LVT vs LVP vs Hardwood – What’s the Difference?

How often do you hear the acronyms LVT or LVP and wonder what in the world they mean and how you are able to use LVP vs LVT flooring in your home? We define these two flooring options and compare LVT vs LVP vs hardwood for clients who are considering a renovation, an addition or a new build! Let’s begin with the classic and timeless flooring. . .hardwood.

Hardwood Flooring

The distinctive character and elegance of a hand scraped, wide plank hardwood can add so much value to a home – both visually and financially! It’s said 90 percent of homeowners prefer hardwood floors in the main living space. Not only can the decision please you and your family in the moment, but for years to come when the topic of resale is mentioned.

When considering hardwood, there are two types to select from:  hardwood and engineered hardwood. ACo’s website explains it best, “Solid hardwood flooring is milled from a single piece of hardwood and is covered with a protective coating. When installed, it is nailed directly to the subfloor. Because these planks are solid wood, they are affected by the humidity inside a home. Solid hardwood is best for homes where the interior humidity is under 65 percent year round. Engineered hardwood flooring is made of three to five layers of wood that are bonded together using heat and pressure. Engineered hardwood is not as susceptible to the affects of humidity, making it a great choice for kitchen flooring or bathroom flooring.”

Readers might be curious, where should I not install hardwood? We recommend installing a luxury vinyl in lieu of hardwood in areas of extreme high traffic, moisture, or heavy play areas (kids or pets)!

Image: ACo

LVP Flooring — Luxury Vinyl Plank

For spaces within your home or business receiving heavy traffic, muddy boots, an appliance using water – consider a product called luxury vinyl plank (also frequently referred with the acronym, LVP). This product can take on the look of wood or stone with a high resiliency ready for all the fun in a kitchen, utility room, playroom, or even bathroom.

Image: Aco

Another LVP product breaking through the flooring world is Shaw’s Floorte. ACo’s founder David Decker mentions, “One of the vinyl products on the market that I really love is Floorte, a vinyl planked flooring from Shaw.  This vinyl flooring looks like hardwood, but is durable and waterproof. It’s a great choice for high-traffic areas, families with pets or young children, or anyone who is looking for a solution that looks great but can take a beating.”

LVT Flooring — Luxury Vinyl Tile

How about those of you who want the durable, budget-friendly, beautiful surface of vinyl but with a ceramic tile visual? There’s a product for that:  Luxury vinyl tile or LVT. As if vinyl products haven’t proven themselves, another great benefit is sound insulation –the upper level playroom, craft room or laundry room would be a perfect installation area for your favorite LVT product.

Image: Shaw (Available at ACo)

More LVT vs LVP vs Hardwood Info

Still unsure whether to choose LVT or LVP? How would you use hardwood vs LVT vs LVP flooring in your home? If you are considering other flooring options as well, check out ACo’s overview of everything you need to know about choosing the right flooring for your home. Contact us for more guidance on the difference between LVT and LVP or to schedule a free in-home design consultation!

By: Courtney Walker Pope with Polish Interior and Art Design