Engineered wood vs LVT

If you’re looking for flooring that’s warm, welcoming and works in both modern and traditional interiors, engineered wood is a good choice. But is a real wood floor right for your lifestyle? Would you prefer a wood-look floor that’s more practical and easier to care for, like wood-effect luxury vinyl tiles (LVT)? In this guide, we’ll look at the pros and cons of engineered wood vs LVT, and compare key features to help you decide which one is better suited to your home.

In this guide:

• Engineered wood vs LVT: everything you need to know
• About LVT
• About engineered wood
• Which is cheaper: LVT or engineered wood?
• When to choose LVT vs engineered wood

Engineered wood vs LVT: everything you need to know

Engineered wood and luxury vinyl tiles are premium flooring types, often chosen for hallways or open plan kitchens because of their strength, durability and high-end finish. They both come in a plank format, both can provide that wood look and feel, and both promise to last a really long time.

There are a few ways in which engineered wood and luxury vinyl differ.

About LVT

LVT is a type of smooth flooring that imitates the look and feel of real wood or stone. Each luxury vinyl tile or plank is made up of multiple layers, resulting in a smart and stylish floor with super strength and durability, as well as stain, slip, and water resistance. We call it a wonder floor!

It comes in two types: glue down or click fit.

Glue Down

Click Fit

Learn more about luxury vinyl in our dedicated guide: What is LVT?

Pros:

• LVT is water resistant so it’s a fantastic option for bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms where there’s likely to be spills and splashes.
• Luxury vinyl can replicate an authentic wood or stone look and is even textured with grain, knot and vein detail to feel just like the real natural material. Oak luxury vinyl is a great substitute for real wood, while stone-effect LVT is a warmer and more comfortable alternative to marble, concrete or stone tiles.
• Luxury vinyl flooring is incredibly durable – it has a tough wear and tear layer to deal with heavy use plus a protective coating to reduce scuffs, scratches and stains. Find out more in our luxury vinyl floor care guide.

Cons:

• Luxury vinyl is made from layers of PVC (glue down LVT) or a stone polymer composite (click SPC) so it isn’t biodegradable or environmentally friendly.
• Luxury vinyl can’t be sanded or refinished like engineered wood can, so if an LVT plank happens to become damaged, it will have to be removed – which can be tricky!
• When comparing luxury vinyl vs engineered hardwood side by side, LVT looks more uniform and less natural because the wood-effect pattern is repeated. Some might see this as a good thing – it all depends on personal taste and what kind of look you’re aiming for.

About engineered wood

Engineered wood features a multi-layer or plywood core with a solid hardwood top layer, usually sustainably sourced oak. This makes it cheaper than a hardwood floor because it uses less real wood, and the engineered core is stronger and less susceptible to moisture and temperature changes.

You can find more information on engineered wood in our guide: What is engineered wood flooring?

Pros:

• Engineered wood has an expected lifespan of upwards of 20-40 years or more when properly cared for and maintained. To find out more about how to look after engineered wood, take a look at our engineered wood care guide.
• Engineered wood can be restored by sanding and refinishing, so you’ll have options in years to come should you wish to remove stains or scratches and get it looking like new again. This can usually be done up to two or three times, depending on the thickness of the real wood top layer.
• Engineered wood is the eco-friendlier flooring option as it’s made from sustainably sourced oak and it’s biodegradable.
• Because it’s made from real wood, every plank is unique and natural. This means there may be colour variations, organic knots and different grain patterns, which only adds to its character and beauty. Some might see this feature as a negative – in which case, wood-effect LVT is the better option!
• Having engineered wood flooring can add value to your home so consider it a good investment.

Cons:

• Engineered wood is susceptible to scratches and stains so while it’s strong enough to hold up to heavy footfall, marks and scuffs over time are inevitable in frequently used areas.
• Engineered wood needs regular maintenance, such as waxing or oiling depending on the finish.
• Engineered wood isn’t water resistant and is likely to be damaged by spills or standing water.
• Engineered wood is one of the more expensive flooring options.

Which is cheaper: LVT or engineered wood?

In the battle between LVT vs engineered wood, sometimes cost is the deciding factor. Engineered wood is more expensive than LVT but is usually cheaper than solid hardwood. Luxury vinyl often costs more than other wood-look flooring types – however, premium luxury vinyl brands like Karndean LVT still cost less than top-of-the-range engineered wood. While the initial outlay can be expensive, both LVT and engineered wood have long wear guarantees, so you need to bear that in mind.

Fitting costs are another thing you need to budget for when considering either LVT or engineered wood.  Engineered wood fitting costs start from £26 per square metre for straight planks, and it goes up for herringbone engineered wood. LVT fitting costs start from £15 per square metre for click LVT and £17.50 for dryback LVT, and it’s even more if you’re having herringbone LVT installed. You also need to make sure your subfloor is up to standard for both wood and LVT – and this is something we can arrange at Tapi.

We’d always recommend professional fitting for the best results, but if you’re an experienced DIYer keen to try installing flooring, we have plenty of fitting guides in our Ideas Hub.

When to choose LVT vs engineered wood

If you’re still struggling to choose between LVT and engineered wood, make a note of your main priorities and see which flooring type ticks the most boxes.

Choose LVT if:

• You want a strong and durable floor.
• You want wood-look flooring, but your budget can’t stretch to engineered wood.
• You need water resistant flooring for your bathroom or kitchen.
• You want flooring that’s easy to clean and requires no or little maintenance.

Choose engineered wood if:

• You like the natural look and feel of a genuine wooden floor.
• You want to make a long-term investment in a highly durable floor: engineered wood floors can look great for thirty years or even longer.
• You want to add value to your home: according to estate agents, engineered wood floors can add up to 1-10% to the value of a property.
• You want your flooring to be made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials.
   

Find engineered wood and LVT at Tapi

Need more guidance from flooring experts to help you decide between luxury vinyl and engineered wood? Book a free home visit or head to your local Tapi store to compare samples and talk to our floorologists. We’ve got so many different styles in our flooring collection to suit a variety of lifestyles and budgets, and together, we’ll find the perfect match for your home.