When selecting the colors & finishes for your home, it’s important to select materials you find aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also important to make selections that fit with your lifestyle. We oftentimes, love something we find on social media because it looks sharp but in real life, it would never work for us! This is sometimes the case with flooring. A simple search for flooring will yield tons of options but we’re going to focus on 3 major categories: hardwoods, laminate plank & laminate vinyl plank (LVP). All 3 are great selections for homebuyers today, but some may work better for you than others!
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood flooring has been around forever it seems. It evokes a natural, luxurious feeling & is understandably desirable. While it is considered to add value to the home, it has it’s drawbacks, too. Hardwoods are less durable than other options, as they’re prone to scratching & showing wear patterns easily. They also aren’t as easy to clean, mopping isn’t recommended. Hardwood flooring is also significantly more expensive that laminate plank or LVP.
Laminate Plank
A newer product that gives the appearance of hardwoods without the price tag. Laminate plank floors are easy to clean & withstand wear better than hardwoods. Laminate plank also doesn’t fade from sun exposure like hardwood flooring will.This option, like hardwood flooring, is still not the best choice for wet areas & will damage if standing water or spills are attended to quickly.
Laminate Vinyl Plank or LVP
Similar in appearance to the laminate plank mentioned above, LVP is another alternative for flooring. This option, however, is waterproof making it better to use throughout your home. LVP allows for easier cleaning as it can be mopped while the other typically need to be spot cleaned. LVP does have a tendency to dent under heavy furniture, and may tear is snagged.