Luxury vinyl is made more durable by its thicker wear layer is higher quality vinyl. On the off chance a a plank does get damaged, it can be replaced rather than replacing the entire floor. Standard vinyl flooring is expected to last about 10 years with higher quality brands lasting as long as 15 years.
Luxury vinyl is a much different type of flooring, though luxury vinyl flooring is made of the same PVC vinyl as standard vinyl flooring. Luxury vinyl is sold in multi-ply planks or tiles with wear layers that range from 2 to 8 mm in thickness (roughly 8/100 to 3/10 of an inch thick).
While LVP is extremely durable, it isn't totally indestructible. Luxury vinyl flooring can dent and even scratch or scuff, especially from heavy appliances, furniture, or other weighty objects. Just because it's resistant to something doesn't mean it's impervious to it.
Although they're both categorized as vinyl flooring, LVP and RVP are constructed out of different materials. At LL Flooring, our LVP products have a PVC-based core, whereas all our RVP has a stone-polymer composite (SPC) core. This differing construction gives each product slightly different features and benefits.
Different grades of LVP have a range of wear layer thickness, ranging from 4 mil to 40 mil, which translates to 0.1 to 1 millimeter. The thicker the wear layer, the better the overall quality and the longer the flooring will last. Pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations for the wear layer.
The 20-22 mil thickness can actually withstand commercial environments. Choose flooring with a middle or higher wear layer if it will be in a high-traffic area of your home. A thinner thickness will be fine if the room in issue is unlikely to have substantial foot traffic. 12 mil works just fine in residential homes.
There are three main categories of vinyl plank flooring: luxury vinyl planks (LVP), wood-plastic composite vinyl planks (WPC), and stone-plastic composite vinyl planks (SPC). They might all look the same at first glance, but there are some important differences that you should know about.
There are three main types of vinyl plank flooring: luxury vinyl plank flooring, rigid core vinyl plank flooring and waterproof vinyl plank flooring.
Vinyl plank (which includes LVT and LVP) can feature a rigid or flexible core. And as we just said, rigid-core vinyl plank is also called… EVP! So again, your key takeaway here is that EVP is just another term for rigid-core vinyl plank flooring.
Vinyl flooring clearly is a better choice in high-moisture environments than laminate flooring, making it an excellent choice in bathrooms. But for whole-house installations, laminate flooring often makes sense because it offers a wide range of choices.
Many homeowners, interior designers, and builders are opting for Luxury Vinyl Flooring as a substitute for other vinyl-type options due to its hardwood style. Compared with other hardwood flooring it is an attractive choice for those who want some classic hassle-free flooring without high-price tags.
Its durability and water resistance makes it a great material to increase value in rental properties, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. However, we don't always choose luxury vinyl for our properties. While the material is durable and stands up to water well, it's softer than hardwood and tile.
Maintenance and Longevity
In general, you can rely on vinyl flooring to last anywhere between 10 and 25 years.
Cost. Vinyl can cost anywhere from $0.50 per square foot for a sheet to $5.00 per square foot for luxury planks or tiles. A good range to ballpark for quality vinyl would be between $2.50 to $5.00. As with most types of flooring, you will pay more for a high-quality and customized floor.
Known for its exceptional durability and longevity, luxury vinyl is protected by a well-designed, scruff-and-scratch-resistant “wear layer.” This surface layer is so hardwearing, in fact, that the underlying design layer will never fade or wear away underfoot (a common misconception).
The thickness of Luxury Vinyl Planks is measured in units called mil, referring to the level of wear it can withstand. Despite the similarities in the name, this measurement (mil) is not related to millimeters (mm), as 40 mil is roughly equivalent to 1.0 mm. Thicker planks are more resistant to dents and scratches.
There are three main types of vinyl flooring: LVT (luxury vinyl tile), LVP (luxury vinyl plank), and sheet vinyl. The best option for you and your home will depend on several factors including your style preferences, installation considerations, and budget factors.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring costs $2 to $5 per square foot on average for the materials and $4 to $13 per square foot with labor. These planks cost slightly more than standard rigid vinyl planks because they tend to be thicker and softer.
Luxury vinyl planks are significantly cheaper than traditional hardwood and can offer a similar look and decent durability for your budget.
“For heavy foot traffic areas such as living rooms and kitchens, I recommend getting vinyl plank flooring with an enhanced urethane finish,” Lewis says. “They have a high-gloss look and are damage-resistant.” However, for lower traffic areas, no-wax finishes are best, she says.
LVT might be referred to as Luxury Vinyl Plank, or LVP, especially if the LVT mimics te look of wood or comes in a plank.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
LVT is a type of vinyl flooring that is designed to imitate natural flooring options such as hardwood and ceramic tile. Thanks to technological advances and enhanced design capability, vinyl floors can now look and feel nearly identical to the products they're mimicking.
"Good news! You can, in fact, replace damaged click luxury vinyl planks without needing to unclick your entire floor. However, the process does take some finesse and we recommend hiring a professional installer for the work."
Vinyl plank flooring offers excellent durability
The excellent scratch resistance you'll find in LVP flooring comes from a protective wear layer that also protects against stains, scuffs, dents, and other forms of daily wear. It's the perfect option for busy rooms, especially with pets and children in the home.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are also one of the best types of flooring to install quickly and without a mess. The simple installation process involves a click-and lock-system that easily fits over your floor's sublayer. The new luxury vinyl floor is what's known as a floating floor.