If you are installing some new floors, what you choose as a subfloor is going to make a big difference. Today, we are here to compare two different subflooring materials, Advantech and LP Legacy. We want to figure out what both of these subflooring materials are, what makes them similar and different, and which one you should choose for your specific application. Let’s determine which of these subflooring options is best for you.
Advantech and LP Legacy: The Basics
Before we start talking about similarities and differences, let’s figure out what both Advantech and LP Legacy are.
What Is Advantech?
First, we have Advantech, which is a very high-quality and extremely dense type of engineered wood that is made by creating a woven matrix of wood fibers that is then coated with a thick layer of extremely durable and waterproof resin.
This forms panels that are extremely dense, strong, stiff, weight-bearing, quiet when walked on, and waterproof too. It is a very popular option for subfloors, particularly when installing wood, parquet, or carpeted floors, and it works well in high-traffic areas and places that will see a good bit of moisture. Just don’t use it for exterior applications.
What Is LP Legacy?
We then have LP Legacy, which is another type of subflooring, which some would call engineered wood, although it is technically a composite wood. Here, long strands of wood are taken and coated in Gorilla Glue and then pressed together to form subflooring panels.
These panels come in many different sizes, can bear a good bit of weight, are water resistant, not overly heavy, relatively easy to install, are quite flexible, and perform quite well in most cases. This type of panel will flex and vibrate a bit, and no, it’s not 100% waterproof or the most impact-resistant material around, but it is also a cost-effective option to consider.
Similarities of Advantech and LP Legacy
Now that we know what both of these subflooring materials are, let’s figure out what makes them similar.
1. They’re Wood Panels
A basic similarity here is that both of these panels are made of wood. Now, both aren’t solid lumber, but they do both contain some degree of real wood, although Advantech is more so than LP Legacy. You could consider both to be types of engineered wood.
2. General Applications
So, today we are here talking about subfloors, and yes, both LP Legacy and Advantech are types of subfloors. In this sense, they do serve the same purposes. Both of these subfloor options can be used to underlay carpet, tile, parquet, wood floors, and more. They both make for ideal subfloors in their own ways, although their performance and qualities do differ, as you will find out further below.
3. Warranties
The other similarity shared here is that both of these materials come with limited lifetime warranties. Although the exact terms of both warranties may differ slightly, when it comes down to it, if something goes wrong with either of them, you should be covered.
Differences Between Advantech and LP Legacy
Now that we know what makes them similar, let’s figure out what makes Advantech and LP Legacy different from each other.
1. Stiffness and Vibration
One of the biggest differences between these two subflooring materials is that Advantech is much denser and stiffer, with LP Legacy subflooring being the more flexible and less dense of the two.
You might think that flexibility is good, which may be true in terms of impact resistance, but due to Advantech being of much higher quality, it still tends to have better impact resistance in spite of its much stiffer nature.
Not only is it more impact resistant, but it also vibrates much less. When you walk on LP Legacy subflooring, a bit of noise and vibration may be produced, which is not the case for Advantech.
2. Strength and Durability
Another difference here, something we did touch on above, is that Advantech is simply the superior of the two in terms of durability and strength. The materials used in the manufacturing process of Advantech make it much stronger, more durable, less prone to general wear, and more impact resistant than LP Legacy subflooring. If you need something strong, then Advantech is the way to go.
3. Water Resistance
Ok, so both LP Legacy and Advantech are designed to be fairly water resistant, which means that they can be used as subfloors for bathrooms and kitchens. However, when it comes to how water resistant they are, they do differ.
LP Legacy is not overly water resistant, although it can withstand occasional exposure to some moisture. Advantech subflooring, on the other hand, is nearly waterproof and works really well in all areas where it may be exposed to fairly high levels of moisture on a regular basis.
4. Weight and Ease of Installation
Due to Advantech flooring being the far denser of the two, both due to the materials used and the manufacturing process, it is also substantially heavier than LP Legacy. For one, this means that the frame you use for the flooring needs to be durable and able to hold a good deal of weight.
Moreover, this heavy weight does make it a bit more difficult to install than the much lighter LP Legacy subfloor. LP Legacy panels can be handled and installed by a single person, whereas for Advantech subflooring, you are likely to require assistance.
5. Cost
One thing that does need to be said about Advantech subflooring, due to its higher quality, is that it will also cost substantially more than LP Legacy subflooring. Although the cost will differ depending on your location and the retailer, you can expect to spend anywhere between 25% and 75% more on Advantech flooring.
6. Longevity
With good care and proper installation, you can expect LP Legacy subflooring to last for up to around 25 years, with Advantech subflooring lasting for potentially 35 or even 40 years. It may cost more, but it will also last longer.
7. Certifications
The certifications that these subflooring options have are also different. LP Legacy subflooring is APA verified, which means that the materials used meet the standards of the engineered wood association. On the other hand, Advantech has an EDR-1785, plus it has a structural 1 rating as well. The bottom line is that Advantech is just more durable and higher in quality.
Advantech vs. LP Legacy: Which Should You Use?
If you are looking for something affordable that is easy to install, then LP Legacy subflooring will do just fine. However, if you are willing to spend more money and you want a subfloor that is super durable, nearly waterproof, and won’t vibrate or make noise when you walk on it, then Advantech flooring is the way to go.
Summary
Now that you know what the main differences between these materials are, you can make an informed decision between the two. What it really comes down to is price versus quality, so choose wisely.
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