Sorry, I only saw the notification for this thread just now. Thanks so much for your detailed response, it makes total sense and is consistent with what I have found out in my research into this. The SPC options I have been considering all have Valinge 5G locking system, IXPE closed cell underlayment, a total thickness of at least 6.5mm, 20mil wearlayer with one of the mentioned coatings, etc.
However, since I last wrote here, I have had somewhat of a change of mind. I originally was interested in a water resistant "hardened" engineered hardwood by Valinge (
https://www.hardenedwood.valingeflooring.com/) as it is supposed to have really good water resistence and scratch/dent resistance when compared to other engineered wood floors. But it was mentioned to me that any kind of wood is not recommened in Las Vegas due to the low humidity, unless I am willing to operate a humidifier consistently in the home. So I started looking into SPC vinyl thinking that it would handle temperature and low humidity and I could simply install it and not think about it.
Then, I started noticing how all the SPC models I was interested in more or less all call for maintaining the home temperature between 60-80 degree farenheit and a relative humidty of 35% - 55% (give or take a few):
View attachment 20178
I looked into this more, and it seems that with SPC floors, I can't just install it and "forget about it". For example, I can't just leave the home for extended periods allowing it to go above 100 degrees farenheit, as that apparently starts to cause issues with the plasticizers which can ruin the flooring. It's not clear to me exactly how low humidity may be damaging to SPC flooring (or low temperatures for that matter) but I have seen it suggested that it can create problems, and that in general vinyl does expand and contract plenty, even SPC (I had thought it was primarily WPC that had these issues). It was suggested to me that I should expect to have to keep my thermostat on to keep the temperature from going above 80 degrees when I am traveling and out of town.
I would go with tile throughout the entire house, but my home is 2 stories and it has been strongly recommended to me by the home builder not to put tile upstairs (aside from the upstairs bathrooms) as this home is not designed to take on all the added weight of tile throughout the upstairs and that I am likely to have cracking issues and or something like that (can't remember the exact explanation). A couple others I have spoken to have concurred. I could do tiles downstairs, but I still need to put something upstairs and I think the house would look better with consistent flooring.
So at this point, I feel like I might as well go with the Valinge Hardened Wood Floors that I wanted in the beginning for 2 reasons:
1. The good quality decently thick SPC with good visuals that I am considering is in the $3.69 - $4.29 per/sqft range depending on the model. And the wood flooring I am interested in is about $5.29 per/sqft. That isn't huge savings in my opinion. Maybe if it was half the price.....
2. If SPC is going to be relatively high maintenance in terms of maintaing a temperature (and potentially even humidity as well), and also having limitations like not being able to clean it with bleach like you can with tiles, then I feel I might as well just get the flooring I wanted in the beginning and just commit to taking the necessary measures to keep the temperature and humidity at a reasonable level. I have lived with dogs on hardwood before and never had any real issues with excessive scratching or water damage coming from above the flooring, so I think I will be fine with it in that respect especially as Valinges Hardened Wood is said to be significantly better than traditional solid hardwood and even many enginered hardwood options .
Am I making a huge mistake? Or is it feasible to make the Valinge Hardened Wood flooring work for me taking reasonable measures?