Floors are Jim's home turf. He ran a flooring business in Akron for more than 30 years and has installed just about every kind there is — hardwood, tile, vinyl, and carpet, in homes and commercial spaces all over the area. So when people ask whether they should go with luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or tile, he's got a quick way to think about it.
The honest answer is that there's no single “best” floor — there's the best floor for that room, that budget, and how the space gets used. Here's how to narrow it down.
When LVP is the smart pick
Luxury vinyl plank has gotten genuinely good. It's warm underfoot, shrugs off spills and humidity, goes down fast, and looks great in living areas, bedrooms, hallways, and rentals. If you want a big visual change without a big timeline, LVP is usually the answer.
- Living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways
- Rentals and quick turnovers, where downtime costs money
- Homes with kids or pets
- Anywhere you want a softer, warmer surface underfoot
When tile earns its keep
Ceramic and porcelain tile is the right call for bathrooms, mudrooms, laundry rooms, and other high-moisture, high-traffic spots. It's harder, more water-resistant over the long haul, and it simply lasts. The trade-offs are a longer install and a colder, harder surface — which is exactly why most people don't want it in a bedroom.
The part people skip: the subfloor
Whatever you pick, the floor is only as good as what's under it. A subfloor that isn't clean, dry, and level will telegraph every flaw — gaps, lippage, squeaks, cracked grout. Good prep is boring and invisible, and it's exactly where a lot of cheap installs go wrong. Spending a little time here is what separates a floor that looks great for a decade from one that looks tired in a year.
A quick way to decide
Ask two questions: does this room get wet, and do I want it to feel warm? Wet rooms lean tile. Comfort rooms lean LVP. Everything else is budget and looks — and there's a good-looking option at almost every price.
Still not sure which way to go for your room? Send a photo and the rough dimensions and Jim will give you the straight trade-offs for your space — no upsell, just an honest read.