When we’re shopping for our dream flooring, there’s many factors to take into consideration. One of the most important is how durable it is and if it’s going to stand up to the tests of a busy household, especially if you have pets or children. To answer this question, we’ve put together some of the floors that we think are the most hard wearing and the pros and cons of each.
Solid Wood
A traditional and popular choice, wood has been used on floors for hundreds of years and we can’t see it going out of fashion any time soon. Wood flooring will last for generations if cared for properly and could even outlive those who lay it! Despite its long-life span, solid wood is more likely to scratch and stain than other options. To avoid this, don’t place it rooms that see high exposure to these and refinish and sand your floor every ten years to remove any damage. You also need to be careful of temperature fluctuations, as this can cause the wood to expand. However, if you’re prepared for a little more maintenance, then wood proves to be one of the most durable choices available. Even though real wood tends to have a higher price tag than other options, it does often end up paying for itself.
Laminate
Laminate is the perfect alternative if you enjoy the natural premise of real wood but need something at a cheaper price and easier maintenance. It imitates real wood so well that it’s almost impossible to tell them apart. It’s not likely to last a lifetime like solid or engineered products, but you’ll certainly get a good 10 to 20 years of use out of it. Laminate is also much less likely to scratch and stain, as well as being resistant to water and temperature changes. This means it’s a great choice for busy family households and rooms that see high exposure to these. Laminate is also much easier to keep clean, with only needing a quick sweep and a mop a couple of times a week.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles
This shouldn’t be confused with outdated vinyl sheets, it has been revolutionised to create the highly sophisticated Luxury Vinyl Tiles. Unlike sheet vinyl or cold ceramic tiles, they offer warmth and a soft feeling underfoot, but perhaps the best thing about LVT is that it’s water, scratch and stain proof. Additionally, LVT is incredibly durable and will last for many years after high foot traffic without showing wear. Like laminate, it replicates natural products very convincingly with a plethora of colours, styles and different thicknesses available and is also incredibly easy to maintain and clean.
As you can see, if you put durability as a priority then there are many options to choose from – there’s always something that suits everyone’s needs and budgets.