Vinyl plank flooring or LVP has taken the home improvement world by storm. It’s affordable, waterproof, and looks surprisingly good when compared to a real hardwood. But is it too good to be true?

If you’ve been shopping for floors, you’ve probably heard endless praise for LVP. But at Really Cheap Floors, we believe in transparency. No flooring product is perfect for every home. To make the best investment for your space, you need to know the potential drawbacks—not just the 100% waterproof floor sales pitch.

In this guide, we’ll cover the honest disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring, from durability concerns in high-traffic zones to potential installation hurdles, so you can decide if it's the right choice for your family.

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The budget flooring guide 5 Cheap Flooring Options: The Most Affordable Materials Are you looking for the 5 best budget flooring options. Saving on your flooring material and the final home installation allows you to focus on more important qualities when selecting a new floor. Sheet vinyl, linoleum, engineered wood, carpet, and vinyl plank are all popular options when searching for affordable solutions. Let’s take a closer look at each of these 5 affordable flooring options so that you can ... Read more...

Traveling from a special buyers meeting held by one of the largest manufacturers of flooring in the world gives me some time to think. These meetings tend to get into my head. I am reminded that LVP, or luxury vinyl plank, is still the fastest-growing flooring category in the US. If so, why don’t we know more about this popular product besides that its a waterproof one? Well, pull out our notepad, and I will tell you what I know about luxury vinyl planks. I'll share the good, the bad, and the ... Read more...

When it comes to finding a favorite wood stain colors it helps to start with looking at the most popular stains. We list agreed upon staples that stay in favor with flooring installers and DIY-ers. In this blog post, we will delve into ten of our all-time favorite wood stain tints from trusted brands like Minwax and Varathane. If you want to find a similar solid hardwood or engineered hardwood with a wood stain like these, please give us a call to match it up with our always changing ... Read more...

Satin versus Semi Gloss for hardwood finishes is a personal choice based on apperance. Both satin and semi-gloss hardwoods are popular, dependable finishes for wood floors in residential interiors. If you’re looking to purchase hardwood floors and need help deciding which  one you should go with, read on to learn the difference between satin and semi-gloss hardwood finishes in high-traffic areas. Satin reflects light a moderate amount whereas semi gloss or glossy hardwood flooring options ... Read more...

Engineered wood can deliver the appearance of hardwood with better dimensional stability and a lower price than many solid products. However, its performance depends heavily on the wear layer, core, finish, installation method, and room conditions. Before you buy, compare these 10 disadvantages of engineered wood flooring with your budget, household, and expectations. Table of Contents Engineered hardwood can be pricey Low-quality core layers Fading from sunlight Acclimation ... Read more...

We get it. You're staring at that stubborn discoloration on your beautiful hardwood floor. Maybe it has been there for months. Maybe you just discovered it under a rug. Either way, you have already tried several cleaning tips, and now you are wondering: Is this floor salvageable, or am I looking at thousands in replacement costs? Here's what no one tells you upfront: An old urine stain may extend through the finish and into the flooring. Moisture and urine residues can discolor the material, ... Read more...

Log Cabin Flooring Guide A perfect log cabin look can be achieved with lower graded wood floors. I bet you never heard of that from other flooring stores. That’s because lower graded floors are rare and they have less margin than 1st Quality floors. Log cabins provide a unique and rustic style that can be complemented with an array of flooring types. Cabin-grade hardwood and builder-grade options are gaining popularity. For many log homes, cabin hardwood flooring is a classic choice ... Read more...

Pros and Cons of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood combines a real hardwood surface with a layered core. It looks and feels like wood because the top layer is wood, but its cross-layered construction is more dimensionally stable than a solid plank. That makes it a practical option for wide-plank floors, concrete subfloors, and homes that experience seasonal humidity changes.

It is not the right floor for every project. The quality of the core, wear layer, finish, grade, and installation method all affect how an engineered floor will perform. This guide explains those tradeoffs and shows several current products so you can compare specifications and price, not just color.

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Have you ever walked into a room and been captivated by the v-shaped patterns on the floor? Or how about the zigzag layout of wooden planks of a herringbone floor.  Herringbone can make compact rooms feel more spacious while the chevron way of wood flooring layouts more of a visual movement to enjoy.
Herringbone uses rectangular planks set one after another on top of each other spaced at the same distance for a row to be completed. Herringbone is typically easier to install because the installer doesn't have to measure the 45 degree angle needed for every hardood plank he cuts to fit a row.

You may not know it, but these two timeless patterns have been charming us for centuries. Chevron and herringbone each have their unique rhythm and flow, showing its roots from ancient Roman roads to modern Manhattan lofts. Let's cover the differences between them, explore their aesthetics in various settings, and help you choose which is best suited for your space. Are you ready?

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