Luxury Vinyl Flooring: 10 Essential Insights Before You Buy

Luxury vinyl flooring has transformed modern interior design, offering the stunning look of natural hardwood and stone at a fraction of the cost. Its durability, versatility, and variety have made it an increasingly popular choice for homes and businesses. Before making your decision, here are ten essential facts to know about luxury vinyl flooring.

1. Understanding Luxury Vinyl Flooring Options

Luxury vinyl flooring comes in two primary forms: Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP) and Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT). These types mimic natural materials with remarkable accuracy, fulfilling both aesthetic and practical needs.

• LVP is designed to replicate wood with features like intricate grain patterns and textures.
• LVT offers the look of natural stone or ceramic tiles with advanced durability and water resistance.

What is Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring (LVP) is a high-end vinyl flooring option designed to mimic the appearance and texture of natural wood. It offers the following features:

• Realistic Appearance: LVP resembles hardwood flooring, featuring detailed textures and grain patterns replicating various wood species, from oak to maple.
• Durability: Made from multiple layers, LVP is designed to withstand heavy foot traffic, scratches, and moisture. Its wear layer protects against everyday wear and tear, making it suitable for high-traffic areas.
• Water Resistance: Unlike traditional hardwood, LVP is water-resistant (with some options being waterproof), making it an excellent choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
• Easy Maintenance: LVP requires minimal maintenance. Regular sweeping and occasional mopping keep it looking new. Its stain-resistant surface simplifies cleaning.
• Installation Options: LVP can be installed using various methods, including click-lock, glue-down, or loose lay. This flexibility allows for DIY projects or professional installation.

What is Luxury Vinyl Tile?

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a premium vinyl flooring option that mimics the look of natural stone, ceramic, or porcelain tiles. It offers the following characteristics:

• Authentic Look: Luxury vinyl tile is designed to replicate the appearance of natural stone or tile flooring, featuring intricate patterns, textures, and colours. It can resemble materials like marble, slate, or ceramic tile.
• Durability: Luxury vinyl tile is built with multiple layers to provide excellent durability and resistance to wear. The top wear layer protects against scratches, stains, and fading, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.
• Water-resistant: Like LVP, LVT is water-resistent and may be waterproof, making it suitable for moisture-prone areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
• Low Maintenance: Luxury vinyl tile flooring is easy to maintain, requiring regular sweeping and occasional mopping. Its surface is resistant to stains and spills, making cleaning straightforward.
• Versatile Installation: LVT can be installed in various ways, including click-lock, glue-down, or loose lay. This versatility allows for quick and efficient installation.

By understanding the differences between Luxury Vinyl Plank and Luxury Vinyl Tile, you can choose the option that best suits your needs and preferences, ensuring a stylish and durable flooring solution for your home.

What is Luxury Vinyl Flooring Made From?

Luxury vinyl flooring, which includes both Luxury Vinyl Plank floors (LVP) and Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), is made from a combination of advanced materials designed to enhance its durability, appearance, and performance. The key components typically include:

• Wear Layer: This is the top layer of the flooring and is made from a clear, protective coating of polyurethane or similar materials. It provides resistance to scratches, stains, and wear, ensuring the longevity of the flooring.
• Printed Vinyl Layer: Beneath the wear layer is a high-definition photographic layer that gives luxury vinyl flooring its realistic appearance. You may also hear this thin layer called the design layer. This layer can mimic the look of natural materials such as wood, stone, or ceramic tile with incredible detail and texture.
• Core Layer: The core layer is the thickest part of the flooring, providing stability and strength. It is typically made from high-density, waterproof materials. There are different forms of luxury vinyl cores, including:
• Solid PVC Core: Offers excellent durability and water resistance.
• WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) Core: Combines wood fibers and plastic, providing a softer, more comfortable feel underfoot while maintaining water resistance.
• SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) Core: Composed of limestone and plastic, this core provides superior rigidity and dimensional stability, making it ideal for high-traffic and commercial spaces.
• Backing Layer: The bottom layer of luxury vinyl flooring is designed to add additional support and stability. It is often made from a foam or cork material, providing sound insulation and cushioning underfoot.

Simply put, luxury vinyl flooring is composed of the same four layers that make up traditional vinyl floors or sheet vinyl. Luxury vinyl, however, has a stronger wear layer, making it considerably thicker than standard vinyl to give it a semi-rigid appearance. Luxury vinyl is sold in multi-ply planks or tiles that perfectly mimic natural wood or stone down to the grain pattern and texture.

2. Consider The Moisture Level of Your Space

Luxury vinyl is an excellent choice for moisture-prone areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Its water-resistance allows you to install wood-look floors where traditional hardwood might struggle. Select waterproof products for rooms with frequent spills or high humidity.

3. Durable Floors for Everyday Life

Luxury vinyl is built to withstand heavy foot traffic, pet-friendly households, and accidental spills. Its resilience makes it ideal for busy households and commercial spaces. Well-maintained surfaces can last years without losing their elegance.

Luxury vinyl flooring stands up exceptionally well to high foot traffic and provides superior stain resistance. Many vinyl flooring products available for your home have unparalleled durability, making them appropriate for commercial use, too.

4. Preparing Subfloors for Installation

Luxury vinyl can be installed over most subfloors, including concrete, wood, and sometimes existing vinyl. However, uneven surfaces or damaged layers may require pre-installation fixes. Consulting with a flooring expert can help ensure a smooth, level application.

5. What is the Best Thickness for Luxury Vinyl Flooring? 

Vinyl flooring thickness generally ranges from 2mm to 8mm. For durability in high-use spaces, aim for a thicker wear layer (around 20 mil) to protect against wear and tear while maintaining design integrity.

6. Ease of Luxury Vinyl Flooring Installation

The installation process for luxury vinyl is simple. Luxury vinyl planks and tiles are relatively easy to install with many using a click-and-lock system, thanks to advanced floor engineering. Since the planks and tiles are cut in a particular way, they are quickly pieced together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. Luxury vinyl flooring installation doesn't require bonding to the subfloor and snaps together in a way that locks out moisture. This type of installation is often called a floating floor because it is not actually attached to the existing floor or subfloor below but "floats" on top. 

Floating floors are commonly used with various flooring materials, including luxury vinyl planks (LVP), laminate flooring products, and engineered hardwood. This installation method combines practicality with ease of maintenance and durability, making it a popular choice for both residential and commercial applications.

Even though luxury vinyl offers a relatively easy installation, hiring a professional is always best, as it can still be tricky. Experienced installers know how to avoid amateur mistakes such as subfloor fasteners sticking up and uneven flooring. They will follow manufacturer guidelines to keep your floors under warranty. Luxury vinyl flooring that is installed properly can last for many years. 

7. Impacts of Sunlight

One of the drawbacks of luxury vinyl is that it can be susceptible to fading, so when placing luxury vinyl floors in rooms with large windows, be sure you're also installing effective window treatments. Some luxury vinyl floors include a UV inhibitor that protects them from direct sunlight exposure, but these floors can still fade over time. The best way to safeguard your new luxury vinyl floors is by using window shades or blinds to block out some of those high noon rays. 

8. Drawbacks of Luxury Vinyl

Luxury vinyl flooring offers durability, low maintenance, and resilience, making it a great choice for high-traffic or moisture-prone areas. While it’s production involves PVC, you can opt for low-VOC options to minimize environmental impact. To prevent damage from heavy furniture or sharp objects, use furniture pads or rugs. While it may not boost home value like hardwood or stone, its practicality and versatility make it an excellent choice for modern homes.

9. Luxury Vinyl Maintenance 

With minimal effort, your luxury vinyl floors can look brand new for years:

• Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dirt.
• Wet mop as needed using a vinyl-approved solution.
• Use furniture pads to prevent dents or scratches.

For busy households, these simple routines ensure your investment withstands daily wear.

10. Comparing Luxury Vinyl to Other Flooring Options

Luxury vinyl offers several advantages over traditional hardwood and ceramic tile:

• Affordability: Lower cost while achieving a high-end look.
• Water-resistance and Waterproofing: Ideal for damp environments that might damage wood.
• Comfort: Softer and warmer underfoot compared to stone or ceramic tile.

While hardwood may add more value to a home, luxury vinyl excels in versatility, maintenance, and upfront affordability.

Step into elegance. Order your 6 luxury vinyl samples now to see and feel the difference in person. Ready to talk to an expert? Empower your home decisions with insights from our flooring experts. Schedule a free consultation today and make an informed choice.