LVT or laminate

[Nerdymummy]

We are looking to put new flooring down in house we moved to recently. I am looking for something hard wearing due to have pets and children, and that looks good. We are trying to decide between LVT and laminate but not sure what to go for and what looks best. Has anyone got any recommendations on what is best. Thanks

We have had a bad experience with LVT but that was down to the fitting not the product. If you go for LVT just make sure your base is absolutely bang on level before the LVT goes down and span the shortest way across the room

Thank you. The shop we went to said LVT was better but I don’t know anyone with it so we were not sure which one to go with

I much prefer LVT- less slippy for dogs and children and very hard wearing. Whichever you get make sure it is laid properly- badly fitted laminate or LVT does not look good and damages more easily

We are planning to get it laid by a professional which ever we get so hopefully be done properly and they said would have a guarantee. Thanks so much

We have LVT and love it. Kids absolutely test it to the limits and no scratches or issues.

Out of interest what price point did you go for. I’m wondering how much difference there is between the most expensive and cheapest. Thanks so much for answering

Don't have LVT, but we put down Quikstep laminate almost 10 years ago now and it still looks as good as new. If you go laminate, I believe Quikstep is one of the best brands to get (my carpet fitter uncle advised me this!)

LVT.
Also didn’t need to go the shortest way across the room, went with the length and looks great. No gap between and can be cut around any shape.

We replaced all our laminate with LVT. It’s warmer, softer, less slippy, looks better and is more hard wearing

We laid LVT ourselves in our bathroom and plan to put it in our kitchen next year. We went with Quickstep mainly because we liked the colour/pattern repeat. We do have laminate (14 plank variation pattern, German company rather than the standard 7 plank variation in pattern) but I think when you have young children and pets and the risk of spills then LVT as it won't warp if it gets wet.

There are 3 types of LVT, glue down like Karndean, Clicklock and loose lay. We went with Clicklock as we laid it ourselves. For glue down they will want to level the floor otherwise I believe it shows every undulation in the floor. Lots of videos on YouTube showing installation.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate everyone’s help

Could you not get real wood? It's much more hard-wearing, and if it gets scratched over time, you can gently sand and reoil/varnish. It also doesn't make the clicky sound when pets walk on it that laminate does. It will last you do much longer than either laminate or vinyl. Easily 200 or 300 years.

The main thing putting us off wood is the cost. I am a carer for my youngest so stay at home and have to be a bit careful with money especially as the living room is quite big, his disability means we only currently have one wage coming into house. I would have loved wood if it was in the budget. I absolutely love wooden floors and would happily have done if could

@Nerdymummy Are you sure wood is more expensive? I just bought lovely wide reclaimed oak boards (newly machined out of large 100 year old beams, so they look new as in smooth, no scratches, etc but are seasoned and have lovely colour and that density only old slow grown wood has) from our localish joinery for 35 pounds/sqm. They cut them as thick as I liked , so I specified 22mm, that means it can be sanded loads of time if needed and is super sturdy. A can of Osmo oil, and an afternoon oiling, and it should last for another 300 years (that's how long the previous floors had lasted, until the previous owners abandoned the place and it became derelict and the floors eventually got destroyed by rot). We just went on holiday and stayed at a lovely apartment. They had engineered wood, and a previous guest's dog did some deep scratching in 1 area, revealing the underlying mdf, which looks not very appealing, and it's of vourse no longer water proof. There is nothing they can do to get the scratches out. If it had been real wooden boards, a gentle sand and a bit of re-oiling, and all done at a cost of pennies. They now have to take out the fitted kitchen cupboards, lift the boards, replace them if they have identical ones left, otherwise will need to redo the entire floor... so it's a massive cost.

Where do you find reclaimed oak boards as would be interested in that but not sure where would even find. Thanks for the idea.

I bought a lot from Winckleigh Timber. Their reclaimed golden pine boards are also very, very good and take an oak stain very well.
https://www.winkleightimber.co.uk/product-category/flooring/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyJaam4C0gAMVVvHtCh249g4KEAAYASAAEgKTIvD_BwE

Thank you