Hello ishop19, We've successfully installed the Van Gogh line in many homes, and have never come across the point of the "texture" looking like smudges. I do see what you're referring to in your photos, and I'd have to say that it must part of the top layers' added "texture." It's definitely not a mallet mark. Mallet marks do make distinct marks, (and not generally needed for LVT installation, we time the adhesive to optimal tack, and use weighted rollers) but can easily be removed from vinyl. I would agree with picking up one box, and staggering the seams in an area of your home, just to lay it out a bit ( so you can see how the light hits the flooring on a larger scale). If you still see the "smudges" that you're referring to, and wiping it down with windex doesn't remove them, than I'd say that it's, without a doubt, part of the graining texture pattern. Remember, you did bring home a floor sample, so who knows what those planks have been through. Karndean makes some really beautiful products, and I'm sure that if this particular color will "drive you nuts," you'll be able to find a nice alternative. Good Luck The Flooring Blog

I have Coretec Hayes Oak which is a wide plank and you can purchase the treads. I like it b/c it's wide and covers the whole tread so it isn't piecy like some LVP stairs! I've had it for 4 months. No scratches on the steps which did have wood tread previously.

Hi Paul. just saw it was you. how are the bathrooms looking? the treads look like red oak, hence the pink tone. a white oak might have been a better option. overall they're nice wood stairs. not sure why the floor and stair treads weren't matched up ahead of time? You said it's a high end rental but you've got LVP floors and wood stairs? couldn't the LVP have been used on the stairs? or maybe a stain on site oak floor? these are white oak. You could see about getting new white oak treads and just paint the risers as they are. that's one option you could do daker on the stairs. test on a spare piece of red oak. maybe a walnut. nothing w/red in it. you want more of an ashier brown to cancel the red. another option 3rd option-bleaching? could be expensive. call in a wood floor refinishing guy to see what they think. Painting over that beautiful wood? a waste of wood. What if you stained the treads and added a runner? herringbone sisal i like the Antelope jute

No one can answer this question for you, but you. Different people value different things so differently. I have hardwood in one house, LVP in another. The each have their pros and cons. You will get some people screaming about how LVP is plaaaastic. Yeah, I don't care about that. I don't have an inherent hatred of plastic. It's everywhere now, from phones to laptops to cars. The LVP is in a beach house. It handles the sand and the salt/wetness beautifully. The hardwood it replaced was so beat up by the conditions there, and I like not having to worry about scratches and water damage. I also like the wider planks (and the stability of not worrying about them moving, etc.). However, at the end of the day, it is also clearly NOT "real" hardwood - and if I'm being honest, I think "real" hardwood looks better. There, I said it. :) However, that is a fully subjective thing too. In the end, I just couldn't justify the expense of putting "real" hardwood back into a site where it had already been beat up badly once. I decided - FOR ME - that I'd rather have an LVP product that looked good, vs "real" hardwood that was beat to heck. It's so nice not to have to worry about the floors, or the dogs running, or all the wetness/sand/salt anymore. So again, for me, it was a combination of expense and site conditions that led me to the LVP. I am 100% happy with that choice in that house. I have hardwoods in my primary house. They too are somewhat scratched up from the dogs, but no water/salt/sand issues there and so I prefer the hardwoods there. I think they just look nicer. I have no idea if any of that helps you at all. In the end it is truly personal preference, IMO.