Engineered wood or LVT?

[arabellaL]

I know I know, this has been discussed to death but I need a final canvassing of opinions.

Need to screed and lay floor on a large hallway and open plan kitchen/diner (we'll carpet the living room) but can't decide between engineered wood and LVT.

Prefer the look of real wood but don't love the idea of having to reoil such a huge area and it scratching more easily.

LVT feels more soulless to me but the warmth of it appeals as we're not going for underfloor heating and the fact it's virtually maintenance free.

Is there actually any LVT that is both affordable and looks like real wood?

Neither compare to real wood, we don't find the re-fresh once every few years an issue. It gets a really lovely patina as it wears in. I wouldn't be happy engineered wood as it looks scruffy after a few years in a high traffic area, cant comment on lvt. Once it gets like that the whole lot needs to be replaced. Good wood floors are there for life.

Would love real wood but with a whole renovation we don't have the budget for it

How about wood effect tiles? They won’t have the plastic look and are very good with UFH

We have the same dilemma. I think we’re going to go with karndean. We have dogs and it’s a small holding. Wood will get wrecked. I like to just be able to mop and go!

We have engineered wood - which contrary to popular belief IS real wood that has been engineered to make it far more stable than non engineered wood. It replaced the previous owner’s LVT which although wasn’t cheap (he left us the invoice), in comparison to EW looked and sounded very cheap.
We bought planks with a thicker top layer, it’s oak and very hard wearing. After 5 years there are no obvious scratches on it, despite having kids, dogs and cats marauding all over it. We have never needed to do anything to it other than vacuum it and mop it once a week. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. This is the one we have, which suits our home style.
https://www.woodfloorwarehouse.co.uk/library-distressed-engineered-oak

Do you have UFH? If so, what about tiles instead?

We've recently renovated and were surprised, that in some ranges, the solid wood was cheaper than engineered! It also means it can be sanded down more times in future- IF needed.

We used woodpecker and the York range. Engineered, Solid & Wood Design Floors | Woodpecker Flooring

The top of engineered is exactly the same as hard wood - there shouldn't be any difference wear wise between the 2. Engineered is more practical, as it's base means it can handle temperature fluctuations better.

I'd go for a distressed look engineered and any scratches etc will just add to the effect.

Some laminates look and feel much more realistic than LVT, and a good one can be waterproof (e.g. some of the Quickstep range). Getting the underlay right is important (for sound).

If you do go for LVT, I found Amtico to be better than Karndean for wood effect.

I was planning on EW but can no longer afford it. You need the best quality and at least 3mm top layer in order for it to last, and this can be pricey.

Engineered wood is literally real wood! But with a more stable layer underneath!

It is yes, but it's a thin layer that cannot be repeatedly resurfaced like solid wood can.

Some LVT which is overlooked is polyflor. They have a range for industrial and commercial properties so very hard wearing. We've have imitation concrete tiles in this and it is excellent, although expensive. Worth getting a sample and looking at.

Would you say a wood effect laminate (waterproof one) rather than a Amtico wood effect look better in a new kitchen, dining and snug extension?

@LindaDawn , my personal preference is for the laminate in terms of appearance, especially if it is extending beyond the kitchen itself. I'd recommend taking a look at the Quickstep website. You can order samples if there isn't a supplier near you.

Cost-wise, Amtico is actually more expensive (although I have not looked into fitting costs which may offset this). I think LVT had an edge because it was more hardwearing / waterproof than laminate, but the latter has improved a lot in recent years as I understand it.

Can I ask which flooring you are going with please.

I'm likely to go for this range:

https://www.quick-step.co.uk/en-gb/laminate/water-resistant-laminate

Probably the Classic Oak Beige.

Thanks that is very helpful. Think I will take a look at Amtico again. Couldn’t find a wood effect one I liked previously. Don’t want a distressed wood effect more a contemporary wood effect. Modular has some that I like. Can’t believe how difficult it is to choose. Will also look at Quickstep laminate although I had ruled it out as that is what we have had down for past 18 years and had a washing machine leak which lifted some tiles so a bit put off but as you say they may have improved by now.

This looks lovely. Are you going for laminate then because it will be cheaper and looks more realistic? Also what room are you going to have it in please? Ours is for a new extension including the kitchen. Also I know LVT is very difficult to lay and the good experienced fitter is key to it LVT looking good. Is laminate much easier to fit and cheaper?

If you like Amtico, try the Hushed Oak - it's pale with very little grain and would look good in a contemporary setting. It's expensive, normally, but currently on offer with this supplier:

https://storiesflooring.co.uk/products/amtico-click-smart-wood-hushed-oak-sb5w3084

Yes, I'm mostly going for the laminate for cost and appearance reasons. I ordered a sample of the Amtico Hushed Oak and it looks lovely, but in environmental terms I think it is worse than laminate, which is not made of plastic as the LVT is. Also, just knowing it's made of plastic would bug me I think.

The flooring will be in the hall and kitchen only (carpet everywhere else in a similar tone). The front door is at a 45 degree angle to the property, so the planks will be laid at right angles to the threshold - i.e. diagonally throughout the space. I wondered about having it in the bathroom too, as they say that's possible, but need to think about that.

In terms of fitting, my understanding is that there is not much difference. Bear in mind that some laminates are glued down and others click into place like the one I'm going for - that might make a difference. I prefer the idea of a click fit system as it might prove less problematic if I had to take up a section of floor at some point, but I need to look into that further.

Sadly I am always wanting something that is in its infancy but you can get in a very limited range in the UK real wood veneer LVT. Actual wood, very thin with a coating on but in LVT so technically there would be no repeated pattern unless they literally slice through the same plank of wood for the veneer and don't shuffle it in packs. There are lots in the US but just a few here.

https://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk/vinyl-flooring/plank-effect/wspc-vinyl-flooring.html

There is also a laminate that has real wood veneer too, not suggesting that but just pointing out that it is out there https://www.woodlamuk.com/natural-wood-veneer-laminates-range/

Our LVT looks and feels like wood, it’s quite textured. Everyone comments and loves it. Especially not having to run at it if it gets wet before you notice it to get the water up

@ChewyYetDelicious , that's interesting... I wonder what the top layer is treated with? I can see how the underneath is waterproof, but presumably you'd still have to mop up any spills to protect the wood layer. Obviously it couldn't be sanded down either. As you say, it's in it's infancy, so there's an element of uncertainty in terms of how it wears over time.

I used to work as a cleaner many many years ago and loved the Amtico in some of the houses I cleaned. It’s very durable and I opted for it myself when it came to choose the flooring for my own place. It’s roughly £40/sm . Just make sure you choose the right people to fit it.

@ClematisBlue49 All they are doing is replacing the printed layer with a real wood veneer layer. The top layer as always will be a clear wear layer just like it is now. It is all glued together with high pressure and heat to give a durable floor.

We have engineered wood in our rental and I hate it. It marks if you look at it wrong, it's so blinking soft, and I think the protective layer either hasn't been oiled or the LLs cleaner bleached it off, so it is absorbs anything you use to clean it and is a nightmare.

Anyway, the main thing I wanted to tell you is the downstairs room that has it takes 1.5 - 2 hours longer to heat up than our massive flagstones elsewhere. I know because I have run extensive tests with a gun (because the rest of our house has been zoned wrong). I was really, really surprised. I thought flagstones would take far longer than wood to heat up, but no. So, that room is more often than not a lot colder than the rest of the downstairs. It doesn't make sense to me and I don't know why, but though I should mention it.