Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury Vinyl Flooring has been the fastest growing flooring option for the past several years because people love the versatility, along with the durability, as it is the only waterproof flooring option other than porcelain or ceramic tile. Although there is a high demand for luxury vinyl planks, there are still some skeptics out there who aren’t confident in the quality of LVF. No worries, though, we are here to bust some myths for you so you know more about what you are shopping for.
What you need to know
Myth 1: all Luxury Vinyl flooring is the same
B U S T: there are several different types of lvf and within those types you have several style and feature options. one of the main differences will be the engineering of the plank, so lets talk specs.
WPC: A LVP with a WPC consists of a backing, a wood core, a vinyl image layer, and a wear layer. These are highly recommended for residential spaces, especially upstairs as they are acoustically sound when walking.
SPC: A LVP with a SPC consists of a backing, a stone core, a vinyl image layer and a wear layer. These are suggested for commercial use as the stone core works to prevent indentation in the plank and have a higher weight PSI.
Wear Layer: The “Mil” of your LVP is the thickness of your “protective layer” that makes it waterproof and keeps it from scratching. The higher the mil the better the quality. We have found that a 12Mil is the lowest we are willing to go as it has been the Mil that can still withstand high traffic and pets.
Thickness (MM): Each style may have a different thickness that can range from 2mm to 1/2” thick. If you are working on an uneven subfloor that has holes or patches, it is better to get a thicker option. However, if your subfloor is level and in good condition, a thickness of 4.5mm is good to use and it has an attached pad for comfort.
Types: Luxury Vinyl Flooring is a term that helps umbrella the different types offered. Luxury Vinyl Planks are popular for their wood looks, Luxury Vinyl Tiles are popular for their ceramic and stone looks, and Luxury Vinyl Sheets are popular for their decorative looks.
Installation Method: Just as you have different styles of LVF you have different installation methods for them as well. The Luxury Vinyl Flooring with a locking system is the simplest to install and glue down is another great option as they are easy to repair and replace planks.
Myth 2: LVF DOESN’T HOLD VALUE
b u s t e d: When buyers are shopping for homes they are looking at the flooring and checking to see if it is well maintained and how easy it will be to maintain. Inevitably, buyers care about the aesthetic and feel when it comes to to flooring. they will certainly appreciate the durability of lvf
Investors are able to maintain a lower-cost budget, while improving the home quality by using LVF in areas with high moisture like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Buyers appreciate the easy maintenance required for upkeep.
LVF is versatile and can play upon many design styles, making it easy to create the desired aesthetic.
MYTH 3: lUXURY VINYL FLOORING LOOKS FAKE
B U S T E D: lUXURY VINYL FLOORING HAS COME A LONG WAY WITH the ENGINEERING OF IT’S PLANKS AND NOW OFFERs SEVERAL TEXTURES AND IMAGes THAT GIVE NOT ONLY AN AUTHENTIC LOOK, BUT AN AUTHENTIC FEEL.
Embossed Textures: Some LVF mimics real wood with embossed textures which allow you to feel grooves and ridges in the flooring.
Bevel: There are several different styles of bevels, from painted to pillowed, but they each give an authentic look to the planks as if they were milled from solid hardwood.
Finish: There are several styles of LVF with many different imaging options. Some styles even come with HD imaging that brings the hardwood look to life.
MYTHS B U S T E D
Even though people state that all LVF is the same, it looks fake, and doesn’t hold value, we have found many reasons those statements do not hold true. We strive to give you the information necessary to make the decision on what flooring may be best for your project, and hope this helps you shop with confidence