In recent years, many floors that do not contain solid wood but have natural wood grain and wood color have emerged on the market. Compared with solid wood flooring, they are not only more affordable, but also have stronger waterproof performance.
In addition, you can even DIY to lay them yourself. Today, let’s talk about three popular floors. What are the advantages and disadvantages of them? We hope to help you find the best one.
Classification of Wood Flooring
Wood flooring can be roughly divided into three categories:
- Solid wood flooring
- Solid wood composite flooring
- Fiber wood flooring.
Solid wood flooring and solid wood composite flooring are mainly made of natural wood, while fiber wood flooring is a floor made of a mixture of many different components. This article focuses on three types of fiber flooring:
- super wear-resistant wood flooring,
- PVC flooring
- SPC flooring.
| Floor Type | Main Components | Texture | Footfeel | Water Resistance | Wear Resistance | Price Range | Installation Ease | Contains Real Wood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid Wood Flooring | Solid Wood | Natural | Authentic Wood Feel | Low | Low | Medium to High (Depends on AC value) | Difficult | Yes |
| Engineered Wood Flooring | Solid Wood + Plywood | Natural | Similar to Solid Wood | Medium | Decent | Varies | Generally Easy | Yes |
| Laminate Flooring | HDF Core (High-Density Fiberboard) | Artificial (Printed Paper) | Cannot Match Real Wood | Low to Highest | Medium to High | Low to Medium | Easy (or DIY possible) | No |
| SPC Vinyl Flooring | Stone Powder + PVC | Artificial | Artificial | High | High | Low to Medium | Easy | No |
| Vinyl Flooring | PVC | Artificial | Artificial | Varies | Varies | Low to High | Easy | No |
Notes:
- Texture: Refers to the appearance and touch of the flooring.
- Footfeel: Describes the sensation underfoot when walking on the flooring.
- Water Resistance: Indicates how well the flooring resists water damage.
- Wear Resistance: Measures the durability and resistance to scratches and wear.
- Price Range: Indicates the general pricing tier of the flooring type.
- Installation Ease: Describes the difficulty level of installing the flooring.
- Contains Real Wood: Indicates whether the flooring contains any real wood components.
Super wear-resistant wood flooring (fiber wood flooring; Laminate Flooring)
The inner layer of super wear-resistant wood flooring is pressed from wood chips (i.e. MDF high-density fiberboard). The surface pattern is printed on wood grain printing color paper.
Super wear-resistant wood flooring has low average material and labor costs, and is easy to maintain. It is a popular choice for homeowners who want wood-grain flooring to replace solid wood and engineered wood flooring in recent years.
Structure:
- Wear-resistant layer: melamine impregnated wear-resistant layer (including UV treatment)
- Decorative layer: wood-grain printed paper
- Middle layer: high-density fiberboard core material
- Bottom layer: melamine
Advantages:
- High hardness, not easy to scratch and damage
- Various styles, more choices than solid wood flooring
- Not easy to get wet, suitable for a variety of environments
- Easy to take care of, simple maintenance
- Affordable price, high cost performance
- Easy to install, usually using the mortise and tenon method
Disadvantages:
- Weak sound insulation effect
- Poor anti-slip effect, easy to leave stubborn stains
- Not as good as solid wood flooring
- The ground is colder when it is cold
- Cannot be renovated, and needs to be replaced as a whole after damage
- May contain formaldehyde, so pay attention to the formaldehyde release when purchasing
In summary, the advantage of fiber wood flooring is that it has a wear-resistant layer on the surface, which is easier to maintain than floors containing solid wood components.
Secondly, a layer of printed veneer will be added after the wear-resistant layer, you can print the desired pattern at will. There are many more styles to choose from than floors containing solid wood components. Since various patterns can be printed at will, the fiber flooring is distinguished by the type of component used in the inner layer.
Finally, fiber wood flooring is installed entirely by the mortise and tenon method (also known as seamless flooring), so the laying cost is much cheaper than solid wood flooring that requires nailing.
The veneer of fiber wood flooring is printed. Although it cannot imitate the real wood feel of solid wood flooring, it can print different wood grains at will, making it easier to create the desired texture than solid wood or engineered wood flooring.
PVC flooring
PVC flooring is made of plastic, which is a popular type of flooring in recent years. They are the cheapest among floorings. PVC plastic flooring has many color options and can also produce different three-dimensional patterns. In addition, plastic has no problem of being affected by moisture, so it is a good choice for flooring.
PVC plastic flooring has two forms, roll flooring and sheet flooring. The roll flooring is softer in texture and has a larger area; while the sheet flooring has more styles and specifications, mainly square and long strips, which are more suitable for home use.
Structure:
- Surface layer: wear-resistant layer (including UV treatment)
- Decorative layer: printed paper
- Middle layer: PVC + fiberglass layer
- Bottom layer: PVC bottom layer
Advantages:
Various styles and colors, can simulate embossing
- Moisture-proof and waterproof, completely unaffected by moisture
- Easy to lay, suitable for DIY, simple maintenance
- The lightest and thinnest floor, high elasticity, good anti-slip effect
- Good sound absorption, fireproof and flame retardant
- Easy to take care of, simple maintenance, cheap
Disadvantages:
- Relatively short lifespan
- Poor quality may release VOC, and the adhesive used for installation may also release formaldehyde
- Cannot be exposed to sunlight for a long time, easy to fade
- Low actual bearing capacity
- Corner installation is more troublesome
- Thermal expansion and contraction may cause the floor to bulge or crack
- There are two general installation methods for PVC plastic floors:
- using floor glue to bond
- seamless buckle.
The two laying methods are also simple and can be DIY. However, due to the relatively short lifespan, the use of floor glue installation method needs to consider future maintenance and replacement issues
In addition to the trouble of removing the floor glue, if you use floor glue to lay the plastic floor on the original floor. The glue may gradually dry and harden over time, causing the PVC plastic floor to fall off. Nowadays, thePVC plastic flooring technology has developed by leaps and bounds, and the quality is getting better and better.
There are “glue-free plastic floors” (i.e. seamless mortise and tenon) on the market, which makes installation and removal easier. Seamless mortise and tenon PVC plastic floors can avoid thermal expansion and contraction, which causes cracks.
SPC Flooring
SPC flooring is a fiber floor composed of stone powder. “SPC stands for Stone Plastic Composite or Stone Polymer Composite.
S refers to Stone, which is natural stone powder, and P refers to PVC, but the proportion of PVC is not high and it is quite stable.
SPC stone plastic flooring is a very popular flooring building material recently, because building material experts call it an upgraded version of PVC plastic flooring.
It has the advantages of PVC plastic flooring and does not have some disadvantages of PVC plastic flooring. The most distinctive feature of SPC stone plastic flooring is that it is 100% waterproof. Since the “stone crystal base material” of SPC is composed of calcium carbonate mixed with vinyl resin, calcium carbonate is an inorganic compound substance that can be found in natural stones such as marble, calcite, and marble. It does not absorb water. The latest SPC stone plastic flooring can be laid in bathrooms and kitchens.
Structure:
- Surface layer: wear-resistant layer (including UV treatment)
- Decorative layer: printed paper
- Middle layer: stone crystal substrate
- Bottom layer: different according to brand and style
Advantages:
- Various styles, can simulate embossing
- High density, waterproof and moisture-proof, no water absorption, no expansion problem
- Fire retardant, high fire index
- Wear-resistant and impact-resistant, strong durability
- Green and environmentally friendly, no formaldehyde release, no radioactive substances
- Heat conduction and warmth, suitable for floor heating system
- Easy to lay, suitable for DIY
- Easy to care, simple maintenance, no waxing
- Longer life than PVC plastic floor
Disadvantages:
- Cannot be partially repaired after damage, need to be replaced as a whole
- Hard touch, not as comfortable as solid wood floor
- Different brands and styles have different textures, need to be carefully selected
- The price is slightly more expensive than PVC plastic floor
Super wear-resistant wood flooring, PVC plastic flooring, SPC stone plastic flooring: How to choose
For super wear-resistant wood flooring, PVC plastic flooring and SPC stone plastic flooring, how can we make a wise choice? The following is a decision-making help.
Three Flooring Options: A Comparison Table to Help You Decide
| Comparison Item | Super Wear-Resistant Wooden Flooring (Price in USD: 11.30−28.57/m²) | PVC Plastic Flooring (Price in USD: 7.14−21.43/m²) | SPC Stone Plastic Composite Flooring (Price in USD: 17.14−42.86/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Medium (80−200 RMB/m²) | Lowest (50−150 RMB/m²) | Higher (120−300 RMB/m²) |
| Water Resistance | Moisture-resistant but not waterproof | Fully waterproof | Fully waterproof |
| Suitable Areas | Living Room, Bedroom | Whole House (including Bathroom) | Whole House (including Bathroom, Kitchen) |
| Foot Feel | Slightly Hard | Soft and Elastic | Hard and Cold |
| Underfloor Heating Compatibility | Not Recommended | Can be Installed in Some Cases | Perfectly Compatible |
| DIY Difficulty | Medium (Cutting Required) | Easy (Self-Adhesive Available) | Easy (Lock-and-Click Installation) |
| Recommended For | Budget-Conscious, Wood Grain Lovers | Rental Property Renovations, Short-Term Use | Durability Seekers, Whole House Waterproofing |
Look at the usage
Different floor types are suitable for different home environments. For wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, we recommend SPC stone plastic flooring. Due to its excellent waterproof performance and stability, they can easily cope with water vapor erosion and keep the floor dry and clean. Although PVC plastic flooring also has a certain waterproof ability, it is slightly inferior in comparison and can be used as a second choice.
For dry areas such as living rooms and bedrooms, super wear-resistant wood flooring has a natural and warm texture and good foot feel, which has won the love of consumers.
It is not only beautiful and generous, but also has excellent wear resistance, which can keep the floor bright and new for a long time.
For families installing floor heating, we recommend SPC stone plastic flooring. Due to its good thermal conductivity and stability, they are very compatible with your floor heating system, while avoiding deformation or cracking of the floor.
Touch the real sample
When you are shopping for flooring, you can also touch the real sample in person. For super wear-resistant wood flooring, you can carefully observe whether its edges are dense and seamless to judge its wear resistance. For PVC and SPC floors, you can feel its resilience and toughness through simple folding or bending tests. High-quality PVC floors can quickly return to their original shape after folding, while SPC floors can maintain their intact shape after bending without cracks or breaks.
Smell for odor
The environmental performance of the floor is also one of the important factors to consider when purchasing. During the purchase process, you can judge the environmental protection of the floor by smelling the odor. SPC stone plastic flooring is almost odorless and meets environmental protection standards; while PVC plastic flooring may have a slight plastic smell when it is newly unpacked, which is normal. But if you smell a pungent odor, you need to be alert that the floor may contain harmful substances, such as formaldehyde.
Check environmental certification
You can also carefully check the environmental certification of the product. Such as FLOOR SCORE, CE, SGS and other international certifications.
After-sales guarantee
Different brands of flooring may have different warranty periods. Generally speaking, the warranty period of SPC flooring is more than 10 years, while PVC flooring usually has a warranty of 5 years, and the warranty period of super wear-resistant wood flooring is about 15 years. When you purchase, you can also ask the salesperson about the warranty period and after-sales service content of the flooring so that problems can be solved in time.
In short, when purchasing flooring, there is no absolute good or bad, only the most suitable choice for yourself. For consumers with limited budgets, PVC flooring is an economical choice, such as:
- Rental house
- Short-term transitional use.
For consumers who pursue cost-effectiveness, super wear-resistant wood flooring is a good choice. They are suitable for living rooms and bedrooms in dry areas.
For high end consumer, SPC flooring is an ideal choice, especially for families with children, pets, and floor heating.
Finally, it is reminded that no matter which floor you choose, the ground leveling work before laying is essential. If the floor is uneven by more than 3mm, it will not only shorten the service life of the floor, but also affect the appearance and comfort of the floor. Therefore, before laying the floor, please make sure that the floor is flat and flawless.
Conclusion
Whether it is super wear-resistant wood flooring, PVC plastic flooring or SPC stone plastic flooring. They all have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. When you choose, please decide according to your actual needs and budget. At the same time, you should also pay attention to the quality and environmental protection. We hope this article can help you find the most suitable wood flooring for you! If you need SPC flooring, you can contact us at any time.