Hardstone vs Vinyl flooring – What You Need to Know

Picking new flooring for your home can seem impossible! These days we have so much choice it’s overwhelming.

Which type of flooring is the easiest to clean? Which are most suitable for homes with pets and children? What do I need to do to keep them looking their best?

There’s so much to consider that we’ve compiled a basic cheat sheet to help you choose the next look for your home!

Vinyl Flooring

There are two main types of vinyl flooring – Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and vinyl roll.

LVT is typically the more popular choice of vinyl as it is made to imitate the look of natural wood or stone floors.

Benefits

  • Cost-effective

Vinyl is a great choice for renovation on a budget. LVT is more costly than vinyl roll but both have plenty of affordable options. The average cost for vinyl flooring in the UK starts at around £10 per square metre for vinyl roll. LVT can start from £40 per square metre and upwards. Of course, the higher the quality of the vinyl, the more expensive it will be.

  • Style

LVT and vinyl rolls come in near-limitless designs and patterns made accessible for every price range. No matter your preferred style, whether it be rustic, modern, or luxury, you are sure to find vinyl flooring that suits your needs. LVT can even mimic natural wood and natural stone flooring – all the beauty and half of the cost!

  • Easy to clean

Vinyl is ideal for any home with pets and children. Due to its waterproof surface, there is no need to panic when someone spills a drink, you can simply wipe it away. Vinyl is incredibly easy to keep clean and requires little to no daily maintenance. Sweep and mop the floor regularly to keep your vinyl in top condition.

  • Easy installation

If you like DIY solutions for decorating your home, vinyl is the way to go. Vinyl rolls and LVT are relatively easy to install and with a little practice and a spare few hours, they can easily be laid at home without professional help. Some LVT planks even click together, making the use of adhesive unnecessary for installation.

Downsides

Despite vinyl being a popular choice in the UK, it does have its issues and may not be suitable for your flooring needs.

  • Prone to damage

Many vinyl rolls and LVT planks have scratch-resistant properties, but this does not make them impervious to damage. Vinyl is easily pierced by sharp objects depending on its thickness – we recommend nothing less than 6mm thickness, but the best quality vinyl is usually 8mm or more.

Vinyl can also be warped by high temperatures or pulled away from the subfloor by heavy furniture. Always be mindful when moving heavy furniture on vinyl flooring as it can be easily damaged – try laying a sheet or some scrap carpet down to add a layer of protection over the flooring.

Stone Flooring

Natural stone tiles come in a wide variety of styles, colours, and finishes. Some of the most popular stone floor types include marble (you can read our blog here on how to keep marble floors clean!), sandstone, limestone, slate, granite, and the list goes on.

Stone tiles are authentically beautiful and complement almost any aesthetic you could hope for.

Benefits

  • Style

Natural stone flooring, like LVT, comes in a wealth of different styles to complement any home. Slate tiles bring an interesting rustic feel to the home whereas marble tiles bring a modern, luxurious feel. Limestone suits cottage-style kitchens and homes really well. The style possibilities are endless with natural stone tiles.

Natural stone tiles are authentically beautiful and bring a wow factor to any room.

  • Durability

Stone tiles are durable and long-lasting so they can withstand heavy foot traffic. These tiles will last years, even decades, if kept in good condition. Their durability makes them perfect for homes with pets and children.

  • Health

Compared to carpets, natural stone is a much healthier choice of flooring in the home. Natural stone doesn’t trap dust and allergens as carpet does – improving the air quality and overall health of the home.

  • Maintenance

Though it can take a small amount of research to know what you are doing, natural stone tiles are relatively easy to clean and maintain. The tiles aren’t as easy to clean as vinyl and require a few more steps, such as sealing the stone, but general maintenance only requires a sweeping brush or vacuum, mild dish soap, and warm water.

  • Temperature regulation

Stone floors are fantastic at regulating heat. They will stay cool in the summer and, as they are good conductors, stay warm in the winter, meaning that the floor will be nice and warm underfoot. You’ll also be glad to know, particularly with rising gas prices, that good quality stone flooring will help reduce the gas bill.

Downsides

  • Price

In comparison to vinyl, natural stone tiles are quite pricy depending on the type of stone used. Prices start from approximately £30 per square metre on the cheaper end of the scale. The costlier options can easily reach over £100 per square metre depending on the type and finish of the stone.

Despite the costliness of natural stone, it is long-lasting and timeless, which makes the price worth it in the long run.

  • Installation

Unlike vinyl, natural stone is not easy to install or remove. Stone flooring should be fitted by a professional for a perfect finish. Not only does the installation require heavy labour, but the subfloor must be level for an even fit and a professional will be able to identify this problem before starting any work.

  • Cleaning

Though stone floors are easy to clean when you the right process, some tiles are trickier to deal with than others. For example, most stone flooring is resistant to staining but porous tiles like marble can stain very easily if a liquid is left to sit on the surface.

Conclusion

Both vinyl and natural stone flooring offer a wide range of styles and differing price ranges. The main factors to consider are the look you are trying to achieve, the cost of the material and installation, and the level of maintenance required.

Once you’ve weighed the pros and cons, we guarantee you will find the perfect flooring for your home with such an extensive market.

To keep any flooring in tip-top shape, whether it be vinyl, carpet, or natural stone tiles, we recommend using a professional cleaning service such as XL Cleaners for an annual service.

Areas we cover:

We cover Liverpool and surrounding areas including Southport, The Wirral, St Helens, Widnes, Burscough, Formby, Hightown, Ormskirk, Rainford, Rufford & Skelmersdale