Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and laminate are the two most popular alternatives to hardwood, and from across the room they can look almost identical. Underneath, they're very different products, and choosing the right one for each room matters more than choosing a color.
LVP is made of vinyl or a stone-polymer core, which makes most of it fully waterproof. That's why it's our default recommendation for basements, laundry rooms, mudrooms, and kitchens where spills and leaks happen. It's also softer and quieter underfoot.
Laminate has a fiberboard core with a printed image under a hard wear layer. It's extremely scratch resistant — great for homes with dogs — and often looks more like real wood up close. Newer laminates are water resistant on the surface, but standing water at the seams can still swell the core, so it's best kept out of basements.
Whichever you choose, the floor is only as good as what's under it. Click-lock floors need a flat subfloor, and an uneven base is the most common reason they separate or creak. We level the subfloor before every installation, so your floor stays tight and quiet for years.