LVT vs. Hardwood Flooring. What’s the difference?

LVT vs. Hardwood Flooring. What’s the difference?

How often do you hear the comparison between LVT and hardwood flooring? How do you decide which type of floor is more suitable to use in your space? While both Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and hardwood floor can add a touch of elegance to the interior, there are some benefits to each type of floor.

To best review the differences between Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and hardwood flooring, we break flooring down into four qualities:

We hope this guild will help you to find the best flooring solution for your next project.

Durability

While many parents with kids and business owners love the authentic look of hardwoods, they are concerned whether it can withstand the rough play and heavy traffic. After all, nobody wants to spend a lot of money on flooring, knowing it is going to be easily damaged. Thus, durability is always one of the key factors to consider when it comes to picking the right floor.

Even though hardwood flooring like oak and maple can last for a long time, wood as a permeable material, is hugely affected by the surroundings and climate. This makes it less desirable to be used in residential areas like kitchens and bathrooms, where moisture, dirt and accidental spills are common.

On the other hand, Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs), usually made of 100% synthetic materials, are one of the most durable flooring options out there on the market because of its high resistance to splashes, dirt and climate change.

Luxury vinyl tile consists of individual layers made of high-quality materials and features a protective wear layer to withstand heavy traffic and protect the floor surface. Whether it is for commercial or residential circumstances, LVT is a winner for all applications.

Visual appeal

Hardwood flooring offers many styles and patterns from different species of wood. The commonly used species include oak, maple, cherry, or exotic species like Jatobe and Ipe, which usually are more expensive than the domestic hardwoods.

 Vinyl tile is growing hugely in popularity because of its realistic natural wood looks in different designs and colours. Utilising today’s print technology, each one of the LVTs features beautiful details, unique textures and can even replicate the feel of real wood.

Besides a wide range of authentic wood designs, LVT also provides a collection of natural mineral designs and modern man-made materials, including clean and rustic stone effects, strong slate designs and raw industrial surfaces. You can easily combine different shades and styles from LVT to create inspirational commercial and residential spaces.

Cleaning & Maintenance

If you are looking for a low-maintenance flooring option, LVT is probably the best choice. For example, all the LVT collections from POLYFLOR are resistant to everyday dirt, soil or accidental splashes, which make the cleaning process much easier. You can sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt, grit or dust. For deeper cleaning, you can just simply rinse the floor with clean water and wipe it with a mop.

At Polyflor, all the LVT collections feature a polyurethane reinforcement (PUR) on the top of the floor layers to support ongoing maintenance and a simple cleaning regime.

Hardwood floorings need waxing on a regular basis to keep the floor shining and lustrous. Because it is not resistant to water, splashes or spills should be wiped off immediately. While hardwood flooring can be used for many years, scratches or wear from age will show up eventually. When this occurs, it is better to ask for help from a professional.

Overall, LVTs are easy to maintain and clean on a daily basis while hardwood flooring needs to have more proper care and maintenance in order for them to last many years.

Usage areas

Hardwood flooring can be used in many residential areas, except in bathrooms, kitchens or in other situations where splashes or dirt are commonly present. Luxury vinyl tiles, on the other hand, are not only suitable for residential areas but also ideally used in light traffic commercial applications such as offices and meeting room, making LVTs one of the most flexible and cost-efficient floor options on the market.

If you're interested in looking for a wide range of designs with the benefit of low maintenance and durability, we recommend checking out our residential flooring ranges.