Vinyl Plank Flooring

Vinyl Plank Flooring (LVP / LVT)

Vinyl flooring is made to look like natural hard flooring such as wood, stone, slate or ceramic tile and can be installed anywhere throughout the home -- in the kitchen, bath, basement and beyond.  If you are looking for a realistic looking hard surface floor but want less maintenance and need a floor that can hold up to the harsh conditions, luxury vinyl flooring is for you. Two types of luxury vinyl flooring you'll hear is LVP and LVT. Let's take a look.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

LVP mimics the warmth and texture of real hardwood planks. It comes in a variety of widths usually 7-9 inches wide and is offered in a wide range of colors and species. Choose from species like hickory, maple, weathered gray, oak and more. Some styles include the look of hand scraping and embossing which lends to the realism of a natural wood floor. LVP, like LVT, usually comes with a cork or cushioned backing, a plastic filled core and a vinyl top layer.

The cushion or cork backing results in a softer feel when walking.  The plastic fill core is 100% water proof or water resistant which is a major advantage over hardwood or laminate.  The vinyl layer is the top layer that is designed to look like real hardwood. The product is designed to float over your subfloor or can even be floated over another hard surface floor if the existing floor is attached to the subfloor.

There are several advantages when it comes to the floating installation method.  No floor last forever, so when the time comes to replace the floor, the floating method is real easy to remove since it is not attached to the subfloor.  Engineered and solid hardwoods are usually nailed or glued to the subfloor making it more difficult and expensive to remove.  Compared to hardwood, LVP is more scratch resistant making it ideal for families with pets and kids.  The fact that the LVP is 100% water proof means that the floor will not expand or contract.  The floor is stable in this sense so you never have problems with gaps or buckling in seasonal changes.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)

Made to look like real ceramic tile, stone or slate.  It comes in a wide range of gorgeous colors and surface textures which gives it a natural look.  LVT is composed of the same materials as LVP.  It usually has a cork backing, a plastic filled core and a vinyl top layer. One complaint of stone or ceramic is that it’s very hard.  LVT allows more of a softer feel.  In addition, ceramic can be cold on the feet.  This is especially true when installed directly on concrete slabs or in the winter time.  LVT is also usually floated on the subfloor.  This allows for it to be easy removed in the far future or in case of a repair.