Vinyl Vs Hardwood Flooring

Consumer reports top rated options in solid wood engineered wood laminate porcelain tile and vinyl flooring.

Vinyl vs hardwood flooring.

Vinyl plank flooring is a modern miracle that gives homeowners the luxurious look and longevity of hardwood floors without the warping water damage staining or scratching. The resulting sheet is printed and embossed with a surface print layer. Hardwood tends to have a thicker 3 4th to 6 inch wear surface as compared to the 0 5 mm to 5 mm vinyl. Oak and maple are the most common hardwoods used.

Hardwood flooring has been around long enough that it used to hold the distinction as the standard in flooring material. Hardwood is a natural material that is produced when trees are harvested from forested areas. Vinyl flooring is a single layer of textured and dyed material over a rubberized plastic. The look of classic hardwood floors for less money and upkeep.

Depending on the type of hardwood floor and given the correct environmental conditions engineered hardwood floors can be installed below on or above grade using many different installation techniques including glue float nail staple. Vinyl flooring is a 100 percent synthetic material. Vinyl is a man made material manufactured from petroleum. Hardwood flooring may be made of a solid piece of wood or it may be engineered with several layers of plywood 2beneath a hardwood veneer 3.

It can also be installed over all types of subfloor including wood and concrete. When shopping for new flooring most consumers have a budget in mind. Check out the best flooring from cr s tests. Vinyl wood flooring refers to vinyl that has been printed with the colors and markings found in natural hardwood.

New flooring can be expensive but which is the more budget friendly option when comparing vinyl plank to hardwood flooring. The cost of vinyl plank flooring ranges between 2 per square foot and 7 per square foot on average. However luxury vinyl tile has come a long way and when you explore the dividing factors between today s luxury vinyl tile versus hardwood it becomes clear that vinyl can rival hardwood flooring in many areas.