Why I picked vinyl plank over hardwood for my basement

Everyone told me to go with engineered hardwood for the basement remodel in St. Louis, but I chose luxury vinyl plank instead after reading about moisture issues. Three months in with a minor flood from the washing machine and the vinyl held up perfectly while a neighbor's hardwood floor got wrecked. Has anyone else dealt with this and found vinyl to be a better long-term bet?

4 comments

4 Comments

fionam112d agoTop Commenter

@amy_martin how much extra value are we really talking though? Like enough to make up for ripping it all out after one good flood? I'm curious if you've ever actually sold a place with hardwood vs vinyl and seen a big difference.

amy_martin8d ago

Ah man, I gotta say I kinda disagree. I mean, I get why you'd pick vinyl for a basement flood risk, that's smart. But long term I feel like real hardwood just adds way more value to a house, even if it needs more babying.

nancy_king298d ago

@amy_martin I guess I'm just not convinced it's that big of a deal. Hardwood adds value maybe, but how much are we really talking? Seems like one of those things folks say but don't actually prove. And let's be real, most people aren't flipping houses or selling anytime soon, so that "value" is just sitting there. Meanwhile you're stressing over every little scratch or spill. Not worth the hassle in my book.

blair_chen818d ago

Three years in my vinyl plank held up way better than my sister's hardwood through two kids and a golden retriever.