It is important to choose flooring materials wisely. The type of floor you select will impact the overall design of a house or apartment. When you are checking out different types of flooring materials, there are several factors that should be taken into account. While the features and functionality of a product matter a lot, you can never ignore budgetary constraints. Both luxury vinyl and hardwood are great choices for installation in homes, apartments, and offices. However, each of these comes with its own set of features, pros, and cons. If you want to choose one between the two, you need to first know each of these and then compare the two.
At Minuteman Floors, we often like to educate our customers about various products. In this article, we’ll talk about the differences between Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Hardwood flooring materials.
Both the Products Have a Fairly Similar Look!
Before we start discussing luxury vinyl tile vs hardwood, let us first understand that both these flooring materials provide a similar appearance. If you are in search of an ideal substitute for hardwood, you should definitely consider luxury vinyl tiles. Hardwood is real wood, but luxury vinyl tiles are designed in a way to mimic the look of wood. Though both these materials look similar to a great extent, they are not the same. One of them is natural, the other is manufactured. So, which one should you choose for installation in your home or office?
That is exactly the big question. Read on to know the fundamental differences between LVT and hardwood flooring materials.
What is Hardwood Flooring?
Hardwood flooring material is manufactured from timber. The product is ideal for homes, apartments, and offices. Previously, the material was available in a limited style and mostly used for structural purposes. Today, you can expect hardwood flooring in any unique design and color you look for.
With hardwood flooring, you can achieve a traditional and classic look and attract the eyeballs of your friends or clients.
Minuteman Floors deals in premium quality LVT and hardwood products. If you reside in Manchester, NH, you can get in touch with one of our professionals to check out our products as well as schedule installation.
What is Luxury Vinyl Tile?
Think of luxury vinyl tiles as carpets with the usefulness of a tile. Abbreviated as LVT, luxury vinyl tile is a modern flooring product that is designed to mimic the appearance of real wood or stone. The LVT is composed of multiple layers and is flexible as well as thin. Whether it is a home or office, installing these tiles will add a new look and feel of warmth. The product is available in a broad range of textures and styles to suit the specific needs of property owners.
No matter what kind of decor you plan to achieve, you will always find an LVT product to perfectly match your needs.
Comparison: Luxury Vinyl Tile vs Hardwood
Now that you have a general understanding of LVT and hardwood, it is time to get into their features at a deeper level. We have already talked about the similarity in look between the two products. Let us now discuss the differences between the two on some important parameters.
Durability
Whether you plan to install a new flooring material the first time or replace an old one, one feature that stays above everything else is durability. If the product you choose is not durable, your investment will go to waste.
When it comes to luxury vinyl tile vs hardwood flooring, it is crucial to find how each of these products differs in terms of durability. The good news is that both Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Hardwood are known for durability. Hardwood material is hard by nature whereas luxury vinyl tiles are manufactured and then passed through various testing procedures to ensure high durability.
Still, LVT and hardwood are not exactly the same as far as durability is concerned. In particular, LVT products are designed with attractive features such as resistance to chips and scratches. On the other hand, hardwood flooring products can sustain chips, dents, and scratches. However, LVT products can collect dents when furniture items are moved on them or when sharp objects fall on the floor. One added benefit of luxury vinyl tiles is that you can easily replace only the chipped or damaged tiles with new ones without spending a lot of money.
Moisture Resistance
Resistance to moisture is a highly useful feature to look for in a product. When you compare LVT vs hardwood, you should definitely consider the feature of moisture resistance. When it comes to this particular feature, luxury vinyl tiles have definitely got an advantage over hardwood.
If your house or apartment is located in a moisture-prone area, you will definitely like to go for a product that is moisture-resistant. While LVT products are resistant to moisture, hardwood flooring is not. If you install hardwood in your home or office, you should always protect it against moisture. If something spills on hardwood flooring, you will need to clean it quickly. A delay in dry-mopping will cause damage to the hardwood floors. As a result of dampness and moisture, you may have to deal with many other issues such as the growth of mold and bacteria.
If you live in an area where moisture is a problem, you should go for Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) instead of hardwood products.
Cost
How much you are willing to spend on a flooring material will affect your decision as to what product to choose. Cost is always an important factor. When you compare LVT products and hardwood products in terms of costs, the real thing is always more expensive than the manufactured one.
Though you will need different budgets to invest in each of these, both products are known to be highly durable and long-lasting.
When you compare any two or more flooring products for that matter, you should never forget about the cost of installation as well as the cost of maintenance in the long term. You should keep in mind that hardwood floors will require more maintenance than luxury vinyl tiles. Also, the repair costs for hardwood are higher than that of luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). If you have a limited budget and look for a less expensive flooring option, you should choose LVT over hardwood.
Ease of Installation
The procedure of installation will vary based on what type of flooring product you select. Some products are so easy to install that you can do it on your own, provided you have the right set of tools.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) are easy to install. Most of all, these products can be easily installed on an existing floor such as tiles. All you need for the installation to begin is a plain leveled surface. If you look for additional insulation, the padding material will need to be installed first. In comparison, the installation of hardwood flooring requires a great deal of expertise and accuracy. If you plan to choose a flooring product that is quick and easy to install, you should prefer LVT.
If you have a question about the installation of luxury vinyl tiles or hardwood, feel free to talk to one of our highly skilled technicians at Minuteman Floors, which operates and provides installation in Manchester, NH.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Both luxury vinyl tiles and hardwood flooring have their own requirements for cleaning and maintenance. However, it is quite easy to clean and maintain luxury vinyl tiles. You can sweep, wet-mop, and vacuum-clean the floor. Just see to it that you use cleaners that do not contain wax. Using wax cleaners may result in deposits of wax on the flooring material over time.
On the other hand, hardwood floors need more maintenance. Whether it is cleaning hardwood or maintaining it, you should pay proper attention and not do anything that might cause harm to the floor. If given proper care and attention, hardwood floors can last for several decades.
If you look for a product that is easy to clean, you should definitely choose LVT over hardwood flooring material.
Resale Value
Though the higher resale value of hardwood floors is obvious, the justification might change depending on what exactly a future buyer’s needs are. If a prospective buyer has pets and kids, he or she will most likely choose LVT over hardwood, simply because the latter requires more maintenance. On the other hand, home buyers without kids might prefer hardwood floors more.
Talk to a Local Flooring Expert
Hopefully, you have now understood how the features of Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) are different from those of hardwood. Each of these flooring materials comes with its own pros and cons. It is up to you to compare the two and then select the most ideal option based on your exact needs. If you still have a question or look for premium quality flooring products for your house, apartment, mansion, or office, head over to Minuteman Floors in Manchester, New Hampshire.
For your free consultation, you can call our office phone number or write us an email using the contact form on our website.