Luxury Vinyl Flooring vs Wood Flooring

Key Takeaways: Luxury Vinyl Flooring vs Wood Flooring

• Is wood effect LVT a good alternative to wooden flooring?
• Is durability an issue with LVT compared to real wood floors?
• Does LVT flooring scratch more easily than wooden flooring?
• What about cleaning an LVT floor compared to a wood floor?

LVT flooring comes mainly in two guises - wood effect LVT and stone effect LVT. Both are designed to reflect the variations in shade, tone and hue that you would find in nature and in this instance real wood flooring. LVT and hardwood flooring both come in a wide variety of designs and style options, but hardwood planks are typically longer than LVT planks. real wood flooring costs slightly more per metre squared than LVT, but maintenance costs are similar. LVT and hardwood flooring are equally durable, stable and suitable for many domestic and commercial environments.

Both LVT and engineered wood flooring look and feel like real wood. There is no doubt that LVT has proven itself to be a very popular alternative to real wood flooring. However, only engineered wood is actually made with a top (and bottom) layer of real wood. Due to this layer of wood, engineered wood flooring is more susceptible to scratching, denting, and chipping than the more durable LVT flooring. As LVT is completely water-resistant so it is a better choice in rooms that are high in humidity and moisture.

There are several benefits to LVT flooring and several drawbacks that you will need to consider before opting for LVT over real wood flooring. In favour of LVT you will find that this type of floor is virtually indestructible, is resistant to moisture and dampness and requires very little maintenance to keep looking in pristine condition. There are some click LVTs floors that are relatively easy to install even for a DIY enthusiast. In addition one of the main reasons that LVTs have become very popular is that they provide excellent value for money.

To clean LVT flooring, use a damp cloth with hot water and a mild detergent to help lift the stain, remember to not soak the floor. If a mark is still visible, try using a soft bristled brush in gentle circular movements. If you're using chemicals, ensure they are suitable for LVT flooring before applying. To repair any minor scratches on your luxury vinyl flooring wax sticks are an excellent solution for deep scratches on luxury vinyl plank flooring. Take the wax and place it over the scratch with pressure to let it smear over the scratch. After spreading the wax, you need to buff the area to ensure a smooth finish.

On the disadvantages of buying LVT, if you buy a stick down version then it can be very difficult to uplift when it has been installed with the correct adhesive. As opposed to hardwood flooring LVT is a soft vinyl material which can be prone to discolouration when placed in direct sunlight for prologned periods of time. Also as you may have imagined this type of floor is not natural and is therefore constructed of non-sustainable materials. What are the disadvantages of choosing and installing a new hard wood floor:

• Prone to Termite Damage
• More Expensive
• Easily Scratched
• Prone to Water Damage
• Becomes Noisy Overtime
• High Maintenance

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Our leading LVT ranges include the following: Polyflor Camaro; Polyflor Camaro Loc; Karndean Knight Tile; Karndean Van Gogh; Amtico Spacia and Amtico Signature.