Engineered Hardwood Versus Vinyl Plank Flooring

We have a vinyl plank floor in our lower level and a bona fide dark oak hardwood floor upstairs.

Engineered hardwood versus vinyl plank flooring.

Hardwood flooring may be made of a solid piece of wood or it may be engineered with several layers of plywood 2 beneath a hardwood veneer 3. The dark hardwood on the other hand shows up every single speck of dust. New flooring can be expensive but which is the more budget friendly option when comparing vinyl plank to hardwood flooring. Vinyl plank mimics the look of many species of wood including oak and pine.

Check out the best flooring from cr s tests. Furthermore you can now buy luxury vinyl flooring as either planks or tiles. Engineered vinyl plank has become a new alternative vs more expensive engineered hardwood flooring and a more attractive and more resilient option vs. The cost of vinyl plank flooring ranges between 2 per square foot and 7 per square foot on average.

What are the different forms of luxury vinyl flooring. Both laminate flooring and vinyl flooring are usually less expensive than natural hardwood engineered wood and many types of ceramic or porcelain tile. Vinyl plank also has a strong resemblance to real wood however it is much softer underfoot losing that wooden sound associated with a natural timber floor. However there are other manufactured woods such as luxury vinyl planks that are fashioned to simulate the look and feel of hardwood.

Laminate flooring and luxury vinyl flooring are roughly comparable in price although sheet vinyl does hold a slight edge. Consumer reports top rated options in solid wood engineered wood laminate porcelain tile and vinyl flooring. Engineered hardwood is made with layers of real wood so it is available in many of the same shades as traditional hardwoods. Oak and maple are the most common hardwoods used.

I like the vinyl better because it looks amazing and it is so easy to clean. The cheaper looking vinyl floors and laminates both of which can curl up over time. Engineered hardwood has an identical look and feel to solid timber at a fraction of the price. When shopping for new flooring most consumers have a budget in mind.

Luxury vinyl flooring is flexible like normal vinyl but thicker and more robust matching the durability of laminate. And like laminate it has been manufactured to mimic real wood and stone flooring which is why it comes in planks and tiles.