What's The Difference Between Vinyl Timber Effect Flooring And Natural Wood Flooring?

Floors that are beautifully timbered are not only made from natural wood; other engineered materials can be used to make them too.

Wood-like floors can be installed using a wide range of materials aside from natural wood. These include laminate vinyl timber effect floors. They come with bonuses you won't get from natural wood. However, synthetic wood-like floors cannot carry all the natural features of the original wood.

If you are confused about choosing a floor type, you may get to make an informed decision after learning the difference between vinyl timber flooring and hardwood floors.

Defining vinyl and laminate timber effect floor?

The process of lumbering (cutting down forest trees) produces hardwood with natural patterns and features. Most of these characteristics are replicated artificially in vinyl and laminate-composite products. Thanks to advanced printing tech, species of luxury natural trees like Blackbutt and Spotted Gum can be replicated in vinyl and laminate to look like real wood.

Cost of vinyl timber vs cost of natural wood

The price of hardwood and timber floors that are specially engineered is higher than that of vinyl floors. You may be set back by £51 to £95 for a square meter of the natural wood floor - this is the average price. Vinyl floorings can put some savings in your hand.

A square meter of exquisite vinyl timber made from premium quality material will cost between £28 and £40. The least you can get for a square meter of vinyl flooring is £18.

But a cheap vinyl may not last long. And these options may not have the aesthetic appeal that comes with premier pricey vinyl floors. Sheet vinyl doesn't cost as high as tile, but the installation cost is high. Now, when the fitting price is considered, the cost margin between vinyl plank and sheet vinyl floors may not be significant. Some factors may influence how much a vinyl floor may be sold, including texture, design, and custom prints.

What is the durability of vinyl floors?

There is the solid and printed type of vinyl floors. They both have features that could put one before the other in preference.

For solid vinyl floors, the design color is found throughout the entire area of the floor. But it has one issue. Solid vinyl surface is susceptible to scratches and stains as time goes on.

The surface is covered with an invisible wear layer for printed vinyl, which keeps it safe. Due to this protection, printed vinyl lasts longer than the solid version. That said, how long a printed vinyl will last also depends on how thick the layer of protection is. Vinyl wood flooring has a manufacturer warranty of between 20 to 25 years.

If given the right care and maintenance, hardwood floors can last for decades. The resistance of wood flooring to deterioration depends on the wood type in the application. To improve the natural strength of wood floors, treatment for hardwood floors can be used on them. Damaged hardwood floors can be fixed. The repairs range from topping the floor with another finish or simply fixing the damaged part to bring back the floor's aesthetics.

vinyl surface is usually printed to resemble wood, making it possible for them to carry the appearance of many wood types. What decides the price of vinyl planks is the market. But bear in mind for vinyl wood floors, the price difference between regular and luxury wood types may not be much. During installation, paddings can be bonded to vinyl floors and both the look and feel that comes with hardwood floors will be experienced. The extra padding provides more comfort to the feet—improved insulation and energy efficiency result from padding a vinyl wood flooring.

Hardwood floors are different. Many factors can impact the appearance of the wood floor. We are talking about things like:

• Wood color
• Wood finish
• Grade
• Cut
• Species

All of these play a role in giving the wood a unique look. Since different trees produce different woods, the wood type used for making the floor can determine the cost of a natural wood floor.

Will vinyl planks resist water action?

Atmospheric air conditions like moisture and humidity cannot penetrate vinyl floors because they are not permeable. A wet mop can be used on vinyl floors for cleaning, but you can't do this on timber floors. Since vinyl floors are resistant to water, wet rooms, bathrooms, basements, and laundry are places they can be installed.

You may consider laminate floor too

This is a good alternative to wood-like floors where solid or engineered woods are not options. Features of laminate that makes them suitable are:

• Durability
• Resistant to wetness
• Availability in a plethora of stunning styles, colors, and wood effects
• Less pricey than luxury vinyl planks, sometimes

If you need quality floors made from original woods or an affordable alternative wood-like floor, we have a wide range of great-looking floors produced from different materials. Need to install floors? Reach out to your nearest carpet fitters in London.