Macassar Ebony.
Retailing at a whopping $150 per square feet, this native of India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia is a visually striking exotic hardwood also known as Calamander wood.
The most expensive flooring in the world is named "Pietra Firma Luxtouch Tiles" and as we said, it costs $1,000,000 per square meter! Every square meter of this tile is inlaid with more than 1000 diamonds, 2400 pieces of mother of pearl, 400 pieces of abalone shell, 500 pieces of black onyx.
Hardwood has remained at the top of the podium for decades now and continues to dominate the home flooring industry. While the demand for hardwood is soaring even after all these years, it's important to know that there are certain elements that distinguish outdated hardwood flooring from its modern counterparts.
Luxury vinyl planks, or LVP, are built in layers, similar to hardwood laminate flooring planks, with a protective finish over multiple layers of pressed vinyl, sealed into a hardboard core, and finished with an underlayment backing.
12mm is much more impact resistant than 8mm. Sharp items that accidentally fall on a thicker base will have very little effect on it. That's the reason why people prefer 12mm laminate in high traffic areas.
Most Durable Hardwood Flooring
Ebony, cherry, live oak, or bamboo are the most durable choices. These extremely hard woods (and wood-like bamboo) wear well and are more resistant to minor damage than other options.
“In our area, vinyl or laminate flooring is fine for homes at the median value or below. In higher value homes, buyers expect to see hardwood, stone tile, or luxury vinyl plank.”
Both hardwood types are affordable, but red oak tends to be less expensive than white oak. Prices, however, do fluctuate, and red oak might become more expensive than white oak depending on lumber availability.
African Blackwood (up to $14,000 cubic meter)
Luxury vinyl plank flooring — or LVP — is a fan favorite for its convincing wood-like looks, high-quality construction and comfort underfoot. LVP flooring is crafted with four layers including a waterproof, PVC vinyl core and a scratch- and stain-resistant top layer perfect for pets and kids.
Solid hardwood or tile flooring can also work since the materials are well suited to almost any room. According to real estate agents, hardwood is the best flooring option to sell a house fast and also at top dollar.
LVP is a more flexible product than some of the other vinyl products on the market, but its strength is aided by the fact that it is a glue-down flooring – permanently affixed to the subfloor with adhesive. These planks do not interlock or float like their Rigid Core counterparts.
Like LVT, vinyl roll is durable, warm underfoot, sound-absorbing, and easy to clean and maintain, making it an excellent flooring choice for living rooms and bedrooms.
Bellawood Artisan Monaco White Oak Engineered Hardwood Flooring. $7.99/sq. ft. This Monaco White Oak Hardwood Flooring featured in HGTV Dream Home 2022 is gorgeous and will add a bright and elegant touch to your living room — or anywhere else you choose to install it.
Pergo Max is an engineered hardwood flooring product that combines the look and beauty of solid hardwood with the durability and strength that Pergo is known for. When tested against regular wood flooring, Pergo Max was shown to be up to five times more durable.
Hardness and Durability
As the hardest domestic wood, hickory obviously outshines both red and white oak in terms of durability. Softer woods may dent or scratch beneath careless footfalls, but hickory is more likely to withstand the abuse. This makes it an ideal choice in homes with a lot of activity and traffic.
In most cases, the wider planks tend to cost more than narrower planks. The main reason for this is because the wider planks are made from older growth trees which are more valuable. The wider planks means each tree produces fewer planks.
AC4 rating is the first level specifically intended for commercial usage. AC4 rated laminate is suitable for moderately trafficked commercial spaces such as boutiques, offices, salons, and cafes. AC5 rating is the highest durability rating.
The 8mm can be just as durable as the 10mm. But if you installed both, you might notice the 8mm is louder and feels more like plastic instead of wood underfoot. If the subfloor isn't perfectly level, the 8mm laminate installation will split easier and more quickly.
8mm laminate floor is one of the most popular flooring options. It seems to be the happy medium between thick and thin laminate flooring options and provides ideal stability and easy installation. The 8mm thickness is enough to overcome any subfloor imperfections and create a sleek flooring solution.
LVT. They are made of the same polyvinyl chloride material, have similar performance qualities, score equally on durability and life span, are low maintenance and are easy and affordable to install. That said, LVP is the best choice if you are after a hardwood look for your floors.
LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) and LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) are two different types of luxury vinyl flooring. LVT is vinyl flooring designed in a tile shape, whereas LVP is vinyl flooring designed in planks to resemble traditional hardwood floor planks.