01 Dec Luxury Vinyl Flooring VS Engineered Wood
Luxury vinyl flooring or luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a flooring material designed to look and feel like real wood or stone, but with advantages that aren’t available with natural materials. Over the past few years, LVT has been a favourite of interior designers and homeowners. However, on the other side is engineered wood, a flooring material made partially of real wood, but with more durability and viability.
So, how do LVT and engineered wood compare? If you were building a home or renovating your old house, which should you opt for? Below, we’ve outlined how both flooring materials match up based on 4 key features.
Durability
LVT is built using moisture-resistant PVC; it’s durable and resistant to scratching, chipping, or denting. When installed correctly, luxury vinyl flooring can last for up to 20 years. And as long as the flooring is cleaned and polished regularly, it will retain its beautiful outlook for most of its life span.
Engineered wood is fabricated from a combination of real wood and plywood. It is more durable than natural wood flooring, and it doesn’t expand or contract during extreme temperatures. While it has a longer lifespan (it can last up to 40 years) than LVT, it is more susceptible to scratching and chipping.
Styles and colors
Luxury vinyl flooring comes in different styles, and it is often indistinguishable from real wood or stone flooring – it looks and feels nearly exactly like the natural thing. LVT is also available in various wood and stone colors, with flooring that mimics even the most exotic hardwoods.
Engineered wood looks and feels like genuine wood as well. This is because it’s, in part, made of real wood. Additionally, it comes in styles that look exactly like expensive wood finishes like Mahogany, Bloodwood, and Brazilian Cherry. However, it is limited to just wood finishes, unlike LVT, which can also look like genuine stone flooring.
Ease-of-use and maintenance
LVT is water and scratch-resistant, so it is as practical to use in the bathroom as it is in the kitchen. Similarly, it can be cleaned regularly with a broom, mopstick, or vacuum cleaner. If LVT starts to lose its luster, you can use a no-wax polish that’s made specifically for vinyl floors to restore its appearance.
On the other hand, engineered wood can’t be used in rooms with a high probability of chipping or scratching. However, if you don’t mind a scratched surface, you can use engineered wood in any room LVT is used in. It is also easy to maintain, and you can sweep/mop it like a natural wood floor. Blemishes can be removed using wood putty and stain.
Price
Engineered wood is significantly more expensive than luxury vinyl flooring, and it also costs more to install. Depending on the quality of the engineered wood, it may cost up to 8-times more than LVT, and the installation typically costs more than double.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Luxury vinyl flooring looks like natural wood or stone, is more durable, more affordable, easier to maintain, and comes in more styles and colors. Alternatively, engineered wood lasts longer while also looking and feeling like real stone.
TJ Projects supplies and installs top-class luxury vinyl flooring in the Algarve and neighbouring areas in Southern Portugal. If you’re planning a construction project and need premium LVT flooring material, call +351 918 348 898 or send a quick message to info@tj-projects.com.