Flooring types compared: LVP, tile, hardwood and laminate

Every flooring type is a trade-off between looks, water resistance, comfort underfoot, cost and how long it lasts. New England adds mudrooms, snowmelt, sand and cold slabs to the list. Here is how the main options compare.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP)

The most popular choice for busy households. Rigid-core LVP is waterproof, warm underfoot, quiet with a good underlayment, and clicks together over most existing floors. It is the easiest floor to live with in kitchens, basements and mudrooms. Look at the wear layer: 12 mil suits most homes, 20 mil or more suits pets, kids and light commercial use.

Porcelain tile

The hardest-wearing floor you can buy. Porcelain shrugs off water, salt and dog nails, and it is the best partner for radiant floor heat. The trade-offs are a cold, hard surface without heat, and grout lines to keep clean. Wood-look porcelain planks give the look of hardwood with none of the water worries.

Hardwood and engineered wood

Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished for generations and is what many buyers expect in living and dining rooms. Engineered wood has a real wood top layer over a stable core, so it handles seasonal humidity swings and basements far better, and many can go over radiant heat. Neither likes standing water, so think twice in full bathrooms and entries.

Laminate

Modern laminate is tough against scratches and dents and often costs less than LVP. Newer water-resistant lines handle spills, but most laminate still does not tolerate standing water or flooding the way LVP and tile do.

Room by room

• Kitchen: LVP, porcelain or engineered wood. See kitchen flooring options.
• Bathroom: porcelain tile, ideally with heat, or LVP.
• Basement: rigid-core LVP over a vapor barrier.
• Mudroom: porcelain or LVP; skip solid wood.
• Living and bedrooms: anything; wood and engineered wood are the classic choice.

Ordering the right amount

Order 10% extra for straight lay and about 15% for diagonal or herringbone, and keep a spare box for future repairs. The room area calculator and flooring finder get you to a number and a direction fast. Professional flooring installation is quoted separately.

Common questions

What is the most durable flooring?

Porcelain tile is the hardest-wearing. Among warmer, softer floors, a rigid-core LVP with a thick wear layer holds up best to kids and pets.

Is LVP better than hardwood?

For water resistance and ease of care, yes. Hardwood can be refinished and is still preferred by many buyers for main living spaces.

Can you put flooring over radiant heat?

Tile and stone are ideal. Many engineered wood and LVP products are rated for radiant heat; check the product specs for the maximum surface temperature.