Luxury Vinyl Flooring has become increasingly popular among homeowners and professionals alike. We love recommending this material to clients because of its versatility, ease of maintenance, and durability. Similar to other products, not all brands of Luxury Vinyl Flooring are created equal, keep that in mind as we explain what this flooring is, where you can use it, and why we like recommending it to clients.
What is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) mimics an array of natural surfaces such as wood, concrete, slate, marble, and other stone. Each tile or plank come in a wide variety of sizes depending on the manufacturer. They are constructed with multiple layers of plastic and padding, which vary in thickness, and affect the quiet, comfort, and durability of your floor.
Let’s break down this flooring layer by layer. The outer layer of your LVT/LVP Is called the wear layer. This is what you see when the product is installed and what will receive the most wear (get it?!) over the years, so the thickness of this layer is important! This wear layer is measured in mils, 1 mil is one-thousandth of an inch. That’s hard to imagine, something that’s easier to visualize is 40 mils equals 1 millimeter. The thicker the wear layer, the more durable and long-lasting your tile or plank will be. It’s also worth mentioning that the wear layer is coated with a urethane or acrylic finish to further protect your flooring.
Under the wear layer there is a design layer that provides your LVT/LVP with the realistic texture of wood, stone, or whatever product your floor is meant to imitate.
The next layer down is known as the core. The core gives your planks stability, so they won’t warp or buckle over time. Under the core of high quality LVT/LVP you will find the underlayment, which is usually made of cork or foam. Our preferred product uses cork which is naturally waterproof, helps block out noise and cool drafts, and provides cushioning to make the floor more comfortable.
Some tiles and planks are manufactured with rigid-core vinyl. Products made with rigid-core vinyl have a reinforced engineered wood or stone core, known as WPC (wood plastic composite) or SPC (stone plastic composite). Products with these cores are considered more durable and dent-proof than products make entirely of vinyl, making them an excellent product choice for families with children or pets. These products can also usually be installed on top of existing floors.
Care and Maintenance Recommendations.
We’ve found the easiest way to care for our LVT flooring is to sweep or vacuum and mop with a mild soapy water. As always, we recommend you follow the cleaning guidelines from the manufacturer of your product.
Unlike hardwood and some stone tiles floors that require refinishing or resealing over time, LVT requires next to no maintenance outside of regular cleaning!
Where can you use Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for wherever there are spills, kids, or pets, as the product is usually waterproof or moisture-friendly! We highly recommend LVP/LVT for kitchens, entryways, mudrooms, other high traffic areas, and even bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. To be frank, a high quality LVP/LVT would be an amazing option throughout an entire home because of its versatility and durability!
As we stated above, not all brands of Luxury Vinyl Flooring are created equal and we can guide you to the right brand. When you’re ready to update the flooring in your home, give us a call. We’d love to help you transform your home!