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WPC-core luxury vinyl are just two among many hardwood floor alternatives. So how do they stack up against these non-vinyl options?
WPC Vinyl Flooring vs Laminate
Non-toxic laminate flooring uses a high-density fiberboard core coated with photo and protective layers that are similar to vinyl’s design and wear layers.
In previous decades, the vinyl plank vs. laminate debate often came down to one key difference: LVP is waterproof and laminate wasn’t.
However, the rise of waterproof laminate brands like RevWood has changed this narrative, with LVP trying to catch up to laminate’s more natural feel (LVP is kind of hard). In fact, if you compare laminate vs. hardwood flooring, you’ll notice they feel similar.
This is where WPC flooring shines: since it’s softer, it does a better job of simulating the “give” that natural wood has compared to normal LVP or something like concrete, which has zero give (that reminds us, concrete flooring that looks like wood is another hardwood alternative).
WPC Vinyl Flooring vs Tile
Wood-look tile is another faux wood floor option that tends to be inexpensive and isn’t too hard to install, especially if you’re working with snap-together tile flooring.
The many different types of floor tiles on the market offer just as many style options as WPC and SPC flooring do. But again: you’ll find that tile doesn’t mimic the feel of wood as well as WPC vinyl flooring does.
If you check out our tile vs. wood floors guide, you’ll see that tile tends to be more rigid and cold—the same is true when you compare tile vs. WPC vinyl floors. SPC flooring is somewhere between the two.
WPC Vinyl Flooring vs Bamboo
The best bamboo flooring is a natural faux wood floor option. The pros and cons of bamboo flooring include a vulnerability to water, but also repairability (you can refinish bamboo flooring)—plus sustainable sourcing.
LVP, and by extension WPC flooring, isn’t eco-friendly or repairable. But there are more design options to choose from, and it’s often easier to install. And when it comes to durability, bamboo’s notable strength is rivaled only by—you guessed it—SPC flooring!
WPC and SPC Flooring vs. Cork
The pros and cons of cork flooring also include sustainable sourcing, a modest price tag, vulnerability to water, and adequate durability. The last two are the most important because these are areas where LVP excels.
Cork isn’t ideal for heavy use and it has special care requirements: it’s not waterproof and it needs to be resealed every so often to maintain its integrity.
Don’t let the disadvantages of cork flooring fool you into thinking it’s a poor choice, though (unless we’re talking about Lowes’ cork flooring). The best cork flooring is greener than LVP, and offers superior insulation and softness compared to SPC or WPC flooring.
WPC and SPC Flooring vs Engineered Hardwood
What is engineered hardwood? It’s real wood flooring. It’s just made of two different types of wood.
In fact, most engineered wood disadvantages are the same as real hardwood’s. However, the best engineered wood flooring is often thought of as a substitute for solid hardwood so we’re lumping it in here too.
Like SPC and WPC flooring, many of the best engineered wood flooring brands offer a huge variety of species and looks. WPC and SPC floors are much less expensive, though, and their installation costs don’t even touch the cost to install engineered hardwood floors.
Unlike WPC or SPC vinyl flooring, though, engineered wood isn’t waterproof (or as scratch-resistant). But, in terms of authenticity, engineered wood is obviously the winner since it’s, you know, still real hardwood.