Portland gets roughly eight months of damp weather, muddy paws, and wet umbrellas dripping in the hallway. Whether you share the house with a lab, a cat, or just a lot of rain boots, the floor you choose has to handle moisture and daily wear. Here is how luxury vinyl plank, laminate and hardwood compare for Portland-area homes.
What Our Climate Does to a Floor
Western Oregon is humid in winter and dry in late summer. Wood-based products absorb and release moisture, so they expand a little in the wet months and contract in the dry ones. Homes with crawlspaces, like many 1940s through 1970s houses in Milwaukie, Oregon City and southeast Portland, add another source of moisture rising from below. Plastic-based floors do not react this way.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
LVP has a waterproof core and a clear wear layer on top, so a spilled water bowl or a wet-dog shake-off does not seep into the seams. It is also softer and quieter underfoot than the other two options, which helps joints on older pets. Browse our luxury vinyl plank options, or look at vinyl floor tiles for a stone or ceramic look.
- Best for: kitchens, basements, laundry rooms, mudrooms and homes with pets.
- Watch for: lighter, thinner planks can dent under heavy furniture, so check the wear layer.
- Typical installed cost: $5 - $10 per square foot.
Laminate
Modern laminate looks remarkably like real wood and resists scratches well, which pet owners appreciate. The core is wood-based, though, so standing water is its weak point. Keep it to dry rooms like bedrooms, offices and hallways away from the front door. See the full range on our laminate flooring page.
- Best for: bedrooms, dining rooms, home offices on a budget.
- Watch for: pet accidents left sitting, and wet entryways.
- Typical installed cost: $4 - $8 per square foot.
Hardwood
Nothing matches the warmth and resale appeal of real wood. Engineered hardwood is built in layers and tolerates humidity swings better than solid planks, which is why it is a common pick across the metro. Solid hardwood is a beautiful long-term choice for rooms above grade. Hardwood can show scratches from large dogs, so choosing a harder species or a textured, lower-sheen finish helps disguise them. Compare engineered hardwood with solid hardwood before deciding.
- Best for: living rooms, hallways, primary bedrooms.
- Watch for: standing water and very wet entryways.
- Typical installed cost: $9 - $16 per square foot.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| LVP | Laminate | Hardwood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Excellent | Fair | Fair to good (engineered) |
| Scratch resistance | Good | Very good | Fair |
| Pet accident cleanup | Easiest | Needs prompt cleanup | Needs prompt cleanup |
| Feel underfoot | Soft, quiet | Hard | Warm, solid |
| Resale appeal | Good | Moderate | Highest |
Not sure which one fits your rooms and your pets?
Book a free in-home estimateOur Room-by-Room Picks
- Entry and mudroom: waterproof LVP or porcelain tile.
- Kitchen and laundry: LVP.
- Living room and hallway: engineered hardwood, or laminate if you want to save.
- Bedrooms: laminate or hardwood.
- Basement: LVP only, after a moisture check on the slab.
Talk to a Local Crew
Visit our showroom at 12518 NE Airport Way #150 to compare large samples side by side, or have us come to you. Estimates are free, and 0% financing for up to 12 months is available if you want to do the whole house at once. See how past customers describe the experience on our reviews page.
