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LVP, tile or laminate: choosing flooring for an Arkansas home

How each floor handles humidity, spills, pets and everyday wear, and which one we’d choose for each room.

New flooring changes how a home looks, sounds and feels underfoot. It’s also a big decision you’ll live with for years. Here’s how the three floors we install most often compare, and how to choose.

Why the choice matters here

Central Arkansas summers are hot and humid, and spring brings plenty of rain and mud tracked in the door. Floors in Little Rock homes have to deal with moisture in the air, wet shoes, pets and kids. Some materials handle that better than others, so it’s worth matching the floor to the room.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP)

LVP is the floor we’re asked about most, and for good reason. Quality planks look like real wood, feel warmer and softer than tile, and many have a waterproof core.

Good at: handling spills and humidity, resisting everyday scratches, staying comfortable underfoot and running continuously through a whole floor.
Watch out for: dents from very heavy furniture and fading in strong direct sunlight. Use furniture pads and window coverings in sunny rooms.
Great for: kitchens, living areas, bedrooms, basements and busy family homes.

Tile

Porcelain and ceramic tile are about as tough as floors get. Tile doesn’t mind water, holds up to heavy traffic and can last for decades when it’s installed on a solid, flat base.

Good at: standing up to water, wear and heat. It’s easy to wipe clean and comes in endless styles.
Watch out for: it’s hard and can feel cold, grout lines need occasional cleaning and sealing, and it needs a stiff subfloor to prevent cracking.
Great for: bathrooms, showers, laundry rooms, entryways and kitchen backsplashes.

Laminate

Laminate uses a printed wood-look layer under a tough, clear wear layer. It’s budget-friendly and very resistant to scratches, which makes it popular in homes with dogs.

Good at: resisting scratches, looking like real hardwood and keeping costs down on large areas.
Watch out for: many laminates are water-resistant rather than waterproof. Standing water can swell the core, so we don’t recommend it for full bathrooms.
Great for: living rooms, bedrooms, hallways and offices.

What about epoxy? For garages, basements, workshops and commercial spaces, epoxy flooring creates a seamless, easy-to-clean surface that stands up to chemicals and heavy use. Ask us about it at your estimate.

Side-by-side comparison

	LVP	Tile	Laminate
Water	Often waterproof	Waterproof	Usually water-resistant only
Comfort	Soft and warm	Hard and cool	Firm, fairly warm
Scratches	Good	Excellent	Very good
Upkeep	Sweep and damp mop	Mop, clean grout	Sweep, lightly damp mop
Best rooms	Kitchens, basements, whole home	Bathrooms, laundry, entries	Living rooms, bedrooms

Our pick for each room

Bathrooms: tile, or waterproof LVP for a warmer feel.
Kitchens: LVP for comfort while cooking, or tile for maximum durability.
Basements: waterproof LVP or epoxy.
Living rooms and bedrooms: LVP or laminate.
Entryways and mudrooms: tile.

What installation looks like

A floor is only as good as what’s under it. On a typical flooring job we remove the old floor, check the subfloor for soft spots and fix anything that isn’t flat or solid. Then we lay the right underlayment, install the new floor and finish with trim and clean transitions between rooms.

Skipping the prep is the most common reason new floors squeak, gap or crack. It’s the part we take the most care with.

Not sure which floor is right?

We’ll look at your rooms, talk through how you use them and give you a free estimate for the options that fit.

Free flooring estimate

Open 24/7 across Little Rock and Central Arkansas.

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Ready for new floors?

Call any time or book a free estimate. We’ll help you choose and install the right floor for every room.

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