Hey guys. I've lurked on here for years but haven't posted much. I managed a flooring retail store in the Jackson area for several years, and I'm in the construction industry. Let's quickly go through some of the options.
Tongue & Groove Hardwood
-Expensive unless you use #2 pine
-Pine is soft and scratches easily. The finish won't last 25 years. I know plenty of people who have installed sand and finish pine in their new home, and they were scratched to hell and back within a year. In particular, I remember one customer who had a party at her house. One of her guests wore tall heels, and you could see everywhere that lady walked throughout the night.
-While it lasts, I think pine is a beautiful wood to install on a floor.
-More susceptible to buckling due to moisture and temperature
-You'll never get rid of all the dust from the sanding, even if they use bags on the sanders.
Engineered Hardwood
-A little more $ than #2 pine, but less than T&G heart pine, oak, etc.
-They're "engineered" to expand and contract along both the X and Y axis, so they're less prone to buckling.
-Wide variety of wood species to choose from. I recommend hickory because it's the most durable domestic hardwood on the market, and it's also economical.
-Just like traditional hardwood, it can get scratched, but you can get a hardwood that will scratch less with an engineered.
Floating Vinyl
-Price can vary. This is very much a "get what you pay for" product line. Since you want a product that will last 25 years, I'll assume we're talking about a nicer LVP. This usually starts at a little less than engineered hardwood.
-Incredibly hard to scratch
-Waterproof & easy to clean
-The underlayment is important but not as important as laminate. Many of the nicer LVP lines have their own recommended underlayment that's worth the extra few cents per foot.
-These nicer lines of LVP also look almost identical to hardwood, and many also include texture. I had several customers call me back and tell me that friends and family were asking about their new "hardwood." Here's a link to my favorite line that I sold:
https://www.ivcfloors.com/flooring/luxury-vinyl-flooring/moduleo-embellish/
Wood Look Tile
-Not an economical solution for a variety of reasons. The product and install labor alone make it an expensive option. Also, with a traditional foundation because you must install backer board before tile which adds more material and labor costs. If you don't install backer board, the tile will crack when the seasonal changes in humidity and temperature cause the subfloor to expand and contract.
-Bombproof unless you drop something heavy and chip it
-Easy to clean
-There are many great looking wood look tile floors, but again, you get what you pay for.
Let me know if I missed anything. I'm happy to help.
