ᐅ Does hardwood flooring have only advantages compared to luxury vinyl flooring?
Created on: 20 Oct 2020 08:15
H
Heidi1965H
Heidi196520 Oct 2020 08:15Originally, we planned to install luxury vinyl flooring in the living areas of our new build. I work in an office where they have this type of flooring, which I find visually appealing and very practical. Our painter is trying to convince us to choose hardwood flooring instead, with the following arguments:
- Natural product
- The price of hardwood is hardly higher than that of luxury vinyl flooring
- If there is a damaged spot, hardwood can be repaired; luxury vinyl flooring cannot
- Maintenance effort is supposedly not higher
Now we are a bit confused. What is your opinion on this?
- Natural product
- The price of hardwood is hardly higher than that of luxury vinyl flooring
- If there is a damaged spot, hardwood can be repaired; luxury vinyl flooring cannot
- Maintenance effort is supposedly not higher
Now we are a bit confused. What is your opinion on this?
We also have vinyl in the workplace: very durable – after 2 years and heavy foot traffic, it still looks good.
Luxury vinyl flooring is also easy to repair.
However, I would not want vinyl as the main flooring in a new build because of the synthetic material, but I do like it as a low-profile renovation option.
I find your list a bit one-sided.
What about the feel?
Ultimately, what matters is what YOU want.
Luxury vinyl flooring is also easy to repair.
However, I would not want vinyl as the main flooring in a new build because of the synthetic material, but I do like it as a low-profile renovation option.
I find your list a bit one-sided.
What about the feel?
Ultimately, what matters is what YOU want.
I’m not familiar with luxury vinyl flooring. Regarding hardwood floors, I can say that they are too delicate for us. They scratch easily. Proper maintenance with a damp mop can also be time-consuming. Until now, I also thought that luxury vinyl flooring was more affordable. There are probably both products available with a wide price range.
I also find the presentation a bit one-sided.
Tactile preferences are a matter of taste, but many people tend to prefer natural wood. Luxury vinyl flooring sounds fancy, but in the end, it’s plastic.
The price comparison is misleading. I can definitely find a mid-range luxury vinyl floor that costs as much as a cheap parquet floor. But, as with everything, there is a wide range of prices and quality. That’s comparing apples and oranges. I think that at a comparable quality level, parquet is still more expensive than vinyl.
“Almost equally low-maintenance” is total nonsense.
We chose fully glued-down luxury vinyl flooring in our new house, and I can basically treat it like tile, even wet-mop it, and so far it’s been very durable.
Parquet is much less forgiving. As far as I know, you can’t wet-mop it; it scratches more easily and needs to be sanded down to keep it looking nice over the years.
In our rental, we had parquet in the living room, and after more than 20 years and careless previous tenants, it was really so unsightly that I was embarrassed. Scratches, dents, scuffs everywhere. Then my husband once spilled water from an aquarium, and there was a large water stain—something you never get out unless you replace the floor.
Tactile preferences are a matter of taste, but many people tend to prefer natural wood. Luxury vinyl flooring sounds fancy, but in the end, it’s plastic.
The price comparison is misleading. I can definitely find a mid-range luxury vinyl floor that costs as much as a cheap parquet floor. But, as with everything, there is a wide range of prices and quality. That’s comparing apples and oranges. I think that at a comparable quality level, parquet is still more expensive than vinyl.
“Almost equally low-maintenance” is total nonsense.
We chose fully glued-down luxury vinyl flooring in our new house, and I can basically treat it like tile, even wet-mop it, and so far it’s been very durable.
Parquet is much less forgiving. As far as I know, you can’t wet-mop it; it scratches more easily and needs to be sanded down to keep it looking nice over the years.
In our rental, we had parquet in the living room, and after more than 20 years and careless previous tenants, it was really so unsightly that I was embarrassed. Scratches, dents, scuffs everywhere. Then my husband once spilled water from an aquarium, and there was a large water stain—something you never get out unless you replace the floor.
Hello "Heidi1965".
The arguments presented to you are valid. However, when choosing flooring, it is important to consider the area where the flooring will be installed and the requirements it must meet (bathroom/toilet/kitchen and parquet? Definitely not!!) as well as your own aesthetic preferences.
Depending on the thickness of the wood wear layer, parquet can be a more durable option if you factor in the regular renovation cycles (every 8 to 10 years in living areas) and the associated material removal (about 1mm to 1.5mm). If these renovations are not performed and the parquet floor is neglected over decades, it will look just as worn out as a vinyl floor that is never thoroughly cleaned. This results in approximately 40 years of use. A vinyl floor will struggle to compete with that lifespan.
Leaks from an aquarium certainly do not fall under “normal residential” (and legally contract-compliant) use of flooring. Therefore, the floor is not obliged to bear such damages without complaint. Stain formation in this case would likely be a matter for insurance. Vinyl flooring would not show such stains, but the risk of widespread (blister-like) detachment would not please any landlord or builder, even if there are no visible “water stains”... (said humorously).
Regarding "scratches": Have untreated parquet wood installed (glued down!), which is sanded and oiled on site. Avoid factory-sealed finishes if you want to minimize visible wear marks. Elastic flooring also gets scratched – except for linoleum – but once damaged, scratches cannot be repaired.
Oiled/waxed surfaces can be spot-sanded by hand and re-oiled with a clean cloth, so the treated area does not stand out noticeably afterward. Cleaning should be done with a damp (not wet) cloth and a parquet-appropriate, nourishing cleaning product.
Good luck and best choice: KlaRa
The arguments presented to you are valid. However, when choosing flooring, it is important to consider the area where the flooring will be installed and the requirements it must meet (bathroom/toilet/kitchen and parquet? Definitely not!!) as well as your own aesthetic preferences.
Depending on the thickness of the wood wear layer, parquet can be a more durable option if you factor in the regular renovation cycles (every 8 to 10 years in living areas) and the associated material removal (about 1mm to 1.5mm). If these renovations are not performed and the parquet floor is neglected over decades, it will look just as worn out as a vinyl floor that is never thoroughly cleaned. This results in approximately 40 years of use. A vinyl floor will struggle to compete with that lifespan.
Leaks from an aquarium certainly do not fall under “normal residential” (and legally contract-compliant) use of flooring. Therefore, the floor is not obliged to bear such damages without complaint. Stain formation in this case would likely be a matter for insurance. Vinyl flooring would not show such stains, but the risk of widespread (blister-like) detachment would not please any landlord or builder, even if there are no visible “water stains”... (said humorously).
Regarding "scratches": Have untreated parquet wood installed (glued down!), which is sanded and oiled on site. Avoid factory-sealed finishes if you want to minimize visible wear marks. Elastic flooring also gets scratched – except for linoleum – but once damaged, scratches cannot be repaired.
Oiled/waxed surfaces can be spot-sanded by hand and re-oiled with a clean cloth, so the treated area does not stand out noticeably afterward. Cleaning should be done with a damp (not wet) cloth and a parquet-appropriate, nourishing cleaning product.
Good luck and best choice: KlaRa
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