Timber vs Vinyl Flooring

If you are looking to renovate your home, you have probably thought a lot about your floor. It is not the most interesting subject in the world, but it can be incredibly important. In most instances, people don’t think much about their floors. If the floor is clean and inoffensive, it doesn’t really stand out. Usually, when a floor gets noticed, it is either dirty or some incredibly noticeable colour. However, floors can also stand out for being very attractive. That is probably the kind of floor you are looking for.

You want to pick a flooring that provides you with a high level of performance and easy maintenance. When it comes to flooring, timber is a classic and for good reason. However, vinyl is one of the most popular and fastest growing choices on the market. More and more homes along the coast are choosing vinyl flooring. So, here is a quick comparison of the two.

Pros and Cons of Timber

The biggest benefit of timber is that it is incredibly attractive. It is a classic choice that has been popular for hundreds of years because it is simple, reliable, and good looking. Wood is naturally attractive. All you really need to do is finish it with a clear coat that will protect it from damage. However, that is also the drawback of wood.

Wood is relatively easily scratched or physically damaged. Once it is scratched, you have to sand and refinish it. It is possible, but it is very difficult to make it match the original colour. Moreover, wood is fairly porous, which means that it stains if it is not properly sealed. Sealing wood is not difficult, but you do have to make sure you take care of the finish. That means you might have to reapply the finish every few years to continue protecting the wood.

Lastly, wood is a natural resource. For wood flooring, you have to cut down trees and process them. It is a renewable resource, but it does cost a little bit of nature for every floor.

Pros and Cons of Vinyl

Vinyl is incredibly popular because it is inexpensive and reliable. Vinyl is a nonporous and nonreactive material. It doesn’t stain very easily, nor does it react to household chemicals. Since it isn’t porous, it can be easily cleaned with a mild detergent and warm water. Essentially, you just need to mop it occasionally to keep it clean. These are just a few of the reasons it is a very popular option for flooring in Sunshine Coast.

Also, no fossil fuels are needed to produce vinyl, so it is good for the environment. The biggest drawbacks for vinyl are aesthetic. Vinyl comes in several different colours that are very attractive, however none of them can quite match the wood in many people’s eyes.

Lastly, as a word of caution, it is very important that you choose your flooring from within your own home. The lighting in a store or showroom is going to be very different from the lighting in your house. Different lighting can make a floor look completely different.