Flooring Wars: Your Guide to the Different Types of Flooring

Should you choose engineered wood flooring or solid flooring? What about laminate or luxury vinyl? Read this guide to find out.

What is Best for You! Lets Put the Options Up Against Each Other!

You've watched countless episodes of American Ninja Warrior and logged hours at the gym. Yet, did you know the toughest member of your household is right underfoot?

That's right! Your flooring takes the brunt of the wear and tear in your home. Trampled on by muddy paws, high heels and toddler toes alike, it's the one surface you expect to be in the heavyweight class.

However, not all types are up for the specific challenges that your family presents. Today, we're pitting the main different types of flooring against each other in a standoff to see which ones come out on top.

Ready to learn more? Take a break from that backyard obstacle course and let's dive in.

Match 1: Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Wood

Let's start with one of the most infamous duels in all of interior design. Should you go with engineered hardwood or solid hardwood flooring? 

Both are durable, attractive and long-lasting, so the answer comes down to personal preference, though there are a few scenarios in which one will prevail over the other. 

Let's set the first scene.

The Basement Battle

Inspired by DIY television shows, your family decided to invest in a fixer-upper of your own. It looks great online and you fall in love with its solid bones.

The only problem? The concrete-floored basement has seen much better days and is in dire need of a makeover. It's time to finish it off and install shiny new hardwoods down there. Which floor will work best?

In this case, the winner is engineered wood, and here's why.

Engineered wood is made of multiple layers. In most cases, it's a thin layer of solid wood on top of a high-quality plywood base. Less durable than solid hardwoods, it's also more versatile.

If you tried to install solid hardwoods in a moist area like your basement or bathroom, the moisture levels would render your efforts nearly impossible.  

Engineered wood, on the other hand, is more dimensionally stable. That means it's able to maintain its shape better than solid hardwood in the presence of moisture.

If you are considering a wood floor, engineered is the right choice if you subfloor is concrete, as solid wood flooring is designed to be nailed or stapled down.

That's one point for engineered wood, but let's give solid hardwoods a chance to even the score with the next scene.

The Wishy-Washy Wrangle

You're ready to build your forever home. You found the property of your dreams with plenty of potential and a decent commute time. 

So, you start down the long and winding road of designing your space. Along the way, you learn that the average couple spats 72 times per year over home improvement issues. You discover this reality for yourself when you come across your first roadblock: neither of you can agree on a finish or stain for the wood flooring. 

Here comes solid hardwood floors for the surprise comeback!

In this case, solids reign supreme. They're the sturdier of the two, and you can sand them down and refinish them as many times as you want over the course of their decades-long lifespan. 

That means you can start with one look, give it a few years, and switch to another for an instant face-lift. Though they'll cost you more than engineered hardwoods, you can know for sure that they'll hold up. You'll also have more wood grain options to choose from with solid hardwoods, including:

• Maple
• Oak
• Bamboo
• Pine
• Walnut
• Mahogany
• Cherry
• Hickory
• Spruce

Though you can choose from among many kinds of wood selections with engineered hardwoods, solids afford you more variability, texture, and intricacy. 

Match 2: Engineered Wood vs. Laminate 

Now, let's move on to Match 2. You know you aren't ready to invest in solid hardwoods, but what about engineered hardwood versus laminate wood? We'll begin with a new scene. 

The Cost Contest

You're strapped for money, but have a head full of ideas. First, you want to update the shag carpet in your living room from seventies-glam to modern farmhouse chic.

You love the look of natural wood, but need to come in at a fraction of the price. You have a set budget and need to stick as close to it as possible.

Where do you turn?

We're going to give this round's points to laminate floors! Unlike engineered wood, which has a slice of real wood on top, these feature a high-quality image of wood grain in the same place, coated with a protective layer.

If the thought of laminate wood floors makes you shudder, it's because you still remember the faux-looking, ultra-high-gloss models of yesterday. Today, innovations in manufacturing can give these planks texture and grooves that mimic natural wood, stone or ceramic tile. They're also available for far less than you'll pay for solid or engineered hardwoods and are actually more scratch and wear resistant!

So far, it's engineered wood: 0 and laminate: 1. Let's try one more scenario to even the score.

The Resale Value Riot

You're ready to put down roots, but not too deep. You know the next house you buy or build won't be yours forever and you're looking to resale it in the next few years or so.

You want a wood floor with the look of real wood, and you also need your new floors to match the existing wood flooring in adjacent rooms. Which one wins?

We'll give this round to engineered hardwoods.

These have a resale value that's now nearly on par with solid hardwoods, making them inherently more valuable than laminate wood flooring. This means they'll add to the resale value of your home if you intend to sell down the road. At the same time, it also makes them a great investment for your forever home. 

In addition, engineered hardwoods look more like solid hardwoods than laminate floors do. This makes it easier to install them in areas where you already have existing hardwoods nearby and you need to match the two as much as possible. 

We now have a four-way tie, so let's complete our final match!

Match 3: Laminate Flooring vs. Floating Waterproof Vinyl

In Match 3, we'll pit laminate flooring against floating waterproof vinyl floors. Both are low-cost flooring options that can deliver a major value.

Let's see how they compare against each other. 

The Bathroom Bout

You're ready to change out your bathroom from tile to wood, but you've got one small problem: The space is tiny and tends to fill up with steam, fast. You've also got children splashing in the tub every night. 

You need a wood floor that can stand up against moisture, leaks, and floods. Where do you turn?

Here, floating waterproof vinyl wins out over laminate. Although newer versions of laminate have better waterproofing capabilities than their early-model counterparts, they still can't tolerate standing pools of water.

Maintenance and Installation

Waterproof vinyl floors are easily the easiest floors to maintain as to much water won't hurt them and they are difficult to damage. Laminate can't get wet and can be chipped if an unfortunate accident occurs. Compared to the traditional glue-down method, these versions are also easier to install and make a great DIY project, even easier than laminate!

We've reached our last battle. Let's see which option prevails in this one!

The Comfort Challenge

At 5:00 on the dot, you race toward home, craving the creature comforts of your living room. You're ready to take up the paper-thin carpet and install a new floor in that space, but you have one firm request: It has to feel great underfoot.

When you want a warm, slightly soft floor that doesn't make the room feel cold, laminate flooring beats floating waterproof vinyl. This is because its composition is thicker and includes wood content, making it enjoyable and comfortable to walk on every day. 

On the contrary, vinyl can be hard and cool to the touch. That's why it works well in areas like your bathroom, but isn't an ideal choice for your living room or bedroom. 

Rubber Backed Mats

Vinyl flooring often times has a reaction to rubber causing a discoloration, laminate flooring does not have this problem, so you can have squishy mats!

Laminate Looks and Thickness

Laminate flooring still looks a bit more realistic than the new waterproof luxury vinyl planks, although it seems vinyl looks better everyday. Side by side, a laminate floor has a more realistic look.

If you are replaceing a thicker floor such as a wood or a tile, waterproof vinyl flooring (both WPC and SPC) tends to be a lot thinner than most laminate flooring. This often causes issued with other items in the home, such as baseboards and door casings.

It's a Tie: These Types of Flooring All Win

Even after a three-match contest, it's easy to see that there isn't a clear winner when it comes to choosing between the myriad types of flooring. 

Whether you're looking to renovate your home's current floors or you're building from the ground up, keep the environment and intended use in mind. While each type has its pros and cons, the right solution for your property is the one that meets your unique needs.

As you peruse your options, we'd love to help.

We offer a personalized online shopping experience and an extensive catalog of flooring products. Start shopping and contact us today to learn more! Picking the right floor isn't a battle with the right team on your side.