What Is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring has always been perfect for creating a new look or protecting an older floor against the abuse of household traffic. Now there’s a wider selection with the addition of luxury vinyl plank and tile vinyl flooring.
Individual tiles and planks allow for easier installation methods, such as “click-lock” or interlocking planks and groutable tile. The designs look like natural stone, hardwood, and ceramic tiles, and they are solid enough that they feel like “the real thing” with some extra padding to cushion your steps.
Luxury vinyl plank or tile can be used over a cement slab floor, over tile, or even mounted on a wall for a unique accent rather than painted color. Lifeproof rigid core luxury vinyl flooring is a mainstay alternative for the DIY home makeover because of the easy installation, comfortable and durable surface, and the simple maintenance.
Not All Vinyl Flooring Is the Same
There are multiple types of vinyl flooring to choose from, with variety in the color, size, shape, and how they’re installed. With so many different options, if you’re planning on a do-it-yourself project you can do in a single weekend that will look great for years to come, make sure you find the right flooring.
- Luxury Vinyl Plank – Also called LVP, luxury vinyl plank is a durable, pliable, water-resistant or even waterproof option. It can be found in a variety of high-definition patterns, including wood-look vinyl and stone-look vinyl planks. Some offer a cork layer for additional padding and warmth, with multiple installation choices. LVP flooring options can be glued down to an existing floor, or there are selections that are click-together or peel-and-stick to make installation easy.
- Engineered Vinyl Plank – Known as EVP, engineered vinyl planks look like hardwood floor, with a longer, narrow shape in varying widths. Mix and match lengths, widths, colors, and patterns to create the look of a natural hardwood floor, with the advantage of rigid core durability, water resistance, and easy cleaning.
- Engineered Vinyl Tile – With squared sides and patterned to look like stone, marble, wood, or ceramic tile, engineered vinyl tile (or EVT) can be arranged edge to edge for a seamless look, or installed with grout to give the look and feel of tile.
- Sheet Vinyl – The classic vinyl, good for covering large floor spaces without the hassle of setting individual pieces or repeating patterns. This type of flooring provides a ready-to-go design, regardless of corners and walls. It is very sensitive to the condition of the floor under the sheeting, so it is best on level, smooth floor bases.
Appearance and Style of Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl planks realistically imitate more expensive and difficult flooring types while offering water and scratch resistance. With higher quality, textured luxury vinyl tile, you get the look you want without the wear and tear from regular use.
Styles to look for:
- Wood
- Stone
- Marble
- Concrete
- Ceramic/Porcelain
