Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring is made using vinyl and plastics to get the look of real wood or stone. LVP looks like real wood, but with the advantage of being waterproof, durable, and less expensive than real hardwood floors. LVT is generally made in patterns that mimic stone or ceramic but with a far easier, click-together installation that doesn’t require glue or grout. And LVP/LVT has another benefit – it’s quite comfortable to stand on.
To get you started, here is a handy video on LVT and LVP from FirmFit:
The options – all the looks it comes in
Luxury Vinyl comes in a wide variety of wood and stone patterns. Whether you’re trying to match the look of an existing floor or you’re looking for something fresh and new, there’s likely a luxury vinyl pattern to meet your needs.
LVP is a great option for a wide wood plank look because unlike real wood, LVP won’t warp or cup with seasonal changes in humidity or moisture. Because it’s highly water resistant – and some luxury vinyl is completely waterproof – LVT and LVP is ideal for areas like porches, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, or anywhere else that moisture may be an issue.
How is Luxury Vinyl different from vinyl sheet flooring?
Luxury vinyl tile and plank are boxed in individual pieces, rather than coming in one large piece, like sheet vinyl. This makes installation somewhat simpler, especially since it easily clicks together without the need for additional tools or glue. Sheet vinyl, or linoleum, now comes in both stone and wood patterns, but Luxury Vinyl, with its separate click-together pieces, tends to look a bit closer to the real thing.
Luxury vinyl is made differently than sheet vinyl, with luxury vinyl comprised of several layers, including a wear layer, a wood or stone pattern layer, a vinyl or composite core, and a backing layer.
How is it different from laminate flooring?
While vinyl plank and laminate floors may look similar when standing on them, the difference comes in the way they are made. Laminate floors have a core made from wood fibers, while Luxury vinyl is made with a vinyl or plastics composite core.
Where to use luxury vinyl
Luxury vinyl is a good choice when you need a water resistant or waterproof flooring solution but don’t want the cost of ceramic, stone or hardwood. Luxury vinyl is ideal in kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways.
