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In this blog post, we’ll compare hardwood, wood-look porcelain tile, and wood-look luxury vinyl tile to help you determine which option is best for your home. Plus, if you scroll to the end of the article, you’ll find an exclusive discount code to help you save on samples!
What Is Hardwood?
Hardwood comes from trees that are cut down and milled into planks. The type of tree, as well as the way the wood is cut, can create various grain patterns. A few popular hardwood options include cherry, walnut, maple, and oak.
What Is Wood-Look Porcelain?
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Porcelain is a type of ceramic made from water, sand, and clay. Once porcelain tiles are formed, they’re baked in a kiln at high heat and glazed before a digital wood grain pattern is printed on their surface.
What Is Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)?
Luxury vinyl tile is made of a type of plastic called PVC (short for polyvinyl chloride). It’s covered in a print film that can imitate the appearance of materials like hardwood and natural stone.
Hardwood: Pros and Cons
Below, explore the advantages and potential drawbacks of hardwood flooring.
The Pros
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Hardwood has a high ROI - When it comes to flooring material options, hardwood usually has the highest return on investment. It’s a great choice if your primary goal is to increase your home’s value.
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Hardwood is naturally beautiful - This natural material is truly beautiful - it’s easy to see why it’s been a popular flooring option for centuries.
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Hardwood is visually versatile - A hardwood floor meshes well with a variety of interior design styles and aesthetics.
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Hardwood is long-lasting - A well-cared-for hardwood floor can last upwards of 100 years.
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Hardwood isn’t as slippery as tile or LVT - Slips, falls, and injuries may be less likely to occur on hardwood than on LVT or porcelain tile.
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Hardwood is comfortable underfoot - Humans and pets alike may appreciate the warmth and comfort of a hardwood floor.
The Cons
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Hardwood is prone to scratches - Pets’ claws, heavy furniture, and dropped items can all damage hardwood floors. In some cases, dents and scratches may add character, but in others, they may take away from the overall aesthetic.
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Hardwood requires regular maintenance - For hardwood to last a century, it will need to be refinished multiple times throughout its lifespan.
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Not all homes allow hardwood - If you live in a condo or townhouse, you’ll need to ensure there are no flooring height constraints. In some cases, installing hardwood may lead to clearance issues with appliances or prevent doors from opening and closing properly.
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Hardwood is susceptible to water damage - Hardwood shouldn’t be used in areas like basements and bathrooms, as standing water can warp and discolor it. In addition, it’s vital to look out for issues like mold and mildew.
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Hardwood is expensive - If you’re looking for a budget-friendly choice, porcelain tile or LVT may be better options. Although the lumber shortage has largely subsided, hardwood prices have remained higher than they were pre-pandemic.
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Hardwood should be installed by a pro - Unless you have experience installing hardwood flooring, it’s recommended that you hire a professional to get the job done. This can add to the hardwood’s overall cost.
Wood-Look Porcelain: Pros and Cons
Next, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of wood-look porcelain tile.
The Pros
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Porcelain tile is very durable - Porcelain tile can last for decades when well-maintained.
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Porcelain tile is low-maintenance - Glazed tile doesn’t need to be sealed or refinished. In most cases, regular cleaning with a broom or vacuum and mop is enough to keep it looking good as new.
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Porcelain tile is water-resistant - Porcelain tile is a great choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, as well as moist climates in general, because it’s resistant to water and all the problems that can come with it, like mold and mildew.
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Wood-look porcelain has lots of variety - While natural hardwood limits you to colors and wood varieties that occur naturally, wood-look porcelain comes in a larger range of shades, including gray and white.
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Porcelain tile is resistant to damage - Unlike hardwood and LVT, porcelain doesn’t scratch easily.
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Porcelain tile is budget-friendly - Compared to genuine hardwood, wood-look porcelain is much easier on your wallet.
The Cons
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You may need to hire a professional for installation - While wood-look porcelain is more DIY-friendly than hardwood, hiring a pro can ensure the tile is installed in such a way that the wood grain looks like it has natural variations rather than a clear, repetitive pattern.
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Wood-look porcelain isn’t as comfortable underfoot - Compared to hardwood and LVT, wood-look porcelain is harder and colder to walk on. Under-floor heating systems, rugs, and anti-fatigue mats can help if this is a concern for you.
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Porcelain tile is very slippery when wet - Small children and those with mobility challenges may find porcelain tile easy to slip on when wet.
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Porcelain tile has a lower ROI - Porcelain can give you a good return on investment, but it generally won’t be as high as that of genuine hardwood.
Luxury Vinyl Tile: Pros and Cons
Finally, we’ll delve into the positives and negatives of LVT.
The Pros
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LVT comes in many style options - Like wood-look porcelain, there’s no shortage of variety when it comes to luxury vinyl tile.
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LVT is affordable - Looking at the price by square foot, luxury vinyl tile is the cheapest option of the three discussed here, with wood-look porcelain as a close second.
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LVT is waterproof - When it’s installed properly, luxury vinyl tile is waterproof and won’t be damaged by moisture or humidity, making it an excellent option for areas like kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and basements.
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LVT is easy to install - Most DIYers can successfully install luxury vinyl tile, which isn’t always the case with porcelain and hardwood. LVT planks either click together, have a peel-and-stick layer, or are glued down. Installing LVT yourself can decrease the overall cost of your renovation project.
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LVT doesn’t require much maintenance - Aside from regular cleaning, there’s no extra maintenance required for luxury vinyl tile.
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LVT is comfortable underfoot - LVT tends to be warmer and softer to stand on than tile or hardwood.
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LVT is quiet - Between hardwood, porcelain tile, and LVT, luxury vinyl tile is the quietest underfoot and can be paired with a soundproofing underlayment.
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LVT can be used for many applications - LVT can be used in any room of the home, as well as in commercial buildings.
The Cons
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LVT comes in shorter planks - Natural hardwood planks are typically longer than LVT planks, so this may give away that your LVT floor isn’t genuine hardwood.
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LVT doesn’t last as long as other options - While LVT is durable, its lifespan isn’t as long as porcelain or hardwood. LVT typically comes with a 10- to 20-year warranty, after which its protective coating may wear down.
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LVT has a lower ROI - Compared to hardwood, luxury vinyl tile doesn’t have as high an ROI.
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LVT can be scratched - Dragging heavy furniture across an LVT floor may leave scratches behind.
Explore Wood-Look Porcelain and LVT at Tilezz.com
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Tilezz.com features a wide variety of natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, glass, and luxury vinyl tile options. Every order comes with fast delivery, insured shipments, and easy returns. Explore our product range here, or click over to our blog for interior design inspiration and DIY installation guides. Finally, don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest!
Exclusive Discount Code
It can be challenging to pick between several flooring options without seeing how they look in your space, but we can make it easier! Just use code XJF6RNZY5BJJ to get 30% off when you purchase four or more samples.
Please note that this code does not apply to full-size tiles and can only be used with samples.