Revisions log for Answer #480

I also find the presentation a bit one-sided.

The tactile feel is a matter of taste, but many people prefer natural wood. Designer flooring sounds fancy, but at the end of the day it is plastic.

The price comparison is lame. I'm sure I could find a mid-range designer floor that would cost as much as a cheap hardwood floor. But, as with anything, there are big differences in price and quality. It's an apples and oranges comparison. I think parquet is still more expensive than vinyl with a comparable level of quality.

"Almost as easy to maintain" is complete nonsense.

In our new house, we chose all-glued designer flooring, and I can practically treat it like tile, even wipe it down with a damp cloth, and so far it's very hard-wearing.

Parquet is much less gentle. As far as I know, it can't be cleaned with a damp mop, it scratches more easily, and it needs to be sanded to keep it looking nice for years to come.

Depending on the thickness of the wood layer, parquet can be a more durable option if you take into account regular renewal cycles (every 8 to 10 years in residential areas) and the associated removal of material (about 1 mm to 1.5 mm). If you don't do these repairs so that the hardwood flooring is not renewed for decades, it will look just as shabby as a PVC floor that is never thoroughly cleaned.

You will get about 40 years of use. PVC floors will have a hard time withstanding that kind of stress.