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LVP costs roughly half as much to install as hardwood, yet hardwood adds 3 to 5% to your home’s resale value that LVP cannot match. So which one is right for your home?
We are the team at A1 Flooring in Livonia, MI, and we have been helping Southeast Michigan homeowners answer that question since 2005. This guide covers costs, durability, Michigan climate considerations, and which floor fits your lifestyle.
And if you want to discuss what flooring fits best your home, give us a call at (734) 956-5712 or visit us at our Livonia location. We are happy to help.
Hardwood flooring is exactly what it sounds like: planks milled from real, solid wood.
At our flooring store in Livonia, we carry both solid hardwood and engineered hardwood, and both have their place depending on where you are installing them in your home.
Solid hardwood is typically 3/4 inch thick and can be sanded and refinished multiple times over the decades.
Engineered hardwood has a real wood veneer on top but is built with layers of plywood or composite underneath, which makes it more dimensionally stable when there are changes in moisture and temperature.
Both solid and engineered hardwood bring warmth and genuine character to a space.
Here is a quick look at how they compare:
You can browse our full hardwood flooring selection on our website, or come in and see it in person.
LVP stands for luxury vinyl plank, which is a synthetic flooring product made from layers of PVC and a photographic wear layer that mimics the look of real wood, tile, or stone. Luxury vinyl flooring has exploded in popularity over the last decade, and honestly, it is easy to see why.
Modern LVP looks remarkably close to real hardwood. When you stand in a room, it can be difficult to tell the difference. But the real selling point is performance. LVP is 100% waterproof, highly scratch-resistant, and far more forgiving than real wood in moisture-heavy rooms like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.
It is also one of the most popular flooring choices we recommend to families with kids and pets in the Livonia, Northville, Canton, and Plymouth areas. Life happens, and LVP handles it.
When people ask about engineered hardwood vs. LVP, they are usually trying to decide between two products that look very similar and sit in a similar price range. This is probably the most common comparison we walk customers through at our showroom.
In our experience, customers customers do both: hardwood in the main living areas, LVP in the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement.
Here is the honest breakdown:
Let's be real about daily life. Whether you have dogs, kids, or just a lot of foot traffic coming in from a Michigan winter, your floors need to hold up.
Hardwood is durable, but it is not indestructible. It can scratch, dent, and fade over time. The good news is that solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished to look brand new. Engineered hardwood can also be refinished, though fewer times depending on the thickness of the wear layer.
Day-to-day maintenance is straightforward: sweep regularly, use a microfiber mop, and avoid excessive water on the surface. Felt pads on furniture legs go a long way.
LVP is genuinely tough. The wear layer on quality LVP products resists scratches, scuffs, and heavy foot traffic really well. It is not completely immune to damage, but in our experience it outperforms hardwood in high-traffic households with pets and kids.
Cleaning is easy: sweep, vacuum, and mop with a damp cloth. No special products needed, no worrying about water damage from splashes or spills.
It depends on your priorities! We have helped thousands of homeowners across Southeast Michigan make this exact decision.
Here is how we generally break it down:
You can also explore our full range of flooring products including vinyl flooring, laminate, carpet, and tile flooring to see all of your options.
We have been helping homeowners across Greater Detroit and Southeast Michigan find the right floor since 2005. Our showroom on Schoolcraft Road is stocked with both hardwood and LVP options from trusted brands including Mannington, Mohawk, Bruce Flooring, Karastan, Dreamweaver, and more.
Here is what the experience looks like when you work with us:
We serve homeowners throughout Livonia, Northville, Novi, Canton, Plymouth, Ann Arbor, Brighton, Troy, Sterling Heights, Rochester Hills, and the surrounding Wayne County and Washtenaw County communities.
We are locally owned, operated since 2015, and backed by over 20 years of flooring experience. Our 4.9-star review rating reflects the care we put into every project. Learn more about us or contact us to book your free estimate.
Hardwood is made from real wood and can be refinished over time. LVP is a 100% synthetic product that is waterproof and more scratch-resistant. Hardwood gives you authentic warmth and long-term refinishability.
LVP gives you worry-free performance in any room, including kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Both look great and are popular with Michigan homeowners.
It depends on the room. Engineered hardwood is more stable than solid hardwood in Michigan's humidity swings and handles seasonal changes well. LVP is fully waterproof and better for moisture-prone rooms or below-grade spaces.
Many Michigan homeowners use engineered hardwood in living areas and LVP in kitchens, baths, and basements. At A1 Flooring, we help you figure out what works best room by room.
For LVP, expect to pay roughly $4 to $9 per square foot installed. For hardwood flooring, the total installed cost typically runs $6 to $14 per square foot, depending on species and grade.
On a 400 sq ft room, that means $1,600 to $3,600 for LVP and $2,400 to $5,600 for hardwood. We offer free in-home estimates so you get an accurate number for your specific project.
At A1 Flooring in Livonia, we carry top brands including American Olean, Armstrong Flooring, Bruce Flooring, Dreamweaver, Karastan, Mannington, Mohawk, and more. Whether you are shopping hardwood, LVP, carpet, or tile, we carry trusted names with solid warranties.
Stop by our Schoolcraft Road showroom to see the full selection in person and talk through which brand suits your home and budget.
LVP is the clear winner for basements. It is 100% waterproof and designed to handle the moisture conditions that below-grade spaces in Michigan can experience.
Hardwood flooring is generally not recommended for basements because moisture can cause warping and buckling. Engineered hardwood can work in some above-grade basement situations, but LVP is the safer and more practical choice. Browse our vinyl flooring options to see what we carry.
Let one of our experts help you find the perfect floor!
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Livonia - A1 Flooring Inc
38281 Schoolcraft Road, Suite M, Livonia, MI 48150
