Hardwood vs. Luxury Vinyl Plank: Which Should You Install?
The real durability, resale, and lifecycle-cost differences between solid wood, engineered wood, and high-end LVP.
Hardwood and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) are the two most popular floors in U.S. homes today, and they're frequently compared because LVP has gotten genuinely convincing at mid and upper price points. The right answer depends on moisture exposure, household traffic, and how much you care about resale.
Cost over a 20-year horizon
Solid hardwood costs $7–$13/sq ft installed and can be sanded and refinished 3–5 times over its lifetime, easily lasting 50+ years. Premium LVP runs $4–$7.50/sq ft installed and typically lasts 15–25 years before it needs full replacement — it cannot be refinished.
On a 1,000 sq ft footprint, hardwood is $7,000–$13,000 up front plus a $3,500–$6,000 refinish every 10–15 years. LVP is $4,000–$7,500 up front, replaced once or twice. Over 30 years, the totals are surprisingly close in many markets.
Where each one actually wins
Hardwood wins in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and any space where resale value matters — appraisers and buyers still treat real wood as a premium. It also wins in homes with stable humidity and no standing-water risk.
LVP wins in kitchens, basements, mudrooms, and rental properties. It's fully waterproof, dent-resistant, dog-claw-resistant, and forgiving of uneven subfloors. In flood-prone areas it's the only sensible choice.
What to look for in either category
For hardwood: ask the species, board width, milled vs. site-finished, and whether the installer uses cleats or staples. Wider boards (5–7") look more current but require flatter subfloor.
For LVP: wear layer thickness is the single best quality indicator. Anything under 12 mil is residential-light only. 20–28 mil handles family-and-pet traffic indefinitely. Cheaper LVP also uses thinner core and shows seam telegraphing within a few years.
Quick checklist
- Measure rooms with 10% waste factored in
- Confirm subfloor moisture levels before install
- Verify wear layer thickness on LVP quotes
- Ask about transitions, thresholds, and shoe molding pricing
- Get a written installation warranty (typically 1 year labor)
FAQs
Does LVP hurt resale value?
Not in bathrooms, kitchens, or basements. In main living areas of mid-to-upper price tier homes, real wood still appraises higher.
Can either go over radiant heat?
Engineered hardwood and quality LVP are both compatible. Solid hardwood is not — it cups and gaps.