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Engineered Vinyl Plank (EVP) vs. Luxury Vinyl Plank vs Engineered Hard

5 years ago

Does anyone have experience with using Engineered Vinyl Plank flooring? It’s supposed to be a more reasonably priced option to engineered hardwood . I have read it has more realistic look/feel of wood compared to Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and is waterPROOF (as opposed to water resistant).

I am looking to replace the flooring throughout my home (up/downstairs) and thinking EVP everywhere (incl. bedrooms and bathrooms) and carpet on staircase.

BUT I’ve read that EVP or LVP does does not have high ROI in when selling your home (hardwood and tile does).


Advice anyone? Thank you!

Comments (24)

  • 5 years ago

    If you live in a budget house, buy all the plastic floors that you want. If you live in an upscale home? Forget it. People expect wood and plastic will drop the value. If you live in between budget and upscale, wood will add some value to the home. Plastic will not.

  • 5 years ago

    @ocrose: I am almost in the same boat with you. We can not decide between porcelain tile and LVT. I have been to 3 different flooring stores in the past week and they all say LVT is the biggest seller and even in new homes. It is so hard hoping a pro will comment on your thread. I have 2 indoor dogs (10 lb and 60 lb) and painful feet. Not sure what to do.

    GOOD LUCK!!

    ocrose thanked Kim
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Hi Kim!

    I live in S . California and an interior designer told me she has installed LVT in multi million dollar homes. For practicality and longevity I would like tile. But for budget I think it will have to be LVT. I just want to make sure it is as durable, dent free , real looking/feeling as some say it is.

  • 5 years ago

    Hello Ocrose,

    I have brought many LVT samples into our home and read reviews after we got them. The sad thing is most reviews are not good on vinyl that we have found, and the one we really like has no reviews. The one we are leaning toward is Republic Floors and there are no reviews. We do the key scratch test to see if it is durable and have not done it on this floor. I had a sample and forgot to do that test, I called the flooring company and they done it and they said all was good. We will see next week when I go and test my self. I am in my 50’s and need something softer for my joints and feet.

  • 5 years ago

    A little off topic, but if you have feet/joint issues with tile or any other floor, get yourself a good pair of house shoes with good arches and plenty of rubber in the heels.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    As a realtor, I agree w the first comment. In higher end homes buyers expect real wood. Vinyl is fine for a basement tho, just not your main floor.

  • 4 years ago

    The builder installed Shaw LVP flooring in our new home. There are dents everywhere and they refuse to warranty it. They should have a warning for consumers. We paid $6000.00 to upgrade and have an ugly floor in a new home. I will never buy LVP again.

  • 4 years ago

    So sorry for your experience. We installed Provenza and have not had any issues with denting or scratching (even with my kids and dog). I do recall in a couple threads that some people were not happy with Shaw products and customer service.

  • 3 years ago

    I live in Coastal Southern California and its been LVP in higher end homes for several years now. Most homeowners will spend $ on high end LVP from specialty flooring vendors (not big box stores). Because it checks all the boxes, realistic look, extreme durability, ease of maintaining, and price.

  • 3 years ago

    Our Shaw LVP dents easily and did not return to normal surface. It looks like craters on the moon. We paid $4300.00 a big waste of $ because Dillibaughs Flooring denied our warranty. It's only been installed for less than a year. When I can afford to replace it I wont be buying Shaw Floorte LVP from Dillibaughs. Im on social security and can't afford to replace it now.

  • 3 years ago

    We have a small L shaped hallway (3x12, 4x12) in upstairs, connecting to various bedrooms. Is it recommended to go with the tile ? My plan is to have same tile as my first floor.


    Stairs: Hard Wood

    Bedroom: Engineering Hardwood.

  • 3 years ago

    Shaw has one of the worst LVP out there. Just ask installers. Lifeproof from Home Depot is much respected.

  • 3 years ago

    There’s different thicknesses of core and outer layer to LVP. Theres also different coatings to the eood layer that resists scratches /dents better than others. Best to do online research on LVP pros/cons.
    This link is helpful

    https://www.google.com/search?q=flooring+gal+pros+cons+lvp&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I picked the wrong contractor. He is a jerk who cant handle an entire co do make over. He picked Shaw it is terrible looking.

    my question today is what LVT is the best? The answer cannot be ’It depends’. I dont want something grey but natural looking. Jestrrmom, and everybody please l know there are wait lists added to everything in my forced do over. Thank you.

  • 3 years ago

    @maggie200 I am going with ML Rigid Core flooring in Sandhill or Shoreline. https://rigidcorefloor.com/floors/ I've researched exhaustively and think this is the best choice for me. Watch this video: https://rigidcorefloor.com/product-walk-through/ It helped me to understand the differences between the many brands. Good luck!

  • 2 years ago

    Jestermom, i like sandhill best as well. it is so mich better when you see it in a room. thank you.

  • 2 years ago

    Jestermom, who are you buying it from? i have asked the makers of it, through a couple of text messages and then on their site for sources or referrals. I am referred to places that fit half the title.

  • 2 years ago

    @maggie200 We are buying it from Masters Craft in Houston.

  • 2 years ago

    I called them here in Mcclean, VA. what a find for this product. i have to make an appt. Very good advice from you. thank you so much.

  • 2 years ago

    Jestermom, welp i thought i had Mastercraft under your company's name. it wasn't the same.

  • 2 years ago

    @jestermom can you share how much per square foot for the sandhill? Also if you have pics of the samples in your house that would be helpful. I am also wondering if you have any concerns about the "hardness" of the floor. I have been going back an forth trying to pick a floor. I thought I wanted the spc (stone rigid core) to avoid dents from furniture but now I am leaning towards a WPC product for a "softer" and I would hope more "quiet" floor.

  • 2 years ago

    @V M sorry, just seeing your post above. We are just now finally breaking ground on our home so I don't have pics of the flooring to show you from my house. I will come back and post when I do but that will be some months from now. But we are paying, I think, 15K for our Multi-Length Rigid Core SPC floors in color Sandhill. Our house will be 2975 sf and this floor covering will be throughout the home, except in 3 of the full baths and the utility room. I'm not exactly sure how many square feet that leaves but hopefully you can do some rough math. Everything goes through my builder so I don't have an exact price per square foot to provide you. I also am not sure if this includes labor to install.