I’m building a new home and my builder originally priced us out for real hardwood floors. After some research I decided that luxury vinyl plank flooring would be better since we have animals. My builder is telling me it’s going to cost $600 extra for the LVP. I don’t understand how this is possible. Normally people pay THOUSANDS of dollars to upgrade to hardwoods, I’m technically downgrading and still paying more for it? The original real hardwood was #1 common red oak 2 1/4 unfinished and the LVP is CoreTec Plus and I guess they are gluing it down if that helps at all.
You can buy 2 1/4" #1 oak hardwood for under $2.5 s/f, good quality vinyl plank will run you ~5 s/f. Installation is cheaper for vinyl but material cost is double.
The up front costs are greater for the LVP products, the standard red oak is much cheaper, you after install have to be finished with 3 coats of poly. What you wont have with the traditional oak is the wide variety of colors and styles that are available in LVP products.
Draw back too LVP products is that to repair any damage to this product you have to remove all the
pieces before the damaged piece in order to repair any damage.
A solid 3/4 wood product can be sanded 3-5 times before replacing and will always look knew once sanded.
Hi Lillian!
Based on lots of client experience and our own craftsmanship… I would recommend taking a second look at the hardwood floor option. There are great water-based polyurethane finish options that more than ever protect hardwood floors against pet stains and high traffic. For example; Bona HD Traffic, and other variations of Bona products can allow you to install what you really want while keeping your investment protected for the long run.
LVP/LVT are all great products but I’ve noticed how some of the homeowners I’ve worked with regret it because it’s not what they originally wanted; hardwood floors.
I agree with Prg Home; you can find great solid hardwood for 2.5/3 s/f while vinyl plank tends to have a higher material cost since it is usually installed in commercial settings.
Best of luck!
Hello Jiyan, I would think for your builder to charge an upgrade to switch to LVP. I think is a much better product for all around use makes me think that he doesn’t work with the product.
There are better products out now than Cortec. I pat $3.85 per square foot and can on larger jobs get to $3.38.
I prefer a PVC Core with vinyl to with a pad attached. It runs in the $3.00 mark but doesn’t expand and contract. I have installed these type of products on cover pouches before and had great success.