Room by room
| Room | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms, laundry, basements | Waterproof vinyl plank |
| Kitchens | Waterproof vinyl plank, or bamboo if you want real wood fiber |
| Living areas and bedrooms | Any: hardwood, bamboo, vinyl, or laminate |
| Rentals and high traffic | Vinyl plank (easy plank-by-plank repair) |
The four types
- Vinyl plank (LVP/SPC): waterproof core, click-lock floating install, and a wear layer that sets how well it resists scratches. Look at wear layer thickness (in mil) when comparing.
- Bamboo: strand-woven bamboo is very hard and dent resistant, with the look of wood. Treat it like wood around standing water.
- Hardwood: solid or engineered. Engineered handles seasonal humidity swings better and can float over concrete; solid can be refinished more times.
- Laminate: a photographic wood look on a fiber core. Budget-friendly and scratch resistant, but check the product’s water rating before using it in a kitchen.
How much to order
Measure each room’s length times width for square footage, add them up, then add 10% for cuts and waste(15% for diagonal layouts or lots of angles). Order it all at once so every box comes from the same production run, and keep a box for future repairs.
Before you install
Follow the manufacturer’s acclimation instructions. Wood and bamboo typically sit in the room for a few days first, and New England winters make that matter. Check the subfloor is flat and dry, use the underlayment or moisture barrier the product specifies, and leave the expansion gap at the walls that the instructions call for, or the warranty may not apply.