Why We Chose Vinyl Wood Flooring

There are SO many types of flooring out there to choose from. Just when you think “wood flooring” sounds like an easy choice, you start to research and realize that there are hundreds (okay, slight exaggeration) types of flooring to choose from. There’s vinyl wood flooring, real wood, laminate, tile… and that’s just the type of wood flooring that I’m familiar with! 

Laminate vs Vinyl Wood Flooring

So, if you’re a bit uneducated like I was a few months ago, let’s chat about the differences in types of wood flooring… specifically laminate and vinyl wood flooring.

Flooring Look and Design

Visually, all of the flooring types are pretty neck and neck. Specifically with vinyl vs laminate, both are created with 3D technology to replicate the look of natural wood. They are customizable, designable and versatile. Quite frankly, most people will tell you they both look like natural wood floors, as long as you don’t go the el-cheapo route.

Flooring Stability and Durability

These words are extremely similar, but have different meanings.

Durability: Ability to exist for long without significant deterioration by resisting the effects of heavy use, drying, wetting, heating, freezing, thawing, corrosion, oxidation, volatilization, etc.

More or less, the hardness of the flooring. How much can it take on the surface without being damaged?

Stability: the property of a body that causes it when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion to develop forces or moments that restore the original condition.

In other words, the thickness and makeup of the layers. Does it hold up in moisture and climate changes?

This is where you start to see the major differences. Laminate is created from high-density fiberboard, which is made up of recycled hardwood. It is not waterproof. If you have a pool, live in a high humidity region, etc, this isn’t the most stable flooring for you to choose. Where as vinyl is hard and closed-cell, making it water resistant.

Another thing to note about laminate, you need to install a subfloor underneath. Another cost to think about when budgeting.

Application of Vinyl Wood Flooring

We hired an expert for this. I can’t speak too much on the differences, but I didn’t want to skirt around the fact that there are some! Speak to your own flooring expert about the cost associated with the different installs. The team we hired is no longer in business, but I have heard great things about Metroplex Flooring. The team did demo on our previous flooring (nasty tile!), leveled out the cement floors and installed our vinyl wood flooring.

Cost of Vinyl Wood Flooring

I can’t speak on the exact numbers, but from my research, laminate was technically cheaper. We found laminate flooring as low as $.75 per square foot, but also up to the $3-$4 range. Keep in mind the under flooring! Premium vinyl wood flooring that we found ranged from $2-$5 range. To compare apples to apples, bottom tier of each, a huge price gap. Mid to top tier of each, not quite as drastic.

Why We Made The Choice for Vinyl Wood Flooring

Well, having a 100 pound dog and a pool pretty much sold us on the vinyl wood flooring route. With the pricing being pretty similar (looking at the mid-top range flooring), we felt the need to go with the stable and durable option. The whole having a pool in the backyard and tracking in water when you come inside, we really needed a floor that was as close to waterproof as possible. The dog’s mantic running around after a big ball means his claws are going to be all over the floors.

Speaking of samples, all of the vinyl wood flooring options he provided made my jaw drop. We had plenty of designs to choose from, and the reassurance of a warranty in case the floors were damaged in any way. It was easy to narrow down to about five designs that I liked, but after that it got tricky! Thankful for his help and guidance in this big decision!

We’re a few weeks in of the vinyl wood flooring and I still walk home everyday like a little kid walking into a candy store. Gorgeous, durably, stable vinyl wood floors.