Hardwood, engineered, vinyl or laminate: which floor for which room
There’s no single best floor. There’s the right one for the room, the budget and the people who live there.
The materials
- Solid hardwood
- Wood all the way through. It can be sanded and refinished many times over its life. It reacts to moisture, so it’s not for wet rooms.
- Engineered hardwood
- A real wood surface over a stable plywood or composite core. It moves less than solid wood, and many products can go over concrete or radiant heat. A thick top layer can be refinished.
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP)
- A printed wood look over a vinyl or rigid core. Water-resistant and easy to clean. Quality depends a lot on the wear layer.
- Laminate
- A photo layer under a hard, scratch-resistant surface over a fiberboard core. A good value for dry rooms.
- Bamboo
- Hard and distinctive. Treat it like wood when it comes to moisture.
- Cork
- Soft, warm and quiet underfoot. Good for bedrooms and home offices.
Room by room
| Room | Good choices | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living and dining | Hardwood, engineered | Warm look, can be refinished |
| Bedrooms | Any. Laminate or cork for value and comfort | Low traffic, little water |
| Kitchen | LVP, engineered | Wipe spills fast on wood |
| Bathroom and laundry | LVP | Water resistance comes first |
| On a slab or ground floor | LVP, engineered | Better with possible moisture |
| Condo, upper floors | Any approved floor over rated underlayment | HOA sound rules |
| Pets and kids | LVP, laminate | Resist scratches and spills |
| Stairs | Treads and nosings that match the floor | One continuous look |
Five questions before you choose
- Will the room get wet?
- Do you want to refinish the floor someday?
- Is there radiant heat? Check the manufacturer’s rating.
- Does your HOA have flooring or sound rules?
- What’s the budget once removal, prep and trim are included?
Not sure? Ask us for samples. Seeing a plank in your own light beats any photo.
