Tiles made from hard materials like ceramic or porcelain are among the most scratch-resistant flooring. The strength of tile is superior to many other household flooring materials. Tile flooring comes in a wide range of designs that can make a beautiful addition to almost any room.
Consider engineered hardwood with the most scratch-resistant finish available. Go for the hardest wood you can find, such as teak, mesquite, or hard maple. Wood with a matte or low-gloss look will do a better job at hiding scratches. And be sure to finish your floor with a scratch-resistant finish.
Laminate and LVT/LVP flooring are both extremely durable, but they have their weaknesses. Laminate is prone to scratches and chipped corners over time, so vinyl is probably a better choice for your home if you have pets. LVT/LVP is scratch-resistant, but it's more vulnerable to denting and tearing.
Laminate – Most Scratch Resistant
So, if you're thinking about installing some new flooring in your home and want something that will avoid the most scratches, laminate may be your best bet.
Selecting a floor such as Hickory, Hard Maple or White Oak can protect your floor from damage, as these hardwoods are less susceptible to scratches than softer woods like Pine, Cherry or Black Walnut. Hardwoods with more dramatic grain patterns can help to hide scratches more easily.
Scratches, Dents and Other Small Marks
Due to the fact that engineered flooring has a top layer of solid wood it is actually susceptible to the same drawbacks of having solid hardwood floors such as easily being scratched and dented.
Scratch-resistant finishes
Given that the actual surface of engineered wood flooring is the same as that of solid hardwood flooring, the two are both equally resistant to scratching. Instead, the main factor in their scratch-resistance is how they're treated.
Vinyl has a longer lifespan and better overall durability than laminate. Don't forget to factor in your budget, however. Vinyl flooring may be more expensive than laminate flooring, especially if you choose luxury vinyl flooring.
Vinyl stands up the best against excess moisture and spills, and it can be less expensive than laminate. However, laminate gives a more realistic wood look to enhance the design aesthetic in your home.
If you have pets and kids causing a ruckus in the house, vinyl does not scratch easily, chip or suffer any kind of major damage that is going to make it look bad. Cleaning and maintenance of vinyl plank flooring is easy. Sweeping or vacuuming is all that's needed for daily maintenance.
So, does LVP, or luxury vinyl plank, flooring scratch easily? On average, LVP flooring does not scratch or scuff easily, making it the perfect floor for pets and children. However, they can still roughen if you move heavy furniture without pads or a hidden nail under your belongings scratch the floors.
The short answer is that there isn't any laminate flooring on the market that's totally scratch proof. It's just a fact that any flooring material, from natural wood to engineered timber or hybrid flooring, can be damaged.
Tile Flooring
Porcelain and ceramic are some of the longest lasting flooring materials available, and they require little maintenance. Tile flooring is also moisture resistant, making it the perfect choice for areas where spills are common like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Laminate flooring also wins out over vinyl when it comes to environmental sustainability. Vinyl is produced using petroleum, which isn't a renewable resource. Its production generates toxic chemicals.
Both flooring types are compatible with underfloor heating, although vinyl is slightly more efficient. Vinyl floors have the lowest thermal resistance of all Pergo flooring solutions and act as excellent thermal conductors.
To keep your laminate floors fresh, mop them every two months. Damp mops (a.k.a. microfiber mops) are gentle enough to use on laminate floors. If you're going to use a regular mop, just wring it out until it's almost completely dry.
Ease of cleaning, chances for scratches, traction, and moisture damage are all considerations in choosing the best flooring for homes with pets. Both laminate and luxury vinyl flooring are great choices but if the pet is prone to accidents, luxury vinyl is the way to go.
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.
Bottom Line. For a floor covering that looks exactly like solid hardwood, but is easier to maintain, engineered flooring is your best choice. If you are looking to save money on your floor covering, laminate flooring is a better choice than engineered hardwood flooring, especially when coupled with self-installation.
Oak Flooring will scratch. Wood Flooring will scratch. Being a natural product there is truly no way of getting away from this fact. Scratches however need not necessarily be looked at as a bad thing with wooden flooring.
Engineered Hardwood Floors
The sub-layers of engineered flooring can be of the same species or of different species, while the top layer is always high-quality wood. The durability of engineered floors means that they can better withstand scratches from your pet's nails.
Engineered flooring can be purchased for $2 to $10 per square foot. Laminate flooring costs $1 to $3 per square foot. The cost to install flooring is approximately $2 to $4 per square foot. Floating floors can be cheaper to install, while finishing wood floors onsite is more expensive.