Both hardwood and vinyl flooring are highly popular flooring options. Hardwood has a timeless classic feel, while vinyl gives you a huge range of design choices.
To help you decide which works best for you, we’ve taken a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Advantages of hardwood flooring
For character and charm, hardwood floors are hard to beat. You can choose from different colours and styles, and the unique patterns and swirls of real wood bring personality to any room.
Hardwood is also an eco-friendly option if it’s made of wood derived from sustainable sources. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is the best-known accredited sustainability certification scheme. The FSC guarantees the sustainability of the source forests – it also ensures that environmentally responsible practices are followed during manufacture and distribution.
A significant advantage of timber flooring is its durability. With regular maintenance, it can last for decades. And refinishing will remove any wear and tear to leave the wood floor looking as pristine as when it was first fitted.
Disadvantages of hardwood flooring
The main disadvantage of hardwood flooring is the price. It’s more expensive than vinyl and other flooring options. However, you’re paying for the quality of the wood.
Another drawback is the maintenance required to keep hardwood flooring in perfect condition. While it’s more durable than vinyl over the long term, it will need regular refinishing. This means sanding the surface to remove scratches, stains and other damage and then applying a lacquer or oil.
A good varnish finish will help to protect the wood from scratches and dents. However, water damage is a different matter. A hardwood floor would have to be replaced if it suffered significant water damage.
Hardwood floors are nosier underfoot than vinyl, but you could add an underlay to minimise the sound of footsteps.
Advantages of vinyl flooring
One of the main advantages of vinyl flooring compared to hardwood flooring is price. Vinyl is good value for money as it’s durable and hardwearing.
Another benefit of vinyl is the huge choice of designs. With vinyl flooring, you have endless design possibilities with different colours, patterns, styles and finishes to choose from.
You could opt for a real wood or stone effect finish giving the appearance of a natural material but without the cost. The techniques used to produce the patterns on vinyl flooring offer a highly authentic look and texture.
In addition, vinyl flooring doesn’t require maintenance in the way a hardwood floor does. It’s easy to clean with simple mopping. A vinyl floor is more scratch resistant than wood and has a moisture resistance that hardwood flooring lacks.
Vinyl and hardwood flooring are both compatible with underfloor heating. However, vinyl is slightly more conducive as it’s an excellent thermal conductor.
Vinyl flooring is also quieter underfoot and offers a degree of soundproofing.
The disadvantages of vinyl flooring
The disadvantage of vinyl flooring compared to hardwood flooring is that it won’t last as long. Although it’s a hardwearing material, it will eventually succumb to wear and tear.
While damage to hardwood can be removed by refinishing, if vinyl is damaged, it can’t be repaired.
What flooring works best for you?
FineLine Flooring specialises in supplying and installing flooring solutions for domestic, commercial and public sectors.
Our flooring installers are all CSCS registered and monitored to the highest standards. We meet all health and safety guidelines and are fully covered for commercial and employer’s liability insurance.
For any questions, or to receive a quote, please contact us on 01256 701569 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.