Hardwood vs. LVP: which is right for a Wyoming home?
This is the most common question we get in the showroom. Both are good floors. They are good at different things. Here is how we help customers in Star Valley and Jackson Hole decide.
What each one is
Hardwood is real wood. Solid hardwood is one piece of lumber. Engineered hardwood is a real wood veneer bonded to a plywood or high-density core, which makes it more stable in our dry, high-altitude climate. We carry engineered and solid hardwood from Provenza, Hallmark and Anderson Tuftex.
Luxury vinyl plank, or LVP, is a printed vinyl layer over a rigid or flexible core, protected by a clear wear layer. Modern rigid-core LVP from COREtec, Shaw and Mohawk looks convincingly like wood, is fully waterproof and is very hard to scratch.
Side by side
| Factor | Hardwood | Luxury vinyl plank |
|---|---|---|
| Look and feel | Real wood grain, warm, every plank unique. Adds resale value. | Very realistic print. Repeats patterns every so many planks. Slightly softer underfoot. |
| Water | Will stain, cup or warp if water sits. Not for bathrooms or basements. | Waterproof. Fine in kitchens, baths, basements and mudrooms. |
| Scratches and dents | Scratches and dents show. Harder species like hickory help. Can be refinished. | 20 mil wear layer resists claws and chairs well. Cannot be refinished, but a plank can be replaced. |
| Dry mountain air | Expect seasonal gaps in winter. Engineered handles it better than solid. | Stable. Needs expansion gaps at walls but does not move with humidity. |
| Lifespan | 50 years or more with refinishing. | Typically 15 to 25 years. |
| Installed cost | Roughly 10 to 18 dollars per square foot. | Roughly 6 to 12 dollars per square foot. |
| Availability | Special order, two to three weeks. | Several colors in stock in Thayne. Full catalog by order. |
When hardwood wins
Choose hardwood for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and hallways in a home you plan to keep. It is the floor buyers in Jackson Hole expect in a higher-end home, and it is the only one of the two that can be sanded and refinished when styles change or wear shows. If you love the idea of a floor that ages with the house, this is it.
When LVP wins
Choose LVP for kitchens, basements, mudrooms, bathrooms, rentals and any house with big dogs or small kids. It is the practical answer when water is involved or when you want one continuous floor through wet and dry rooms. It also costs less, installs faster and is often in stock, which matters when you are on a deadline.
The hybrid most of our customers choose
Hardwood in the main living areas and bedrooms, LVP in the kitchen, baths, laundry and basement. Provenza makes hardwood and LVP in matching designs, so the transition between them is subtle. We can show you both samples together so you can see how close they are.
Our take: if the room stays dry and you plan to be in the house for ten years or more, buy hardwood. If water, pets or budget are part of the picture, buy rigid-core LVP and do not look back. Both are floors we would put in our own homes.
Next step
Borrow samples of both from our Thayne or Afton store and set them side by side in the room. Then run your square footage through the estimator to see the real cost difference for your project.