Tile Vs. Luxury Vinyl Plank: An Honest Comparison
In today’s world of online shopping, we can be a bit spoiled by all the choices when it comes to buying products. Flooring is no different! How do you settle on one? And when you do, how do you know it’s right for your home? When you’re faced with the decision between two different products, like lvp flooring and tile, it could delay your flooring project if you don’t have an honest comparison.
Comparing products can help you understand the benefits and drawbacks of each option, allowing you to control the decisions for your home. However, comparing products on your own has to be hard when you don’t even know what to look for… That’s why Flooring Solutions wants to partner with you, to provide transparency about your flooring choices, so you can confidently say the flooring you choose meets your needs and preferences.
In this blog, we’ll explore the differences in cost, durability, and advantages and disadvantages of tile flooring and luxury vinyl plank (LVP). You won’t be swayed by biased information; this article will equip you with actual industry knowledge from the experts in flooring. Let’s compare!
Tile Flooring Options
Tile flooring is a popular and versatile choice for many homeowners due to its durability, ease of maintenance, and aesthetic appeal. You can achieve a marble or natural stone look with a porcelain tile without spending money on the real thing. Or you can instantly upgrade your countertops and backsplash with granite, glass, or mosaic tiles.
The average price range for tile flooring is between $4-$7 per square foot.
So, how much does it cost to install new tiles in an average-sized kitchen? Most kitchens are between 200-500 square feet. We will use 500 square feet in this example since math isn’t much fun, and this is easier for us all! Around 500 square feet of floor tile may cost you between $2,000-$3500 for the tile material.
There are several types of tile flooring options, each with unique features and benefits.
Top 3 Advantages of Using Tile:
1. Versatility:
Tile flooring comes in various colors, shapes, sizes, and textures, allowing homeowners to choose a style that matches their design aesthetic. It can also mimic the look of other materials, such as natural stone or wood.
2. Durability:
Tile flooring is highly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic, spills, and scratches. It is also resistant to moisture and can be used in high-moisture areas such as bathrooms and kitchens
3. Eco-friendly:
Tile flooring is eco-friendly and made from natural clay, sand, and water. It is also recyclable and can be repurposed after its use.
Top 3 Benefits of Using Porcelain Floor Tile:
1. Durability & wear and tear:
Because of how porcelain is produced, it is built to be durable and strong. It usually lasts a great amount of time. If you need flooring that stands up to busy households with kids, pets, and heavy foot traffic, porcelain tile could be a good fit for you. Do you know you don’t want to replace your kitchen floors for at least a few years? Porcelain tile is made to last and could be a good choice.
2. Readily available:
There is a huge demand for porcelain tiles in the industry. This means manufacturers consistently work to produce it to keep up with the demand. Product shipping times can greatly affect a remodel! It can mean the difference between getting what you love and settling due to availability. Porcelain tile’s popularity has ensured there are shorter shipping and waiting times with many manufacturers.
3. Large variety & options:
The demand for porcelain has grown beyond a tile look. Now there are wood-look, stone-look, and various other options available. Do you have wood-look flooring in other parts of your home? Maybe you want to try to match it with tile in a wet area. Porcelain tile could be a great match for you. It also can mimic marble and natural stone.
What Are The Disadvantages of using porcelain tile?
1. Price
Porcelain can sometimes be about 20% pricier than ceramic tile. At Flooring Solutions, our average kitchen flooring remodels using porcelain tile cost anywhere from $4,000 to $6000. This is where LVP flooring may benefit you more.
2. Man-made to mimic stone and marble.
This means you may see a repeated pattern across certain tiles, as the patterns are manufactured onto the surface of the tile. This means if two tiles with a repeated pattern are installed side by side, it will not look as natural as what real stone and marble do. You want your patterns to flow and be spread out naturally. It will be slightly more noticeable after installation is complete if you do not. Above all, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for installation, or have a professional flooring company manage your installation.
Disadvantages of Using Tile Flooring:
There are a few places you might not want to install tile:
1. Kid’s bedroom
Besides your children not wanting cold feet, we also discourage tile in a kid’s bedroom in case of falls or slips. It can be safer to have a softer floor covering.
2. On a staircase
You may occasionally see mosaic tiles on a staircase, but only sometimes. Besides the difficulty of installation methods, it’s a unique location to put tiles. How does a loud and cold stairwell sound to you? No thanks!
3. Upstairs room
We don’t recommend having tiles in multiple rooms upstairs due to the weight tile adds to your floor joists and subfloor, and it will also not act as a sound barrier as nicely as a carpet or soft flooring material.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Options
Luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP flooring) is a popular option due to its durability, affordability, and ability to mimic the look of natural hardwood flooring. Hundreds of high-quality options offer a wood look and a stone look to mimic tile and natural stone. When selecting LVP flooring, consider your budget and lifestyle needs.
The average price range for Luxury Vinyl is between $3.50-$6.50 per square foot.
So how much does it cost to get new vinyl in your home? Let’s break it down even further. We will use a downstairs area for square footage. This is usually the challenging part for homeowners, figuring out square footage totals without having the proper tools— link to measuring software we use.
The average downstairs room, with living spaces, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, is about 1200 square feet. Around 1200 square feet of vinyl flooring may cost you $4,200-$7800 for just the material.
Top 3 Advantages of Using LVP Flooring:
1. Durability:
LVP is highly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic, scratches, and spills. It is a good option for high-traffic areas such as entryways, kitchens, and bathrooms.
2. Low maintenance:
LVP is easy to clean and maintain, and it can be swept or vacuumed regularly and mopped as needed. It is also resistant to stains and spills, making it an excellent choice for homes with children or pets.
3. Affordability:
LVP is less expensive than tile flooring, making it a more budget-friendly option for homeowners. It can provide the look of natural hardwood at a fraction of the cost.
Disadvantages of Using LVP Flooring:
There are a few places you might not want to install LVP Flooring:
1. Outdoor spaces:
LVP flooring is not designed to withstand exposure to elements like rain, snow, or direct sunlight. It can quickly deteriorate and fade if installed in outdoor spaces, leading to costly repairs or replacement.
2. Uneven or damaged subfloors:
Vinyl Plank works best with a smooth and level subfloor to prevent any damage or warping. If your subfloor is uneven or damaged, it can affect the overall appearance and durability of your LVP flooring.
3. High-temperature areas:
Luxury Vinyl Plank can expand and contract in response to temperature changes, especially if you have a floating LVP, which may lead to buckling and warping. We don’t recommend installing LVP flooring in areas that experience high temperatures, such as near fireplaces, radiators, or heating vents.
Tile Flooring or LVP Flooring: Which is Right For Your Home?
Searching online for product comparisons and pros & cons can make it difficult to avoid being swayed. Marketing gimmicks can push one product over the other for different reasons that might not matter most to you. But what relevant factors matter when comparing two products? Should you only focus on price and quality, or do other factors also matter?
Remember, the right product for you may be different from someone else. And that’s okay! That’s one of the huge advantages of working with Flooring Solutions. We focus on customizing your product selection and helping you understand the relevant advantages and disadvantages of products. By doing this, you’ll make a choice you can feel confident and satisfied with.
We want you to get the most out of your flooring purchase.
After reading this, you may have settled on one product over the other or need more information, such as: How Much Does Tile Cost? How Much Does Luxury Vinyl Plank cost? This valuable information could help you get closer to installing beautiful new flooring in your home.
If you have settled on one product over the other, it could be time to start your product selection process, and we’d love to be a part of that journey. Schedule your free Product Selection Consultation with Flooring Solutions below with one click.
