Hardwood Floor Vs.. Vinyl floor?

I prefer the hardwood plus it's warmer to step on.

Vinyl-Benefits

-less expensive

-easier to mop/sweep (no crevices)

-easy installation

downside:

-colder on feet

-if you get a scratch on that floor from-say, moving a piece of furnature etc...-you're stuck with it.

-you have to maintain the floor with Mop N Glo to keep the sheen.

-even if someone comes in with shoes on--and little pebbles are in bottom of shoe, this can stratch, pit or scuff the vinyl.

-doesn't look as good-not so warm looking as well as feeling

-the tiles (if you get tiles) can peel UP and be a real nuisance

-It's a pain to replace. (read: Labor- intensive)

-can get scratched or scuffed or damaged from feet that have stepped on driveway sealer--I give this example because I know a person who's floors were destroyed by this--permanently discolored the vinyl and had to be replaced...so careful about that if you seal your driveway--the chemicals in the oil/sealant come onto your feet and permeate the floor-causing chemical reaction==amber colored yellowing.

Wood Benefits

-Warmer on feet

-looks warmer too

-adds to value of home

-Looks better should you choose to place an area rug on it

downside

-cost

-crevices which collect dirt (but u can vacuum those)

-more of a drag to install (complex)

Now, if you're considering fake wood of a plastic compound:

My folks have this.(They've got light 'wood' adn dark)

BOTH look totally fake.

It feels like walking on a children's toy (THAT kind of plastic/fake wood like in a kid's play set)

Still issue with crevices

I don't know if wood floor can be installed on TOP of laminate. I wonder...because then, if you opted for the vinyl and then, once you saved up and got wood installed--you'd have the best of both worlds.

If I were you, I'd call a wooden floor installing company and make an inquiry about this -- see if it's an option and ask the pros and cons of installing a wooden floor over bare floor or laminate.

Vinyl Vs Wood Flooring

Vinyl flooring does not live up to hardwood flooring. If you can afford it, get the hardwood. It's easy to clean, the look is so much nicer and it lasts a lot longer. Short term care is easy with the vinyl but in the long run you replace it etc. Hardwood never goes out of style. Even if you get a similar look to hardwood with the vinyl it's not the same feeling.

Good Luck

Stay away from vinyl floor! It will hurt the value of your home because it is cheap, and plastic.

what i suggest is that you use a high quality laminate wood floor. This type of laminate looks exactly like manufactured wood floors and lasts forever! Of course hardwood floors are valued way higher than laminate, but if you need the practicality of it (if you have kids) it is easy to clean and wipe up.

To answer your question. NO! vinyl doesn't look just as good, and neither does laminate, but laminate is more affordable and may have the same effect as wood flooring: making your floors look elegant and comfortable.

They make some nice looking vinyl now-a-days. But in my opinion hardwood floors are prettier and they add more value to your home than vinyl flooring does. Good luck!

Hardwood floors are more natural looking I much prefer hardwood and they ast longer and don't warp after a while..

Only vinyl would be a solution to this, It would take only 1 time or a missed spot to ruin laminate. Sorry but I know from experience about missing a spot, just got 2 8 week old labs in september. I reported the SA and any dog is a great dog. GL

You mean laminate vs wood? I like wood..you can tell the difference but there are some newer laminates that look really nice. It's much more cost friendly but I would never do it because I love the look and feel of hardwood. Plus, I think people in general think money when they see you have hardwood floors. :-)

hardwood floor

All the time, we are entering spaces full of artificial materials.

To have the option to comeback to space different, would be a plus.

Hardwood!