Pros and Cons of 3 Flooring Materials

When many people think of a luxurious home, they automatically envision richly colored and textured wood flooring. You may entertain such visions for your own home while wondering what kinds of options you might have, how well they might fit into your budget, and what features might compel you to choose one option over another.

Today's flooring materials and technologies include three types of flooring that can give your floors the look and feel of wood: genuine hardwood, engineered wood, and vinyl plank. Take a look at the pros and cons of each type of flooring so you can determine which type makes the most sense for your home building or remodeling project.

Hardwood

The milled hardwood used for flooring generally comes from trees such as cherry, oak, walnut, and maple. Hardwood planks attach to a plywood base either with nails or via tongue-and-groove installation. Because the planks consist of solid wood, you can polish and refinish them many times over decades of service.

While few would deny the incomparable beauty of genuine hardwood, the material also poses some challenges. For instance, it can warp in the presence of water and absorb stains from spills even if you've treated it with a sealant. For this reason, you should avoid installing hardwood in bathrooms and kitchens.

Hardwood's beauty comes at a price. This form of flooring costs considerably more than other wood-look alternatives. On the other hand, the installation of a premium hardwood floor can increase your home's perceived value, potentially boosting your asking price. Consider this point if you plan on eventually selling the home.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood still counts as genuine wood, even if it doesn't use solid planks of hardwood. This material sports a thin top layer of hardwood over a plywood core. Engineered wood doesn't require nailing, since it commonly comes in a tongue-and-groove configuration for relatively easy installation.

This material offers some other advantages over hardwood. Since engineered wood consists mostly of plywood, it costs significantly less per square foot than its solid wood cousin, while the hardwood on the top layer ensures an authentic look. It also holds up relatively well against moisture, which makes it suitable for a wider range of applications.

In terms of long-term durability, engineered wood offers both pros and cons compared to solid hardwood. The thin top layer of wood can only endure a couple of refinishes, so you'll probably replace it much sooner than you would a hardwood floor. However, you'll find the replacement of those planks both easier and cheaper than hardwood replacement.

Vinyl Plank

Vinyl plank manages to capture the look and feel of real wood without incorporating any genuine wood products into its construction. These petroleum-based planks fit together in a tongue-and-groove arrangement, just like engineered wood planks. You can get vinyl flooring that mimics many kinds of wood species and textures.

You never have to worry about moisture damage when you choose vinyl plank, making this material your best choice for achieving a wood look in your bathroom or kitchen areas. High-quality vinyl plank costs no more than engineered wood and much less than solid hardwood.

If you've always found solid flooring hard on your feet, you may prefer vinyl plank for its ability to provide some extra underfoot cushioning. You can have cork or other padding material placed beneath the vinyl to help absorb shocks and make walking on the floor especially comfortable.

Vinyl plank has weaknesses as well as strengths. Although vinyl can't chip or crack like wood, it can scuff, scratch, and tear under pressure. You can’t simply refinish the surface to get rid of these imperfections; instead, you must replace the flooring.

Whether you decide on hardwood, engineered wood, or vinyl plank for your home, Assured Quality Woodcraft can ensure that you achieve the most beautiful results possible. Our team can discuss your needs and goals and then help you pick out the ideal product for your tastes, budget, and practical requirements. Contact us today.