Hardwood vs. Laminate vs. Vinyl Flooring: Which One Is Right for Your Home?
Hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, carpet—have you ever walked into a home and instantly noticed the floors? Flooring has a huge impact on how a space feels. It can make a home feel warm, elegant, and updated… or, let’s be honest, a little outdated. If you’re planning a remodel, flooring is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make, and choosing the right option can affect not just how your home looks, but how it lives day to day.
Hi, I’m Charlie from Armada Design and Build in Belleview. Today, I’m breaking down the three most popular flooring options we see homeowners choosing right now: hardwood, laminate, and vinyl. We’ll talk about cost, durability, style, and which one might be the best fit for your lifestyle.
Hardwood Flooring: Timeless and Valuable
Let’s start with the classic—real hardwood floors. Hardwood is timeless, beautiful, and adds serious value to your home. There’s just something about the natural look and the sound of real wood under your feet that’s hard to beat.
That said, hardwood does come with a higher price tag. Real hardwood flooring can run anywhere from about $8 up to $15, $20, or more per square foot installed, depending on the wood species, plank size, and overall project scope.
The upside is longevity. If you take care of hardwood floors, they can last for decades and even be refinished multiple times. The downside is durability in busy households. Hardwood scratches, it doesn’t love water, and pets with sharp nails can quickly become your floor’s worst enemy.
If you want classic beauty and don’t mind a little upkeep, hardwood is still one of the best flooring investments you can make.
Laminate Flooring: Affordable and Tough
Next up is laminate flooring. Laminate has come a long way over the last five to eight years and has become extremely popular—and for good reason. Think of laminate as hardwood’s more affordable and more durable cousin.
Laminate flooring typically costs around $3 to $7, sometimes up to $8 or $10 per square foot installed. It’s highly scratch-resistant and incredibly tough, making it a great option for homes with kids, pets, or high traffic areas. In many cases, it’s almost bulletproof compared to hardwood.
The trade-off is that laminate can’t be refinished or color-changed once it’s installed. It also has a slightly different sound underfoot than real wood. That said, from a design standpoint, modern laminate looks very realistic. Most guests won’t even realize it’s not real hardwood unless they’re paying close attention.
If durability and affordability are high on your priority list, laminate is a strong contender.
Vinyl Flooring: Waterproof and Versatile
Finally, there’s vinyl flooring. If you’re picturing old-school vinyl from decades ago, forget it. This is not your grandma’s vinyl. Modern vinyl flooring is stylish, versatile, and built to handle real life.
Vinyl plank flooring usually runs around $4 to $10 per square foot installed. It’s easy to clean, stands up well to wear and tear, and offers excellent waterproof options. While it may not be quite as tough as laminate in every scenario, it performs exceptionally well in moisture-prone areas.
Vinyl can mimic just about any look—wood, stone, and even tile—making it a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements where moisture is always a concern.
Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Home
So, what’s the bottom line?
If you want timeless elegance and don’t mind a little maintenance, hardwood is hard to beat. If you’re looking for an affordable option that stands up to scratches and busy households, laminate might be your best friend. And if you want something waterproof, low-maintenance, and versatile, vinyl has your back.
At Armada Design and Build, we work with all three options and help homeowners choose the flooring that fits their lifestyle, budget, and long-term goals. From selection to installation, we handle the entire process so there’s no guesswork or stress.
Don’t let the wrong flooring choice trip you up. Whether it’s hardwood, laminate, or vinyl, we’ll make sure your floors look amazing for years to come. Give us a call at Armada Design and Build in Belleview, and let’s get started on your next remodel.
