Hardwood vs Luxury Vinyl Plank

The most-asked comparison in residential flooring. Here's the honest breakdown.

Cost

• Hardwood: $8 – $16 per sq ft installed.
• LVP: $4 – $9 per sq ft installed.
• Winner: LVP for budget; depends on priorities at higher tiers.

Water resistance

• Hardwood: poor. Spills wiped quickly are fine; standing water damages.
• LVP: fully waterproof. Spills, accidents, dishwasher leaks all fine.
• Winner: LVP, decisively.

Durability against scratches

• Hardwood: scratches from pet nails, furniture, dropped objects. Refinishable.
• LVP: wear-layer-resistant scratches. Quality LVP handles pet nails well.
• Winner: LVP for resistance; hardwood for recovery (refinishing).

Lifespan

• Hardwood: 75 – 100+ years with refinishing along the way.
• LVP: 15 – 30 years residential.
• Winner: Hardwood, by a lot.

Resale value

• Hardwood: premium signal in real estate listings, especially in mid-to-upper price points.
• LVP: acceptable, not premium. Doesn't hurt; doesn't help significantly.
• Winner: Hardwood in $500K+ markets.

Look and feel

• Hardwood: real wood - texture, warmth, feel underfoot, character that develops over years.
• LVP: good imitation; modern premium LVP is increasingly close. Still recognizable as not real wood up close.
• Winner: Hardwood, but the gap has narrowed significantly.

Install time

• Hardwood: 3 – 7 days including acclimation.
• LVP: 1 – 3 days, no cure time.
• Winner: LVP.

When to choose hardwood

• Long-term home (10+ years).
• Raised foundation or willing to do engineered on slab.
• Mid-to-upper tier home where resale matters.
• No major water exposure.
• Aesthetic priority over practicality.

When to choose LVP

• Pet households, especially big dogs.
• Wet rooms (kitchens, bathrooms, laundry).
• Rental properties.
• Budget-priority installs.
• Slab homes where engineered hardwood would also work but LVP is simpler.

Mixed approach (most common today)

Hardwood (or engineered) in living/dining/bedrooms + LVP in kitchens/baths/laundry. Color-matched. Best of both.

Free in-home estimate with both samples.