Basement Renovation Flooring Showdown ? Part 2: Vinyl Tile vs Engineered Hardwood
As part of our 3-part discussion surrounding which flooring to choose for your new basement renovation, we look at some of the less conventional options ? in Vinyl Tile and Engineered Hardwood flooring.
Having discussed the pros and cons of carpet and laminate when it comes to comfort, appearance, durability and price for your basement's flooring, we look further to other options that can be just as rewarding!
Consider the following when it comes to your basement renovation flooring:
| ? | Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) | Engineered Hardwood |
| Comfort | Comfortable | It's got a warmth and comfort. |
| Upkeep | Easy to clean and resists stains and soil. Incredibly water resistant and very easy to install | A step up from laminate, engineered wood has more water resistance as it has a plywood base, but longer contact with water will destroy this flooring option. Easy to clean |
| Durability | Can be installed with or without grout, depending on how you want it to look. | Have multi-ply construction, giving them greater stability and reduces concerns over expanding or shrinking with the temperature. Flooding is obviously the main reason why not to use wood in a basement. And rooms that are below grade are more prone to flooding. Also, the more the extreme the humidity in a basement, the more the wood needs to expand and contract? And the greater the chance for splits, cracks and fissures. |
| Appearance | Looks like natural stone, ceramic tile or wood. Also very realistic and can mimic ceramic, stone and wood. | There are many beautiful wood looks and a wide array of species of hardwood and even and rustic textures. It is also prefinished, so no on-site finishing issues |
| Cost | If you are looking for more affordable flooring and are a do-it-yourselfer - for your basement, consider vinyl tile. It's a good choice for a quick and easy room makeover.
$3.50 per square feet |
$4-$6 per square foot |
| Resale Value | Because it's peel and stick, it all depends on the humidity of the basement ? not great resale value. | Dependent on scratches and wear and tear and not ideal for basements ? not great resale value unless resold within a few years. |
| Miscellaneous | Multiple shapes and sizes to create unique patterns. | Should only be installed in finished basements. Can be installed as a ?floating floor |
In the end, vinyl tile proves to be an exceptional option with it's basement-like qualities to combat flooding or humidity. Engineered hardwood gives you good bang for your buck and will increase the beauty of your basement renovation tenfold.
Combine these with the carpet vs laminate debate and you've got yourself some mighty thinking to do when it comes to your basement flooring options.
It's your basement renovation after all, but you should know your choices!