Wood flooring is a highly natural and appealing flooring solution that works throughout the house. Available in a whole host of species, colours, finishes and board sizes, the only real limit to a wood flooring project is your imagination. Equally suited to living rooms, bedrooms and hallways, solid wood flooring is a product that is 100% natural and lives and breathes, as you would expect any natural product would. Engineered wood flooring on the other hand is a man-made product, albeit made with natural ingredients, and is cleverly constructed to withstand heat and moisture fluctuations.
Vinyl flooring developed a really strong following in the 1980s and early 1990s. A truly practical solution, it’s easy to see how vinyl became so popular. Resilient and durable, it’s also a good noise insulator and is comfortable to walk on. What’s more, vinyl flooring is easy to clean and at its most popular came in an impressive range of colours and styles. However, it’s probably one of the most common floors being ripped up and replaced today! That said, there are still some very stylish and good looking luxury vinyl flooring options available on the market today if you’re prepared to shop around.
If you are planning a new floor, it’s highly likely that you’ll be looking to finalise your project within a budget and there’s little doubt that you’ll already have some fixed ideas about the look you’re hoping to create. So if you have shortlisted wood and vinyl, how exactly do you choose between the two?
Price
There’s no getting away from the fact that vinyl, unless you plump for a top of the range, designer option is a cheaper flooring solution than wood. However, if you are planning a floor project that you want to last the test of time, you need to look beyond the immediate purchase price. With many wood floors, you should expect a lifetime of flooring for your purchase price. In most instances a vinyl floor will start to look a tired after 5 years (and in some cases even less) even if you look after it with care and attention, which means you’re likely to be looking to invest every 5 or so years to keep your vinyl floor looking great.
Durability
In a busy room, an appropriately finished wood floor will stand up to pretty much anything you want to throw at it. Vinyl floors tend to show the signs of “life in the fast lane” quite quickly, typically by developing traffic traces and tracks as they start to age. The good thing about a wood floor is that even if it does end up looking a bit tired, you can always sand and re-finish it, enabling you to bring it back to looking like new with a relatively small amount of cost and effort.
Maintenance
It’s widely accepted that all vinyl calls for is a sweep or vacuum and a mop to keep it looking clean and hygienic. However, a well-finished wood floor should require no more regular maintenance than a vinyl floor. In fact, if your wood floor is properly finished, you shouldn’t even need a detergent to keep it looking tip-top, because water alone will do the job nicely.
Look
There’s no getting away from the fact that if you’re looking to create a classy and stylish look in your home, there’s no contest between wood and vinyl. Agreed, you can achieve some seriously eye-catching results with vinyl, but at the end of the day, stately homes and castles don’t feature wood flooring for no reason at all!
Here’s a recap of your considerations:
| Factor | Wood Flooring | Vinyl Flooring |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Highly natural and appealing with availability in a whole host of species, colours, finishes and board sizes. Stately homes and castles often feature wood flooring. | Comes in an impressive range of colours and styles. Some very stylish and good looking luxury vinyl flooring options are available if one shops around. |
| Suitability | Suited to living rooms, bedrooms and hallways. Solid wood flooring is a natural product. Engineered wood flooring, a man-made product made with natural ingredients, can withstand heat and moisture fluctuations. | Durable and resilient. It’s a good noise insulator and is comfortable to walk on. |
| Price | Typically more expensive than vinyl, but with many wood floors, you should expect a lifetime of flooring for your purchase price. | Cheaper than wood unless opting for a top of the range, designer option. In most instances, a vinyl floor will start to look tired after 5 years (and in some cases even less) even with care and attention. Likely requires reinvestment every 5 or so years to keep the floor looking great. |
| Durability | An appropriately finished wood floor will stand up to heavy traffic. If it starts looking a bit tired, it can be sanded and re-finished to look like new with relatively small cost and effort. | Vinyl floors tend to show signs of heavy traffic quickly, typically by developing traffic traces and tracks as they start to age. |
| Maintenance | A well-finished wood floor should require no more regular maintenance than a vinyl floor. If the wood floor is properly finished, water alone should suffice for cleaning. | Vinyl requires a sweep or vacuum and a mop to keep it clean and hygienic. |
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FAQ
What are the advantages of wood flooring?
Wood flooring is a highly natural and appealing solution that comes in a variety of species, colors, finishes, and board sizes. It’s suited to various rooms, and a good quality wood floor is durable and can last a lifetime with the right care. If it starts looking tired, it can be sanded and refinished. Also, if it is properly finished, it requires minimal maintenance.
What are the advantages of vinyl flooring?
Vinyl flooring is resilient, durable, a good noise insulator, and comfortable to walk on. It comes in a variety of colors and styles, and luxury vinyl flooring options can look very stylish. Vinyl flooring is also relatively easy to maintain with just a sweep or vacuum and a mop.
How does the cost of wood flooring compare to vinyl flooring?
Vinyl flooring is typically cheaper than wood unless you opt for a top-of-the-range option. However, the lifetime cost should also be considered. Wood flooring may be more expensive initially, but it can last a lifetime, making it a potentially more cost-effective choice in the long run. Vinyl floors may need to be replaced more frequently as they can start to look tired after 5 years or so.
How does the durability of wood flooring compare to vinyl flooring?
A well-finished wood floor will stand up to heavy traffic and can be sanded and refinished if it starts to look tired. In contrast, vinyl floors tend to show signs of heavy traffic quite quickly, typically developing traffic traces and tracks as they age.
Which is easier to maintain, wood or vinyl flooring?
Both wood and vinyl flooring require regular maintenance. A well-finished wood floor should require no more maintenance than a vinyl floor. In fact, if your wood floor is properly finished, you shouldn’t even need a detergent to keep it clean, as water alone will do the job.