When dreaming of the perfect floor for your home, you want to make sure that it’s as functional and as comfortable as it is beautiful. Two of the most popular choices for flooring are vinyl and hardwood, two very different options. The key difference is that wood is a natural material while vinyl is synthetic. Both materials have their own advantages and disadvantages – but when choosing for your home, it’s about fulfilling your needs.
We’ve put together a comparison of vinyl and hardwood flooring, listing the advantages and disadvantages of each one for you to evaluate your options and make an informed decision.
Many vinyl floors are made up of multi-layered PVC and fibreglass which contributes to its strong and durable nature. It’s also renowned for being waterproof so it’s a perfect option in areas susceptible to moisture. Vinyl has proven time and time again to be a resilient flooring material, capable of taking high foot traffic. It also resists scratching and stains so that you and your family can make the most out of this sturdy floor.
On the other hand, hardwood is a natural material from the environment and has a longer lifespan as a result. These wooden floors can last up to a hundred years or more and are great at withstanding wear and tear. However, hardwood has a weakness for moisture and is not as resistant against foot traffic and heavy usage. This is not to say that hardwood can’t be used in family homes – there are engineered variants of hardwood that have more resistant capabilities.
Vinyl flooring brings versatility and style choices to the table. It’s flexible when it comes to design and is available in a huge variety of different colours and textures. You’re bound to find something you love when you choose vinyl. We have vinyl flooring options to suit all different types of architecture. From intricate wood simulations to gorgeous stone-looking designs, we can make your floor as rustic or as modern as you like with vinyl flooring.
If you want maximised elegance and authenticity, then hardwood is your choice. It will give your home a beautiful natural look and is available in a variety of different shades and colours.
While you may feel that vinyl is aesthetically inferior to hardwood, vinyl can replicate the look of hardwood more efficiently and more accurately than you may at first think. It also gives you that additional style choice, leaving you with unlimited design options.
When choosing new floors for your home, cost may be one of the biggest factors influencing your choice. So you may feel you have to choose within your budget constraints. This is understandable but it doesn’t mean that you’re restricted to lesser options.
While the price of Vinyl varies depending on the sheets or planks, it is generally the more cost-effective of the two options, offering fantastic value for money. You can opt for any kind of style you like while saving money on expensive flooring options.
Hardwood flooring is more of an investment, offering a higher upfront cost, and this includes a more complex installation process. However, your hardwood floor is more likely to last longer, bringing the durability of natural trees to your floor.
So which floor is easier to care for?
Vinyl flooring is well known for its low maintenance with its natural resistance to stains, moisture and scratches. All it requires is regular sweeping and occasional mopping to keep it looking great. It will save you a lot of time, energy and cost of cleaning products.
Hardwood is significantly more complex to maintain in top condition. When purchasing cleaning products for your hardwood floor, you need to make sure that they are wood-safe products that will not harm the material. Some woods also need to be oiled regularly and need to be refinished every few years. You’ll also want to keep out moisture because it can be detrimental to your hardwood floor.
We are all becoming more concerned about the environment and we all want to play our part in creating a more sustainable and healthier planet. So which of these flooring options is the most environmentally friendly?
Vinyl flooring is made from synthetic materials and the production of PVC can have negative impacts on the environment, mainly the release of harmful chemicals. Additionally, vinyl can contribute to landfill waste because it is not biodegradable and is not easily recycled. However, not all vinyl flooring options are manufactured in the same way. More modern and luxury vinyl flooring materials are made with environmental considerations.
Hardwood flooring has a more environmentally friendly profile. Most woods are sourced from sustainable forests and many species of wood are biodegradable and renewable. Hardwood’s ability to last for ages also makes it a highly sustainable choice that will help reduce your carbon footprint and save you costs in repair and replacement in the long run.
Whether you’re looking for vinyl or hardwood flooring solutions, Stansbie Flooring has the expertise and range to meet all your needs. With years of experience providing high-quality flooring solutions across Birmingham and the West Midlands, we’re here to help you choose the perfect option for your space. Contact Stansbie Flooring today on 0121 356 5858 or complete our online enquiry form and we will be in touch.
