- Solid hardwood and porcelain tile can outlast the house.
- Engineered: decades, depending on the wear layer.
- Vinyl and laminate: roughly 10–25 years, decided mostly by the wear layer or AC rating and the install.
- Carpet: usually the shortest.
Warranty years aren't lifespans. A "lifetime" vinyl can look tired in 10 years in a busy home, and a 70-year-old oak floor can look new after a refinish. These ranges are what we see in real homes, not lab numbers.
| Floor | Typical real-world life | What stretches it |
|---|---|---|
| Solid hardwood | 50–100+ years | Refinishing every 10–25 years |
| Engineered hardwood | 20–50+ years | Thick wear layer (3 mm+), humidity control |
| Porcelain tile | 40+ years | Good install, flexible membrane, stiff floor |
| SPC vinyl plank | 10–25 years | 20+ mil wear layer, flat subfloor |
| Laminate | 10–25 years | AC4, keeping water off the seams |
| Carpet | 5–15 years | Good pad, nylon fibre, low traffic |
What shortens every floor
- Grit at entries (mats!)
- A bad or uneven subfloor
- Water sitting on seams
- Dry winter air (wood)
- Wrong cleaners and steam mops
Common questions
How long does vinyl plank flooring last?
Usually around 10–25 years in a home, depending mostly on the wear layer thickness, traffic and how flat the subfloor was. A 20+ mil wear layer lasts much longer than 6–12 mil.
How long does hardwood flooring last?
Solid hardwood can last 50–100+ years with periodic refinishing. Engineered hardwood can last decades, depending on how thick its real-wood wear layer is.
How long does laminate flooring last?
Typically 10–25 years. AC4-rated laminate kept away from standing water lasts longest.
Who's writing this: Rose and Thorn Flooring is a flooring company in Surrey, BC. We install floors for a living, so yes, we'd love to do yours. But nobody pays us to say nice things about a product, and we don't earn commission from any brand. If something here is wrong or out of date, text us at 604-716-4160 and we'll fix it.