What is Vinyl Plank Flooring? 9 Benefits of Vinyl Plank Flooring

Many individuals are pulling up their carpets and installing luxury vinyl planks in their houses to achieve a beautiful wood effect. Vinyl plank flooring might be a complicated topic because of the abundance of information available.

We’ve assembled the most up-to-date information on vinyl planks for your convenience. You’ll be able to make an informed selection this way.

Learn about the numerous varieties of vinyl planks, their thicknesses and wear layers, their styles, and even how to install them in this comprehensive guide!

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What is Vinyl Plank Flooring?

This type of material, PVC, is found in all vinyl plank flooring. Vinyl plank flooring comes in a variety of styles and colors. Peel and stick vinyl planks, solid core, luxury vinyl planks, and waterproof vinyl planks are just a few of the possibilities available to you.

These all have the same advantages as vinyl, but they are made up of different layers and features.

For starters, here are some commonalities between each type of plank before we get into specifics.

Home Depot LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring

In terms of floor coverings, Home Depot tends to be at the forefront of low-cost options. What Home Depot lacks in selection, it often makes up for with the ease of access to items that are already in stock.

The LifeProof vinyl plank flooring from Home Depot is impressive, especially considering the inexpensive price. If you want to get your hands on Behr paint or Glacier Bay bathroom items, you’ll have to go to a Home Depot shop. Halstead International, based in Connecticut, is the company behind LifeProof luxury vinyl flooring.

The seams of thin vinyl plank flooring might be a challenge. However, because LifeProof is 7 mm thick, the planks may be dropped and locked with ease, and the seams remain intact, unlike many other vinyl plank floors.

Because of its thickness, LifeProof vinyl plank flooring has the look and feel of laminate. Softness and protection from cold subfloors are two benefits of its thickness. Polymer-based components make it impervious to water and deterioration, unlike laminate flooring. Almost no other thin vinyl plank flooring product has an integrated underlayment like LifeProof.

Prior to final installation, dry-fitting the boards in the selected pattern can help alleviate the problem of LifeProof’s repeated patterns. To minimize duplication, it’s best to have multiple boxes of planks open at the same time.

Benefits of Vinyl Plank Flooring

• Installing vinyl plank flooring is a lot less expensive than installing hardwood floors. If you want a hardwood floor, it’ll cost 2 to 3 times as much as LVP ($2 – $5 per square foot) (or more, depending on the type of wood you choose).
• It is waterproof, which makes it ideal for wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Some of them are water-resistant. In many cases, it’s a function of the underlayment used to attach it. Make sure you know exactly what you’re receiving before you buy it.
• Both techniques of installation (glue down or floating floor) are quite simple to accomplish. Installation expenses are kept down, but this also makes it a doable intermediate DIY project.
• The majority of rigid vinyl plank flooring varieties may be laid over almost any existing surface, including tile and concrete. Take care to ensure that the current floor is dry, level and in good shape.
• In terms of comfort, vinyl flooring is one of the best options out there. Vinyl plank flooring, unlike tile and even hardwood, has exactly the right amount of “give” to make it gentle on your feet and joints. A vinyl plank floor is a great alternative to tile if you’ve ever felt back ache after doing the dishes on tile.
• Designed to Reduce Noise – The vinyl flooring’s layers have been specifically designed to reduce unwanted sound. With the addition of some lovely rugs, your rooms will take on a warm and inviting atmosphere.
• Vinyl planks available in a wide range of colors and styles to mimic any sort of wood, color, or style. For a completely unique aesthetic, the planks are available in a variety of lengths and widths.
• Excellent Hardwood Substitute – It’s no surprise that vinyl plank flooring has become so popular among homes, given its many advantages over hardwood. Technology has made it nearly impossible to identify the difference between real wood flooring and vinyl plank flooring just by looking at it.
• Laminate is a great option, however Laminate flooring expands and contracts, whereas vinyl plank does not. This implies that unlike laminate, which necessitates transition pieces between rooms, it may be put in large sections without transition strips.

Cons

• Even the best vinyl plank flooring will not affect the value of your home. There is no value to your home as a result. LVP is still a viable option for a variety of reasons, including the possibility of increasing your love for your home or, in the event of a move, boosting its resale value. Remember that it will not raise the value of your property..
• Vinyl flooring is designed to be long-lasting and resistant to dents and scratches, making it impossible to repair. However, this kind of injury can happen. Vinyl plank flooring, in contrast to hardwood, cannot be restored after it has been sanded and refinished. You can replace planks in a glue down installation, but it is more difficult. If a click and lock installation is used, the entire floor must be removed and restored when a damaged piece has been found.
• For some people, the smell of the glue used in glue-down installation can be too much to bear. It will eventually fade away.
• In direct UV radiation, even the least priced LVP alternatives are susceptible to fading. The best vinyl plank flooring, on the other hand, is made to withstand the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. SPC is also UV resistant due to its stone composition.

Types of Vinyl Floors

Vinyl Plank Flooring Thickness

In the past, a thicker vinyl plank signified a more durable floor, but this has changed. The thicker the wood, the more solid it felt under your feet.

Vinyl plank flooring made of stone-plastic composite (SPC) has revolutionized everything. Despite their thinness, SPC vinyl planks are made to last a lifetime. Because the core is comprised of a strong stone-plastic composite that resists denting and hides faults in the subfloor, it is resistant to dents.

The most important thing to keep in mind when deciding on the thickness of a plank these days is if the height allows you to “match up” to your other flooring without too much transition.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

As a shorthand for both luxury vinyl tile and vinyl plank, the acronym LVT is commonly used to denote both types of goods. Rigid core LVT, which most closely resembles natural stone and tile, is the most widely used type of LVT today. Gorgeous natural colors and surface textures mimic genuine tile and stone in Shaw Floors LVT designs.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) mimic the look of real wood by mimicking the grain, color, and species of the real thing. Due to its resemblance to hardwood floors, rigid core LVP is a popular alternative to LVT. For a more realistic appearance and feel, Shaw Floors employs cutting-edge technology to create LVP products that have true-to-life graphics and surface texture.

EXPLORE LUXURY VINYL PLANK

Sheet Vinyl

Sheet vinyl from Shaw Floors has a fiberglass cushion backing and is adhered to the subfloor with subfloor adhesive. It’s easy to see why sheet vinyl is a popular flooring option for any room, with a wide variety of styles to choose from.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Difference Between LVP and SPC?

In terms of vinyl plank flooring, both LVP and SPC are examples. Despite the similarities, the two are very different. Layers of melted PVC and other strengthening chemicals are used to produce LVP, or luxury vinyl plank.

Composite stone powder and resins form the core of the Stone-Polymer Core (SPC). With a printed picture of wood and an outside wear layer, both varieties have the same features SPC, on the other hand, is completely impervious to water. In addition, the stone element in SPC makes it more stiff and colder to the touch.

What is the difference between LVT and LVP?

Shape and digital picture are the main differences between the two. In order to look like real wood, LVP, or luxury vinyl planks, has been created.

When comparing LVT to traditional ceramic or porcelain tile, luxury vinyl tile comes in the form of squares and rectangles. Marble, travertine, slate, quartz, sandstone, limestone, and cement can all be compared to it. Grouting is an option for some varieties of LVT, making them appear even more like genuine tile.

Is LVP better than laminate?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. With children and pets, LVP is an excellent choice because it is so resistant to stains and messes.

Because it is water-resistant and even waterproof, it can be used in wet areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements without fear of damage.

What are the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring?

Vinyl plank flooring does not raise the value of your home, unlike hardwood floors, which do. If it ever becomes dented or scratched, it can’t be sanded down and fixed like hardwoods.

However, for many homeowners, the advantages exceed the drawbacks.

How do you install vinyl plank floors?

The tongue-and-groove shape of luxury vinyl planks makes it easy to snap boards together as floating floors. Remove the cover paper to expose the adhesive, and then place the plank down on the adhesive. Both of these alternatives are simple to install and save you money.

Are luxury vinyl planks better than laminate?

A kitchen or basement floor might be better served by vinyl planks, which are more water-resistant. Vinyl, although its similar appearance to laminate, is constructed differently and has a WPC/SPC core to make it water-resistant and even waterproof. Luxury vinyl, on the other hand, is more expensive. A wide variety of styles and colors are available for each level; they are also easy to maintain.

Are vinyl planks waterproof flooring?

Waterproof vinyl flooring is common. It is now possible for vinyl flooring makers to build a denser, less prone to expand and contract, and more resistant to water/moisture vinyl flooring than ever before. WPC/SPC vinyl flooring is a wonder product. One of these luxury vinyl tile or plank flooring alternatives is a must-have if you plan to install it in a bathroom, laundry room, or other wet location.

Do you need underlayment for vinyl plank floors?

Underlayment may be included with some premium vinyl floor planks. We recommend that you purchase an underlayment if it is not included with your product. Underlayment reduces noise, shields the subfloor from damage, and softens the feel of your vinyl floor. Vinyl planks commonly have an underlayment of cork or foam.

Conclusion

The type of vinyl floor planks you’ll need for your space should be clear to you by now. Though it’s likely difficult to chose just one option when there are so many available!

Are you ready to go shopping?