Meet the Preservation Collection: Inspired by our best-selling floors with an 8-week lead time.
×
You have questions, we have answers. Explore the most frequently asked questions about hardwood flooring below. Need assistance or want to know more? Contact Carlisle or call 800-595-9663 today to get all your inquiries answered.
Floors made of engineered hardwood floorboards and luxury vinyl planks offer two excellent alternatives to solid hardwood floors. Each type of flooring at its own advantages and disadvantages – the decision about which floor is better will come down to the type of room, the preference of the homeowner and several other factors. Read on to learn whether engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl planks are a better choice for your home.
Engineered hardwood flooring is made with floorboards that feature a veneer of solid hardwood that’s adhered to multiple layers of backing material like plywood or Baltic Birch. This construction creates a board that is less likely to expand or contract when exposed to changes in temperature and humidity. Because the top layer, or wear layer, is made of hardwood, an engineered floor will look and feel just like a solid hardwood floor.
Explore and select from our gallery of our most popular finishes, specially categorized by the personalities and traits of the floor designs.
ExploreLuxury vinyl planks mimic the appearance of hardwood flooring, using floorboards that contained four layers of material. The top layer, made of aluminum oxide, is designed to prevent scratches and scuffs. A second layer is made of transparent film that keeps the vinyl from tearing or ripping. The next layer is a design layer that can be imprinted with an image, including the appearance of any hardwood species. The final thick backing layer is made from vinyl and gives the floorboard a rigid feel. While a luxury vinyl plank will look identical to a solid hardwood floorboard, it will feel different to the touch and softer underfoot.
Engineered wood floors are no more or less susceptible to scratches than solid hardwood floors. Engineered floors made from harder woods like Hickory and Maple will scratch less easily than softer woods like Walnut or Cherry. The type of finish used to seal an engineered wood floor can also help prevent scratches.
Both engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl are durable flooring solutions that can last for decades. Yet, both are prone to different kinds of wear. Moving heavy objects on a luxury vinyl plank floor may cause tears or dents. Engineered wood flooring is susceptible to scuffs and scratching. But while a damaged luxury vinyl plank may need to be replaced, an engineered hardwood plank can be sanded and refinished several times. Ultimately, engineered hardwood floors are likely to last 25 to 50 years or more, while luxury vinyl plank flooring may need to be replaced in 20 to 30 years.
Since they are made of wood – a renewable substance – engineered hardwood flooring is the more sustainable option. Vinyl floors are made from PVC resin in a process that emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a hazardous substance. Additionally, engineered hardwood floors can be recycled where luxury vinyl plank floors cannot.
Luxury vinyl floors can be sealed to be 100% waterproof, making them an ideal surface in bathrooms, kitchens, mud rooms and other spaces where water may be present. While engineered hardwood floors are less susceptible to humidity than solid hardwood, exposure to water for longer periods of time may cause engineered planks to warp or grow mold.
Both types of floors are easy to maintain by sweeping, vacuumin, and lightly mopping to remove stubborn grime. Because wood is more susceptible to scratches and scuffing, engineered hardwood floors may need to be cleaned more frequently than luxury vinyl planks.
While the cost of flooring surfaces vary widely, luxury vinyl planks are typically 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of engineered hardwood floors. Both types of flooring cost less than solid hardwood floors.
Carlisle Wide Plank Floors offers a broad selection of floors made from solid wood flooring, engineered floorboards and luxury vinyl planks. Our expert design consultants can help homeowners explore the benefits of each type of floor as well as the choices available for width, wood grade, color, pattern and other design choices.
