Hardwood Vs Luxury Vinyl Tile
First things first. Let’s get the basics right.
Hardwood is made of timber collected from the lumber harvested in forests.
A synthetic derived from petroleum & few other chemicals is utilized in vinyl flooring. This kind of flooring resembles actual wooden flooring.
How they fare against each another is a pertinent question to consider when it comes to lock the flooring option for our interiors. Let’s have a detailed insight into the pros and cons of Hardwood vis-à-vis Vinyl Flooring.
A Classic Investment:
Hardwood flooring is unmatched in its aesthetics, visual appeal, looks and feel. It remains the first choice as a renovation option, for ages to come, on account of the class and elegance it spells in the interiors of any premium establishment. Hardwood Flooring never loses its shine or veneer, if properly maintained and will never go out of vogue.
However, Vinyl flooring has its own fan base who swear by its ease of installation, low maintenance and low-cost initial investment which makes it a more user friendly functional option for Interior renovation.
Durability:
Properly finished and well-maintained hardwood is way more durable and strong as compared to popular vinyl options. They last longer and remain the first choice for houses and buildings which need to weather well and stand the test of time.
Vinyl Flooring, on the other hand, is much more susceptible to wear and tear on account of scratches and abrasions.
Style and functionality co-exist:
Hardwood Flooring options with its wide range of shapes, sizes and styles make it the top most choice for people who are willing to invest in the real thing. Moreover though the short term cost dynamics pitch it as a more expensive proposition but it‘s longer lasting feature evens it out, eventually.
The immediate cost of setting up Vinyl flooring is much less, which brings it across as a better economic proposition in terms of keeping the overhead costs low.
Better resale value:
Hardwood will always score over its synthetic counterparts by virtue of having a much higher resale value down the years. The natural and organic properties enable the wood to command a hefty price in the market always.
On account of the depreciation incurred in the quality of Vinyl Flooring, is has nil to low resale value.
Ease of Installation:
Hardwood Floorings were once shied away from on account of a cumbersome installation process where a single wrong turn proved to be a very expensive mistake. However, the modern day pre-cut planks which have easy to install tongue and groove planks has made the entire process much easier and hassle-free.
Peel and stick options over wood, cement or any other material has always made Vinyl Flooring the go-to option for a quick renovation process.
Repair and Maintenance
Hardwood Floor lends itself easily to repair through sanding and polishing. They can be easily renovated using the right kind of polish.
Vinyl Floors though can be temporarily patched, will eventually need complete overhauling for the perfect finish. They can never be restored to their original state unless refurbished.
Moisture Resistance
This was the second most attractive feature which makes vinyl flooring score above Hardwood Flooring options. Hardwood Floors which are natural and organic and are harvested from trees, mostly angiosperms are prone to moisture, discoloration, penetration and warping. The engineered Hardwood, developed in recent years present a much better fight against dampness.
Vinyl flooring is synthetic and is impervious to moisture seepage and withstand the onslaught of dampness to a great extent.
Eco-Friendly
Since wood is natural, organic and harvested from nature, amenable to recycling, it makes for a better environment-friendly option, especially if we opt to purchase it from Genuine Engineered Oak Flooring Supplier in London, to ward off the threat of over-harvesting.
Vinyl Flooring, on the other hand, is processed synthetic obtained after refining petroleum and other chemicals, involving combustion of an immense amount of fuel and release of toxic chemicals and by-products which are a potential threat to the environment.
Conclusion
Vinyl Flooring, which is designed to simulate original wood finish offers quite a few characteristics that make it tempting, especially if one needs to keep the overhead cost low.
However, the undeniable fact remains that nothing can ever replicate the warmth, grandeur and regal attribute of authentic wood, which no manufacturing process can ever truly hope to emulate.