into the boards through prolonged exposure, the boards can swell, warp or crack.
The natural composition of hardwood makes it very susceptible to moisture. Prolonged exposure to liquids can cause the boards to expand, contract or warp. Engineered wood floors are more resistant to water than hardwood, but should not be treated as waterproof. Although less likely than hardwood, the planks may still deform from liquid exposure.
Sound reduction
No solid flooring will provide as much sound reduction as softer materials, such as carpet. However, most solid flooring can be installed with sound-reducing underlay, and opting for thicker boards can help increase the overall sound reduction of the floors.
When a wood floor effect is desired, vinyl offers the best sound reduction qualities, as many products are engineered with specific acoustic properties to reduce sound. Hardwood can also reduce sound well by absorbing reverberation and distributing sound evenly throughout the room. However, as hardwood must be installed directly onto the subfloor, any additional soundproofing underlay must be installed underneath the subfloor, which can be costly.
If sound reduction is a priority, engineered wood might not be for you. It doesn’t absorb sound well, especially if fitted using a floating installation method. Laminate flooring also does not offer a significant level of sound reduction on its own. Both of these materials will need to be combined with specific underlay to enhance noise reduction if required.
Maintenance and cleaning
Solid floors are often simple to clean and maintain. Each of the materials we’ve looked at can be regularly vacuumed and mopped to maintain a smart and sanitary appearance. Hardwood and engineered wood floors can also be waxed and polished, which is recommended regularly for engineered wood to maintain its original shine and luster. Neither laminate nor vinyl flooring should be waxed or polished.
None of the flooring types discussed in this article should be cleaned with a steam mop as this can break down the finish of the boards. Materials with lower water resistance may also be damaged if hot water is used for cleaning. Specifically, laminate and vinyl, but be mindful with hardwood and engineered wood too.
Cost
Laminate tends to be the lowest-cost material out of these choices, ranging from around $1 – $3.50 per square foot. Vinyl flooring products can start at as low as $1 per square foot, but more luxurious options like LVP and LVT can rise to around $10 per square foot.
Engineered wood planks can cost around $3 – $11 per square foot, and hardwood flooring ranges in price from around $6 – $24. Although these two materials can be more costly when initially purchasing, it’s important to remember that both engineered wood and hardwood flooring have a much longer average lifespan than the lower cost laminate and vinyl.
Whichever flooring type you choose, always opt for professional installation. Having your flooring installed by a professional ensures maximum safety and can help increase the longevity of your floors.
Powerhouse is a full-service home and commercial services company based in Texas.
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