Resale Value: Does Vinyl or Laminate Add More to Your Home’s Worth?
When renovating your Riverdale home, you’re making an investment. While you want to enjoy your new floors now, it’s smart to consider how the choice between Vinyl (LVP/LVT) and Laminate will impact your home’s appeal and, ultimately, its resale value.
Both LVP and Laminate are highly popular, durable, and cost-effective alternatives to hardwood, but buyer perception and product quality differ. Here is a breakdown from the flooring experts at Buckway’s Flooring & Design on how each option affects your bottom line.
The Buyer Perception: LVP Takes the Lead
In the current real estate market, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is viewed more favorably by prospective home buyers than laminate, primarily for one key reason: Waterproof Status.
LVP (The “Luxury” Option): Buyers associate LVP with durability, low maintenance, and water-resistance. The perception of LVP is high because it is suitable for every room in the house—including bathrooms and basements. It’s seen as a contemporary, practical upgrade that requires no immediate maintenance or replacement, making the home feel move-in ready.
Longevity: High-quality LVP can last 15–25 years or more.
Resale Impact: Positive and Strong. It’s considered a modern upgrade that holds its value well, especially in kitchens and primary living areas.
Laminate (The “Budget” Option): While modern laminate is stunning and very durable, it often suffers from old perceptions of being “cheap” or “prone to water damage.” Though the latest water-resistant products are excellent, the word laminate still carries some stigma with uninformed buyers.
Longevity: High-quality laminate lasts 10–20 years.
Resale Impact: Neutral to Positive. It is a massive improvement over old carpet or worn-out sheet vinyl and is preferred over the highest-traffic alternative, but it generally won’t garner the same premium as LVP or hardwood.
The Quality Factor: Longevity and Warranty
Resale value is deeply tied to the perceived quality and lifespan of the floor. A floor with a substantial remaining warranty is a huge selling point.
High-Quality LVP: Look for products with a thick wear layer (12 mil or higher) and a rigid core (SPC/Stone Plastic Composite or WPC/Wood Plastic Composite). These floors resist gouges and temperature shifts, offering superior long-term performance. A better-performing floor means you won’t need to replace it before selling, maximizing your investment return.
High-Quality Laminate: Ensure you choose an AC rating of AC3 or AC4 for residential use. This ensures resistance to abrasion and impact. Opting for a wider, textured plank with an advanced water-resistant locking system mitigates buyer concern and enhances visual appeal.
Installation is Key
Regardless of the material you choose, the quality of installation is paramount to resale value. A shoddy installation—gapping seams, creaking planks, or noticeable subfloor imperfections—will instantly devalue the floor.
At Buckway’s Flooring & Design, we guarantee a professional installation led by Dallas Buckway Jr. With over 35 years of experience, he ensures the floor is laid correctly and promptly, providing the peace of mind that your investment will look and perform its best for decades to come.
Maximize your home’s value with a floor that buyers love! The Buckway family has the three generations of flooring expertise necessary to guide you to the perfect product. Visit our Riverdale, UT, showroom today to compare the best LVP and Laminate lines available. We’ll help you choose the option that fits your budget, lifestyle, and long-term financial goals!