Generally, wood and engineered wood&#;that is, layers of plywood and other materials topped with a thin slice of real hardwood veneer and a protective coating&#;don&#;t stand up well in high-traffic areas. When faced with the abrasion machine in Consumer Reports&#; surface-wear tests&#;a stand-in for the abuse of high-traffic areas&#;most of the prefinished solid-wood and engineered-wood products in our recent evaluations received only a satisfactory or less-than-satisfactory rating.
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The unimpressive performance of prefinished solid wood has to do in part with the upper &#;wear layer&#;&#;polyurethane, for instance&#;that manufacturers apply to floorboards. When Consumer Reports tests these two wood flooring types, the resulting wear is visible more quickly than for other types of flooring.
&#;Laminate and vinyl products are generally made of tougher stuff,&#; says Ciufo. Porcelain is even better for wear resistance, he adds, but it&#;s more expensive and trickier to install and repair.
Our top-performing flooring products in laminate and porcelain tile, and most top-performing vinyls, get superlative ratings not just for resisting foot traffic, but also stains and sunlight. But note that daily sweeping and regular maintenance is essential to maintaining the integrity of a floor&#;s finish, regardless of the material.
Now, however, the holy grail of flooring&#;the look of wood plus the strength of tile&#;is a reality. Porcelain tile, a relatively new flooring type, doesn&#;t have the &#;give&#; of a new wood floor, but appearance-wise, it&#;s a pretty good facsimile. And Consumer Reports&#; tests found that it&#;s tough enough to hold up in highly trafficked areas like hallways, kitchens, and basement dens.
&#;Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,&#; says Ciufo. &#;It doesn&#;t wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn&#;t fade, it&#;s waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet. Porcelain tile is the best choice for bathrooms, mudrooms, laundry rooms&#;and probably kitchens.&#; Why the qualifier for kitchens? "It may crack when something heavy is dropped on it," Ciufo says. Tile floors are also unforgiving when it comes to dropped glassware or dishes.
Before you make your final choice, consider these key factors.
&#; Vinyl, tile, and most prefinished solid flooring types are better choices when it comes to formaldehyde emissions. Just be sure to use formaldehyde-free glues when installing those materials. Prefinished solid bamboo, engineered wood, and laminates are made with glues and resins that can emit formaldehyde.
&#; If you&#;re worried that lower-cost laminate and vinyl will look fake, our experts say to mix up planks from different boxes as you lay them down. That helps to break up a repetitive pattern.
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Many homeowners desire quality, durable flooring that will last. Whether you have a large family with playful kids or love to host and entertain gatherings, floors take on a lot of foot traffic, spilled drinks and more. So how can a homeowner ensure that their flooring will last for years to come? And what flooring is durable enough? We&#;ve got you covered! Twenty & Oak breaks down the top four durable flooring options for your home.
In general, vinyl flooring is a highly durable multi-layer flooring option and is excellent for high traffic areas, like hallways and especially kitchens, where soft underfooting can alleviate a tired chef's feet. Plus, vinyl flooring is extremely easy to maintain, with both water-resistant and spill-resistant qualities. To suit any style or tastes, vinyl plank and tile comes in a variety of colors and patterns to resemble anything from wood to natural stone and concrete.
Shop Vinyl Plank and Tile FlooringWhen choosing vinyl flooring, one thing to keep in mind is that vinyl sheet flooring typically comes in 12-foot rolls. This works great for rooms that are 12 feet wide or less. However, if your space is wider, you may create an exposed seam, which can invite moisture and damage the subfloor&#;just something to consider.
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Shop Vinyl Sheet FlooringHardwood flooring is another durable flooring option with a gorgeous natural appearance. However, even the most durable hardwoods with a high rating on the Janka scale can scratch. To some homeowners, scratches add character, but others prefer a sleek wood look. The redeeming feature of hardwoods is that they can be sanded, refinished and restored back to the original condition.
The hardwood species you choose plays a major role in durability, as well as the coating. For example, Palmetto Road hardwoods offer eight coats of finish that protect from scratches and dents. The Hearthwood hardwood brand offers a WetWorx Splatter and Spill Guard coating, an innovative technology that protects the plank&#;s six sides. Whether choosing solid or engineered construction, hardwood flooring finishes are identical, within each manufacturer category.
Shop All Hardwood FlooringRaintree Flooring Aspen Estates, First Flurry
Waterproof hardwoods, such as the revolutionary Raintree flooring, offer the natural beauty of authentic hardwoods with exceptional performance of rigid core flooring. It&#;s constructed of 1.2 mm genuine hardwood veneer bonded with a dense 5 mm NINJA Core H2O&#;, which makes it stronger than engineered woods and wood plastic composite (WPC) flooring. Raintree has not only the ability to withstand topical spills and puddles, but also moisture and high-humidity environments. Waterproof hardwoods can help prevent cupping and buckling and can even be installed in basements!
While waterproof hardwood flooring is fairly new to the market, there are many practical reasons to purchase this multi-layer flooring. Raintree waterproof hardwoods are sustainable, offer heat resistance through the NINJA Core technology and offer acoustical backing with a 1 mm Irradiated Cross-linked Polyethylene (IXPE) foam padding. The best part is that waterproof hardwoods are actually quite affordable!
Shop All Waterproof Hardwood FlooringPalmetto Road Brunswick, Coastal Fog
Laminate flooring is designed to last and has extremely low maintenance. One of the most durable flooring options, laminate is scratch-resistant, spill-resistant and offers acoustical properties to soften each step. Laminate also comes in an extensive variety of colors and patterns to suit every taste and decor style.
Laminate&#;s durability is due to a makeup of several strong layers of materials, from the top wear layer to the base bottom layer. A transparent top layer can withstand scratches from heavy furniture and rowdy dogs (and their claws) running around the house. For the most durable laminate floors, seek a higher AC (Abrasion Class) rating, which ranks a laminate&#;s resistance to abrasion, impact, stains and more. A laminate AC rating ranges from a moderate AC1 to a heavy-duty AC5. (You should find this on each laminate&#;s specifications.)
At Twenty & Oak, we have several durable laminate brands that fit this bill. Take a look at Palmetto Road&#;s laminate (AC4), which offers gorgeous wood visuals and is perfect for busy households and families with pets and kids. Beauflor laminate (AC5) is another option, backed by fade-, stain- and water-resistant warranties.
Laminate is also water-resistant, offering a somewhat protective barrier; however, it&#;s not entirely waterproof. You might want to think twice about laying laminate down in moisture-prone bathrooms and kitchens where accidental puddles may occur.
Shop Laminate Flooring OptionsSometimes, your floors are only as good as their subfloor. When you decide to install new flooring and go to replace the existing floors, check the condition of the subfloor. The subfloor should offer a flat surface (especially for new flooring with click locking systems) and be free from moisture. Whether you remove subfloors that have been glued down or floated, this can also add to the overall installation cost.
Find your perfect floor with our Floor Genius Quiz and be sure to peruse our virtual flooring showroom. Once you discover our most durable flooring options, order a few samples of vinyl, hardwood, waterproof hardwood and laminate to see how they look in your home.
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