Article by Fennel Street Flooring
In the past, if you wanted that natural wooden floor appearance then the real stuff was the only way to go. However, with modern technology, vinyl has been created to look like a very realistic wood replica. Despite them looking virtually the same, there are some key differences between the two. This blog post should help weigh out the differences to help you decide which material is right for you and your home.
Durability
As much as hardwood floors have that beautiful and authentic feel to them, because they have to be refinished, it makes it easier for scratches and chips to happen. Vinyl, on the other hand, doesn’t need refinishing which is a big advantage as it is less likely to become scratched.
However, this doesn’t mean that vinyl is completely immune to damage. As the material is usually soft, it can sometimes tear or dent instead. However, this isn’t caused by everyday use, it is more likely to happen if something is dropped on it and is dragged along the floor.
If you do choose to go with hardwood, it is best to pick a stronger wood such as oak or maple as these are most durable and least likely to get damaged. Even though it can sometimes get scratched, overall, hardwood is generally the more durable option.
Maintenance
Of the two, vinyl flooring is the easier option to care for. To clean it, you can use a broom or hoover, however, if it needs a bit of a deeper clean, you can also use a wet mop or polish to refresh it. However, when vinyl is exposed to sunlight, the planks can fade and there is no way to repair them except replacing the actual planks themself.
On the other hand, hardwood should not get wet or it may become damaged, it is important that if anything spills on there, you clean it up immediately. You can still carry out daily cleaning with a dust mop, broom or hoovers that are suitable for the material. There are also products specially designed to deep clean wooden floors as well as waxes which will need to be done occasionally.
Appearance
Vinyl has developed immensely since first being designed. Nowadays it comes in so many different designs to replicate the look and feel of hardwood. Similarly, the actual hardwood has many options to choose from too. You could choose anything from maple, walnut, hickory, oak and more.
Price
This may be a big factor which determines which one you will choose and hardwood is one of the most expensive flooring options. However, if you compare the top of the range vinyl with the bottom of the range wood then you may find a much closer range in price but generally, hardwood is more expensive.
Contact Us
Whether you are looking to buy wood, vinyl or maybe even something else, here at Fennel Street Flooring, we supply a wide range of options for your home. Get in touch with us today on 01509 236 964 to find out more.
