Its durability and water resistance makes it a great material to increase value in rental properties, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. However, we don't always choose luxury vinyl for our properties. While the material is durable and stands up to water well, it's softer than hardwood and tile.
Vinyl is a soft material: One of its advantages is also its greatest weakness: its lightness. Heavy furniture can dent and mark vinyl floors, while sharp objects can pierce the upper layers. Discolouration: LVT flooring can suffer from sun damage if laid in conservatories or near south-facing doors/windows.
Pro: LVP Is Affordable
Plus, luxury vinyl flooring is much cheaper to maintain and keep clean, unlike carpet that harbors dirt, dust, and other disgusting things and will require replacement more often. And, even more, money savings can be appreciated if able to install right on top of an existing floor.
LVT will never look “cheap” — it will make your life easier and enhance the look and comfort of your home.
Even so, vinyl flooring generally will bring in a lower resale value than laminate flooring. High-quality laminate floor ranks below solid hardwood and engineered wood for resale value. But laminate flooring still commands a higher resale value than most types of vinyl flooring.
LVP flooring is waterproof, less expensive, and faster and easier to install than wood or tile. Even the high-end residential market discovered LVP floors last year. It works in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundry rooms as well as living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and anywhere in the house except for stairs.
The best flooring for resale value: The ROI on wood floors
They're durable, versatile, and most buyers love them. According to real estate experts, the average ROI for installing hardwood floors is about 70% to 80%, and wood floors can boost the sales price of your home as much as 2.5%.
Luxury Vinyl Plank can add to a home's resale value in some cases, but it depends on the type of home. If the home is considered a “starter home,” such as a Duplex or Townhome, buyers might be looking for something like LVP that is durable and can withstand young children, pets, and first time homeowner mishaps.
If you purchase high quality, thick luxury vinyl flooring--whether plank or tile and have it installed correctly and maintain it well, you can expect a lifespan of 25 or 30 years.
The excellent scratch resistance you'll find in LVP flooring comes from a protective wear layer that also protects against stains, scuffs, dents, and other forms of daily wear. It's the perfect option for busy rooms, especially with pets and children in the home.
For a short time after installation, vinyl flooring emits what is known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These are gasses that can have a long-term impact on your health and are also dangerous for the environment. They can be especially hazardous to those with respiratory problems.
Avoid using ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Don't use bleach as an overall vinyl floor cleaner. Keep away from highly abrasive scrubbers or detergents on vinyl. They can damage the floor, causing cracks or scratches.
Not environmentally friendly
Off-gassed VOCs can adversely affect health and an indoor environment, particularly without windows or ventilation, will lead to higher concentrations. If this is a concern for you, we recommend avoiding high-VOC vinyl flooring and choosing a low-VOC floor instead.
LVP vs. LVT. LVP comes in a plank shape and often offers the look of real hardwood with realistic scraping or embossing. LVT comes in the traditional tile squares, features more stone and concrete looks, includes surface texture for a lifelike look, and can even be installed with grout.
LVT is made from polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC is hazardous to both the environment and human health. There are many reasons for this. First, the production of PVC causes the release of toxins into the environment.
While LVT doesn't have the same issues as laminate flooring, or even ceramic and hardwood, it's still louder than carpet-and LVT is often installed in areas traditionally covered with carpet.
Luxury vinyl planks (or tiles) are, in themselves, completely water-proof and cannot be damaged by exposure to moisture.
However, vinyl tile and plank flooring will stand up to such mishaps better than hardwood, so that's something to consider. Sunlight is powerful, so LVT and LVP can fade if they are regularly exposed to direct sunlight.
Most would argue that luxury vinyl plank flooring is a better choice in terms of durability. Vinyl plank flooring is usually both water resistant and scratch resistant. Especially the high quality options.
If you have a tighter budget and want the look of hardwood without the price, go with vinyl. If you want resale value down the road, go with hardwood. If you want to attract a higher-end buyer, go with hardwood. If you want to be able to refinish it in 10-20 years, go with hardwood.
Dark colored hardwood floors are highly sought after by home buyers because they match modern styles. Lighter hardwood floors don't have that same appeal to many buyers, but buying quality hardwood can help. Use a discerning eye when choosing your hardwood floor and stain type.
It keeps the house looking consistent
If you have a color scheme or style that you love, having the same flooring flow from room to room will allow you to extend that feel throughout your entire home. Using the same flooring material ensures your home will have an elevated and cohesive design.
“Buyers like carpet in bedrooms, especially in basement bedrooms, for comfort and warmth.” Carpet is also much quieter to walk on than other types of flooring and can help absorb noise. It can mask sounds, such as footsteps and squeaky floors, Fisher adds.
Living on a higher floor has its advantages. You get better views of your locality, better light and ventilation, and there is lower impact of street-level disturbances compared to those on the ground and lower floors. Higher floors are also usually free from the menace of mosquitoes and rodents (mainly rats).