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Martin County has pleasant weather throughout the year, allowing you to go shopping or fishing almost anytime. Still, rain and heavy storms can take you by surprise, especially during the summer. Though hard to believe, you should consider rainfall and humidity when choosing engineered hardwood and LVP for your new floor.
Even if you would like to get different flooring types for other areas of your home to balance your budget, knowing the qualities of vinyl and engineered wood flooring will be helpful when deciding where to use each one, making floor maintenance easier and extending their lifespan.
For instance, if your home improvement dream includes re-flooring your exterior porch, you should consider that the floor will be exposed to constant rain and sunlight, which may decay the quality of the floor material. Thus, before starting your remodel, any flooring comparison should consider where you plan to use the floor material.
Where can I use engineered hardwood flooring?
Engineered wood floors are great for high-traffic areas in your house, such as hallways, entryways, and living and dining rooms. Their hardwood cover gives them durability comparable to solid hardwood floors, so their flooring maintenance is easy overall. Dry mop or vacuum them regularly to keep them clean; they should last for years.
Due to its plywood or fiberboard core, engineered hardwood resists moisture and humidity a bit better than pure hardwood. The core gives it more stability, and the wood doesn’t expand or contract as much as solid hardwood. However, it is still not recommended for areas prone to high moisture, such as bathrooms or basements, as the high humidity may cause the wood to warp over time. For these areas, LVP can be a better choice.
So, to recap, engineered wood is an excellent choice for:
- Living rooms
- Dining rooms
- Bedrooms
- Hallways
- Entryways
However, it is not great for kitchens, bathrooms, or mudrooms, as humidity and constant exposure to water may damage the flooring sooner than expected. When comparing engineered wood with other flooring types, consider their resistance to water. If you want to see which flooring materials could better suit your needs for these areas, you can call a professional remodeling company to guide you.
Thanks to their structural solidity, engineered hardwood flooring can be installed in various home subfloors, such as concrete, particle board, or plywood. It can also be installed over other flooring types, like vinyl or ceramic tiles if it meets certain conditions.
Where can I use LVP flooring?
Since most luxury vinyl plank flooring is waterproof, it is an excellent choice for areas prone to water exposure, such as bathrooms, shower cabins, kitchens, basements, mudrooms, and exterior patios or porches. They are also excellent flooring for pets since their exterior layer is highly resistant to scratches, meaning you won’t have to worry about your dog’s long nails in the living room.
Still, if you have researched LVP vs engineered hardwood comparison before, you’ll notice that they both can discolor when exposed to constant sunlight. Hence, if you plan to re-floor any exterior patios or sunrooms, ensure you can get an LVP with UV-ray coating to prevent earlier discoloration and replacements.
Vinyl planks are excellent choices for:
- Kitchens
- Basements
- Bathrooms
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Attics
Another advantage of LVP is that since most can be click-locked when installed, almost all subfloor types can resist them. This means you may not have to remove your old subfloor to install the new one. Luxury vinyl planks can be installed on concrete, tile, and wood subfloors and even over existing floors, such as engineered hardwood or vinyl sheet floor
Seeking advice for your home improvement? R&J Interiors is just a call away!
If you’re still searching for the best options to renew your floor and want to ensure that what you pick is stylish and functional and that the flooring maintenance is not demanding, R&J Interiors & Innovations is right here.
We specialize in LVP and hardwood floors, whether engineered or solid, and we’ll work with you to ensure your new floor meets your expectations in style and workmanship. Let us help you turn your dream home into a reality.
Call us today! We are ready to answer your call from 7 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Saturday.
