I was born and raised in the Midwest. Go for hardwood floors. Leave the LVP for your basement.

Engineered hardwood has its uses, but if you chose this make sure you choose a floor that can be refinished, not one with a super thin veneer. I have nothing against LVP (except that the term, “luxury vinyl” is an oxymoron) but while it looks OK, hardwood will last for generations.

100% hardwood - I have no idea why someone would suggest LVP floors if real hardwood is in the budget. I mean let's face it - it's plastic. I would skimp on other finishes if I had to in order to get hardwood. You will NEVER regret using real wood. I'd also suggest you get real hardwood over the engineered if it's in the budget. They can be refinished many more times than the engineered stuff. The french oak will be lovely.

design girl,,,engineered wood is real wood. and it's often stronger than SOLID wood floors and less likely to expand and contract w/weather changes.

As for finishing, these newer engineered floors are guaranteed for over 25 years. Depending on what kind of flooring you get, they can usually be refinished. But lets face it, she wants a French Oak. French oak floors are fumed and often wire brushed finish. To refinish that type of floor, would require a lot more money than the old style 2" solid oak floors of the 40's. apples and oranges.

What brand was used for the French oak flooring? It is absolutely gorgeous!

Cindy,,Calif. Classics-Mediterranean collection

Whoever coined the term "luxury" in the LVP should win the flooring person of the year award for revitalizing a blah material.

LVP instead of wood for the main floor in the midwest? Absolutely not. Real wood. 100%

I have lived in two major midwestern markets and, yes, absolutely go with wood if it is in your budget. Honestly, LVP is not considered high-end by anyone except vinyl flooring salespeople . Here, in mid-high/high-end markets, wood is the norm and vinyl flooring is considered a negative when a house hits the market. For really wet areas like baths, laundry or mudrooms, I would consider a natural material like tile/slate.

Sounds like the OP is getting LVP mixed up with engineered floors? She’s getting samples of engineered floors but calling it LVP? Easy to get it mixed up if you are not reading Houzz all the time. Beth, great floors and furniture...

@wacokid I know the difference between the two of them and no, not getting them mixed up.

Here is a helpful Engineered wood floor diagram. Keep in mind not all Engineered floors are prefinished.

Educational Plank Flooring Examples · More Info

Get the real wood. It's already what you love, and you won't regret it.

@Beth H. : I have looked at and have taken home about 50 LVP samples and I finally decided to go with engineered hardwood. Your floors (based on the one pic you posted) look like what Im looking for. Can you tell me what color they are and where you bought them? Im in Socal. Thank you!!

jennifer,,, they are CasaCalifornia, Mediterranean collection, Granville is the color.

I have connections w/construction so a friend who does floors got them at cost for me in Ontario. Since the China tax increase, these floors have gone up to almost $10 sq ft.

They do carry them (and a ton of other really close matches to this) at State College Distributors in Anaheim. They have a huge flooring selection. Talk to George Solis over there and tell him I sent you. (you might have seen him on Flip or Flop)

This is the brand/collection, but a diff color than what I have

@Beth H. : thank you so much!! I appreciate it!

My mom has engineered hardwood in her family room as well as solid hardwood floors in her hallways and stair (which see much more traffic than the family room), and there is a world of difference in how they have worn.

The solid hardwood looks brand new, even with two big dogs running around. The engineered hardwood looks awful- covered in scratches and so worn.

There is no comparison in my eyes. We went with solid oak in our home and we are so happy with the result. Natural materials always look inherently beautiful, even if they get a bit worn, but man-made materials look awful as soon as they are the slightest bit dinged up. The flooring stores always try to push engineered wood for some reason, but both of our flooring installers in our past two homes have agreed that there is no substitute for the real thing.

Beth, can you tell me how your floors have worn since you installed them? Do you notice many scratches/dents? Does it sound solid when you walk on it? We are loving the California collection Mediterranean- Calypso, but I am very nervous about investing this much money in floors that I have to baby or that get all banged up. Thanks for any information you can give me.

Kim,,,it's very solid. just make sure the glue is spread to completely cover the plank. I have a few spots (like under the kitchen sink) where they missed the corner and it squeaks.

They've held up great. I don't have dogs, but I have cats and have heard their nails burning rubber across the floor they go off on their tangents.

I've spilled water, cleaned up their barf, spilled food, whatever, it all cleans up very well.

as for dents, only if you drop something very heavy. but any wood floor will dent.

I vacuum w/a Dyson, and then I use Bona wood floor cleaner on a mop. in the kitchen, i'll often take the scrubby brush and watered down Dawn to clean up spills or oil stains. no problem.

no, I don't baby them. I don't wear shoes in my house though.

I love my floors.

just make sure on install they clean up all the glue residue. my guys were messy and lazy. had to call them back w/special glue remover and rag and go over the entire floor.

Thank you for your super quick reply! You're floors are beautiful! That's all great to hear and really helps me make this decision❤️ Thank you!