Choosing Vinyl vs. Wood Floors

There is nothing like the luxurious appearance of a hardwood floor, but today’s vinyl floors are continually trying to improve their process to mimic the natural beauty of the real thing. Vinyl floors today come in a wide range of looks and colors, providing homeowners with a virtually unlimited choice in the appearance of their flooring surface. If you’re considering vinyl vs. wood floors and are unsure which will best serve your needs, read on to discover the pros and cons of each material.

Look, feel, color and style of hardwood vs. vinyl

Wood floors offering timeless, elegant surfaces for residential settings. Hardwood floors add a sense of warmth and luxury to any room as the personality of the timbers are revealed through the grain and natural hues of the wood. Wood floors may be fashioned from solid hardwood or from engineered planks, which are made by adhering a veneer of hardwood to multiple layers of backing material. This multilayered construction creates a stronger core that makes an engineered plank more impervious to changes in moisture and humidity.

Like engineered wood floors, vinyl floors are made from several layers of material. Vinyl floorboards begin with an image layer – a literal photograph – that can be made to look like wood, stone or virtually any other material or pattern. The image layer is adhered to a backing layer and covered with a clear protective material to prevent wear. Some vinyl floor boards are created with a texturing technique that gives vinyl the appearance of real wood floorboards.

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The longevity of a luxury vinyl plank vs. a hardwood plank

Hardwood floors can last for decades or more than a century when they are carefully maintained. To preserve their appearance, wood floors may be refinished multiple times. Vinyl floors are typically guaranteed for approximately 20 years. While vinyl is less susceptible to damage, once the image layer of a vinyl floorboard is scratched or worn through, there is no way to fix it and it must be replaced.

Vinyl vs. wood floors: which is more durable?

Contemporary hardwood floors are made from a variety of species. Denser woods like hickory or maple are more resistant to scratches, dents, and dings. Softer woods like cherry, walnut and pine will show wear more easily and are more difficult to protect. However, all wood floors will show wear over time. In contrast, as a synthetic material, vinyl floors are more can be slightly more resistant to scratches and dents. For this reason, many homeowners prefer vinyl for high-traffic areas like hallways, mud rooms or game room flooring. It is important to remember that damage or wear in a wood floor can often be sanded or touched up, while damage in a vinyl plank requires replacement. Vinyl is also an inherently more stable floor. While wood floors may expand and contract with changes in relative humidity, vinyl floors are unaffected by weather conditions and will hold their form.

The environmental impact of vinyl plank flooring vs hardwood floors

When comparing the materials and production processes of vinyl vs. wood floors, wood is clearly the more sustainable option as they are made from a natural and renewable resource. While wood floors may be recycled after they are removed, vinyl floors are a synthetic material made from PVC resin and cannot be recycled. Additionally, certain vinyl planks are made with a production process that emits volatile organic compounds.

Vinyl vs. wood floors: which is more water resistant?

Wood floors are usually sealed to prevent damage from small amounts of moisture. But wood floors can warp or grow mold when exposed to water for prolonged periods of time. Many Vinyl floors are waterproof, making them ideal surfaces in bathrooms, kitchens and installations in basements or other rooms below grade where moisture and higher levels of humidity are a concern.

Care and maintenance of vinyl vs. wood floors

Maintaining vinyl floors couldn’t be simpler. You can sweep them to remove moderate amounts of dust and dirt or mop them with soap and water or a recommended cleaner to remove stubborn grime. Hardwood floors are easy to clean as well. However, because wood is more susceptible to scratches and wear, it is important to sweep and vacuum more frequently. Mopping with a light solution of water and white vinegar can keep wood floors clear of dirt buildup.

The cost of a vinyl vs. wood floor

While the prices of vinyl and wood floors vary widely, the cost of vinyl flooring is typically considerably less than wood floors. For instance, the cost to buy and install a vinyl floor may be $2 to $8 per square foot, while hardwood floors may range from $12 to $20 per square foot. However, wood floors are known to increase the resale value of a home, as they are one of the most important features to prospective homebuyers. In contrast, vinyl floors seem to have no impact on resale value.

Vinyl and wood floors at Carlisle

At Carlisle, you will find extraordinary wide plank floors hand made in New Hampshire in either solid or engineered planks. However, we also offer a line of extremely high quality luxury vinyl planks. Our expert design consultants can help you explore the benefits of a vinyl vs. a wood floor as well as the differences in carpet vs. hardwood or tile vs. hardwood flooring. Whether you’re looking for living room flooring, yoga flooring, bedroom flooring or kitchen hardwood flooring, our team can help you select the right materials and walk you through all your choices for width, grade, structure, color, pattern and more.