LVP (luxury vinyl plank) is one of the most popular forms of home flooring.
And it’s easy to see why: it’s affordable and easy to maintain, and it has just the right texture and finish to complement any home’s aesthetic. Meanwhile, technological advances are increasing the sophistication and durability of this popular product.
Let’s take a dive into what LVP flooring is all about, and examine some of its pros and cons.
What is LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank)?
First, let’s get an understanding of what luxury vinyl flooring is.
Vinyl flooring comes in long, rectangular strips, rather than the more traditional square tiles of typical flooring products. It’s important to distinguish the best luxury vinyl plank from sheet vinyl.
Sheet vinyl consists of thin, flexible vinyl material with a wear layer atop it. But luxury vinyl is much thicker, consisting of several layers of material to provide a solid, satisfying rigidity:
- A rigid backing layer—by far the largest layer;
- A layer that provides the realistic look of faux wood or stone;
- Two clear top layers to provide protection against the wear and tear of everyday use
LVP (luxury vinyl plank) flooring is designed to provide the look and even the feel of luxury flooring materials, but without the extra cost. Rather than having to be glued down, as with sheet vinyl, vinyl composite flooring is made to be interlocking, and so it snaps together in place.
It’s a pet-friendly flooring and is proof against most of the rigors of daily life. Best of all, luxury vinyl allows even for a textured feel to the flooring, increasing the verisimilitude of the mimicry of actual stone or wood floors.
Pros and Cons of LVP
There are many pros to vinyl composite flooring.
It’s a very water-resistant flooring, and luxury vinyl is only growing in popularity in many residential households and commercial businesses. Of course, it’s also important to understand the downsides of vinyl flooring.
So, here’s a look at the pros and cons of luxury vinyl plank flooring.
1. Pro: Very Affordable
By far the major advantage of luxury vinyl flooring is its affordability.
LVP tends to be anywhere from five to ten times less expensive than the genuine article. Ranging from $2 to $5 per square foot, luxury vinyl can be quite a bit more affordable than wood floors and even carpeting.
Add to that the fact that installation is much easier, and therefore much less costly, and you can see how LVP flooring is a bargain.
2. Pro: Easy Installation
A worry-free and easy installation is one of the main selling points of vinyl composite flooring.
In fact, this flooring is perfect for easy home renovation. There’s no requirement for hammering, or sawing, or any other complicated and labor-intensive installation techniques.
Actually, most LVP flooring comes with a “peel-and-place” backing, a self-adhesive arrangement in which you simply remove the backing and press the strip onto the floor.
And that’s about all there is to it!
3. Pro: Beautiful Design
The best luxury vinyl plank flooring really has come a long way in recent years.
Nowadays, they come in a large assortment of interesting colors, patterns, and textures, designed to suit the tastes of the most discriminating customers. LVP flooring is definitely seen to be superior to sheet vinyl and laminate flooring, but without the price point of actual hardwood, stone, or tile flooring.
Plus, there are the intricate texture patterns that now exist. This is done to mimic the look and feel of the real thing, and more often than not it does a great job.
4. Pro: Very Durable
Vinyl flooring is very rugged and durable over the long term.
Now, that doesn’t mean you can slack off when it comes to cleaning it. But, with proper maintenance (see below), you really can look forward to enjoying your luxury vinyl plank flooring for many years.
5. Pro: Easy Maintenance and Repair
Simply put: luxury vinyl floors are very easy to maintain and repair.
Cleaning these floors usually requires little more than regular sweeping, and a little weekly once-over with a damp mop or even a Swiffer. Anything more rigorous, such as a steam cleaning, is not recommended.
Repair, should it become necessary, is also relatively easier with luxury vinyl than with other types of flooring. When you install the floor, there’s usually a box of planks left over, which can be used to replace a damaged plank or planks.
6. Con: Inconsistent Quality
Despite the emphasis on different textures and photorealistic surfaces, the quality of luxury vinyl can sometimes vary, even among the top brands.
That’s why it’s important to consider the construction and thickness of the product when choosing the best luxury vinyl plank. Thicker vinyl flooring is always best since it’s more durable and resilient. And look for rigid-core vinyl, with four layers of material for added strength.
7. Con: Hard to Remove
Once the flooring is down, it will be difficult to remove should you change your mind later on.
This is because the adhesive glue that affixes the planks to the subfloor is not easy to remove. Still, should it become necessary, removal is possible without professional help. But it’s going to be a lot of hard work.
8. Con: Might Not Do Well in the Sunlight
If you go with some of the less expensive LVP brands, they might not have UV-resistant protective layers.
And this can mean fading to your floor in areas with excessive exposure to sunlight. This is why choosing the right brand of flooring is crucial.
Make the Most of LVP Flooring
So you can see that the pros of LVP (luxury vinyl plank) flooring outweigh the cons, and that’s why this type of flooring is growing in popularity with each year.
If you’re thinking about installing luxury vinyl flooring, and would like to discuss LVP along with Hardwood, stone or Tile, Contact us today for a free quote. Ulta Home can install quality flooring to add value and function to your home – and make it look beautiful.
