How does luxury vinyl plank compare to hardwood for NB kitchens?

For New Brunswick kitchens, luxury vinyl plank outperforms hardwood in nearly every practical measure — it is waterproof, dimensionally stable through NB's extreme humidity swings, and costs 30 to 50 percent less, making it the stronger choice for a room that sees water, spills, and heavy foot traffic daily. Hardwood remains beautiful and adds resale appeal, but its vulnerabilities are magnified in a kitchen environment and in NB's Maritime climate.

The most significant difference is water resistance. A kitchen is the highest-moisture room after the bathroom — splashes around the sink, drips from the dishwasher door, ice cubes that hit the floor and melt, and the occasional pot that boils over. Quality LVP with an SPC core is 100 percent waterproof. Water can sit on it indefinitely without damage. Hardwood, whether solid or engineered, absorbs moisture through seams and end joints. In a kitchen, it is not a question of whether water damage will happen — it is when. Cupping, staining, and finish deterioration around the sink area are common within three to five years, even with diligent cleanup.

New Brunswick's climate adds a second layer of stress. Summer humidity of 60 percent or higher causes hardwood to swell, while winter heating drops indoor humidity to 15 to 25 percent, causing hardwood to shrink and gaps to appear between boards. Over a full year, solid hardwood in an NB home can move enough to show visible gaps in winter and tight, slightly cupped boards in summer. Engineered hardwood handles this better because its layered construction resists expansion, but it still is not waterproof. LVP is engineered specifically for dimensional stability and does not react meaningfully to these humidity swings.

Cost Comparison

LVP for a typical NB kitchen (100 to 150 square feet) runs $2,000 to $4,000 installed. Materials cost $3 to $7 per square foot for quality SPC-core products with a 20-mil wear layer. Installation is faster because LVP floats over most existing subfloors with minimal prep, and it clicks together without adhesive or nails.

Hardwood for the same kitchen runs $3,000 to $5,000 installed. Solid hardwood requires nailing to a plywood subfloor, and engineered hardwood can be floated, glued, or nailed. Refinishing costs $3 to $5 per square foot when the finish wears — typically every 7 to 10 years in a kitchen — while LVP simply gets replaced when it reaches end of life.

Where hardwood wins is in feel, character, and perceived value. Nothing quite matches the warmth and authenticity of real wood underfoot. Hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times, extending their life to 50 years or more in a living room. However, that advantage is diminished in a kitchen where water exposure limits the practical lifespan. Hardwood also adds slightly more to resale value, though today's buyers increasingly accept quality LVP, especially when it means the kitchen floor is in perfect condition rather than showing water damage.

If you are set on the hardwood look, a quality LVP with embossed-in-register texturing is remarkably realistic. Many homeowners in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John are choosing LVP that mimics wide-plank oak or walnut — it looks authentic, performs better in the kitchen, and costs less to install. Save the real hardwood for your living room, hallways, and bedrooms where water exposure is minimal, and let LVP handle the kitchen where practicality matters most.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations