Wood is a beautiful material that adds warmth and coziness to a home. Unfortunately, there are a lot of situations where it may not be the perfect material for your needs, especially when it comes to flooring. Though traditional hardwood flooring is a wonderful option that can increase your home’s value, it’s not always the best choice, especially in very high-traffic or high-moisture locations.
For that reason, you may want to consider alternatives to traditional hardwood for flooring in those areas. In this article, we’ll discuss the different hardwood flooring alternatives for your Buffalo property that have the appearance of wood, so that you have a strong understanding of which options are best for your specific situation.
Differences Between Wood-Look Flooring Options
Actual Hardwood Flooring
As our first option, hardwood flooring will always look like wood, but some options are better for high-traffic or lightly wet areas. Tropical hardwoods are often naturally much harder and more water resistant than domestic hardwood flooring. Hard maple is another option, and is the flooring of choice for gymnasiums, though it must be properly sealed to avoid warping from moisture. For more sustainable options, look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification mark on the packaging. Hardwood flooring often comes with long finish warranties, and can be refinished for long-term reliability and beauty.
Engineered Hardwood
Engineered hardwood flooring can be refinished as traditional hardwood flooring is, but not as many times. Featuring a layer of refinishable hardwood at the surface, engineered hardwood is designed to resist warping and to be stronger in some cases than traditional hardwood flooring. However, not all engineered hardwood is the same, and it’s important to look for the differences between them before settling on a specific material, as some will be more or less water and wear resistant than others.
Laminate Flooring
Some laminate flooring is water resistant, and a few types will even claim to be waterproof. However, it’s important to check the labeling carefully to ensure that the manufacturer will back up their claims, and it’s of equal importance to check reviews. There are few things as frustrating as getting a beautiful new laminate flooring installed just to discover that it doesn’t actually hold up as well as was claimed by the manufacturer. Reviews will tell you how the situation was handled if there was a warranty issue that arose.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Though vinyl isn’t as warm underfoot as hardwood or laminate, luxury vinyl plank still provides a softer, warmer feel underfoot than ceramic while still remaining waterproof and wear resistant. The surface of your luxury vinyl plank can match a wide range of wood appearances and textures, providing you with the appearance of wood with a more comfortable feel for bare feet. This material goes in like laminate does, providing fast, easy installation and simple repairs if needed down the road.
Vinyl Sheeting
For a complete coverage of your subflooring that provides strong waterproofing and a more comfortable underfoot feel, vinyl sheeting or similar solid sheet flooring provides a great option. Because there are no seams, you don’t have to worry about raised seams wearing faster than the rest of the floor unless you’re covering a very wide space. However, if the flooring is damaged, you’ll often end up with some light seams where the damage is removed and the new piece is placed unless you want to replace the entire floor.
Ceramic Wood-Plank-Look Tile
If you’re looking for the most durable hardwood flooring alternative for your Buffalo home, nothing beats ceramic tile. Today’s options include wood-plank-look larger format tiles that mimic the appearance of hardwood flooring, and if you go with minimal grout spacing in a matching color, that appearance can be almost flawless. Ceramic tile can also be waterproof, provided that your grout and tile are sealed and resealed regularly. However, some individuals don’t care for the hard, cold feel of ceramic tile under bare feet, and if something hard is dropped on the tile, it can break.
By understanding the differences between these hardwood flooring alternatives, Buffalo residents can find the perfect fit for their needs. Whether you need the perfect wood-look flooring for your home or business, the experienced team of flooring professionals at Modern Flooring & Renovations in Buffalo offers laminate, vinyl, plank flooring and more, and are always ready to help! Why not take a minute to look over our website options or reach out to our friendly team today to get started?
