Never use an abrasive scrubbing tool on your floor. This can cause scratches and harm your flooring. Never use a beater bar when vacuuming. This can cause damage to the floor surface.
Like all flooring though, a luxury vinyl installation is an expensive investment, and you want to protect your investment and maximize its lifespan. Unfortunately, heavy furniture has the potential to cause lasting damage to your vinyl, ruining your hard-earned money and the work of the installers.
Vinyl flooring gets damaged from underneath when it comes into contact with moisture. Problems include crumpling at the edges, as the adhesive has loosened, or, as in case of LVT, problems with abatement chemicals which can react adversely with these flooring materials.
Damaged Easily
This material isn't as strong as others like wood since it can't withstand heavy loads and can get damaged by sharp objects. It is also a lot more difficult to repair than other materials and you may need new flooring.
Will heavy objects cause dents in vinyl flooring? The short answer is yes. However, there are numerous prevention measures you can take to help protect your vinyl flooring and keep it looking great for longer.
Generally speaking, vinyl sheet flooring will last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, while vinyl plank and tile flooring will last 15 to 20 years. The thickness of its wear layer vastly impacts vinyl flooring's lifespan, so pay attention to this detail when purchasing your flooring.
How you install your luxury vinyl plank determines how quickly you can move your furniture back into place. If it's glued down, most manufacturers will suggest waiting 48 hours to allow the glue to dry thoroughly. If it's click and lock technology, you can move back in the same day.
Luxury vinyl planks (or tiles) are, in themselves, completely water-proof and cannot be damaged by exposure to moisture. For that reason they are an excellent choice for laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and other areas where moisture is around.
Why you need a rug pad for a vinyl floor. Place a rug on any hard surface and it will slip and bunch up. Vinyl flooring is no exception. If you don't put a non-slip rug pad under a rug that sits on vinyl flooring, you'll end up having to straighten it out just about every time you walk past it.
Yes, chair castors are rolling loads and can be more devastating to a floor than a 2-wheeled cart. Chair castors generally never leave a 10 square foot area and have a consistent weight attached to them. The sitter, when rolling around, will cause a consistent wear pattern that will prematurely wear a vinyl floor.
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.
The warmer and brighter it is, the more your vinyl plank material will expand, eventually forcing the planks up from their original positioning and releasing the glue on any self-adhesive versions. The good news is, you're not out of luck, there are ways to protect your vinyl planks from heat and sunlight.
Firstly, it can be difficult to install and may require professional help. Secondly, vinyl plank flooring is not as durable as other types of flooring such as hardwood or tile. It is also prone to scratching and denting from heavy furniture or objects being dragged across the surface.
Sunlight & Heat
Buckling is most common in areas that get more direct sunlight, such as along sliding glass doors and large windows in the home. If the tile is self-stick or glue-down, the extreme heat from the sun can also release the bond of the glue, allowing tiles to shift.
Felt Pads. Felt pads are a popular choice for protecting LVP floors and are well-suited for use on chairs, tables, sofas, and other furniture. Felt furniture pads come in a range of sizes and thicknesses, allowing you to customize your protection based on your furniture size and weight.
Swiffers are safe on luxury vinyl planks, yes. This includes the Swiffer wetjet, which is perfect for removing stains and grease from luxury vinyl plank flooring. If you need to test out any Swiffer product, it has to be on vinyl plank floors.
While vinyl usually durable and low maintenance, it can be damaged by certain materials found in many rug pads. Rubber, both the natural and synthetic, is not safe to use with vinyl floors because it reacts with the chemicals found in vinyl and causes staining.
Neither natural or synthetic rubber or latex-backed rugs should be used on any type of vinyl flooring. They can react with the top layers of the vinyl floor and cause discoloration or staining, potentially resulting in permanent damage to the floor.
Yes, mold can grow under vinyl flooring if moisture becomes trapped underneath the flooring material. Vinyl flooring is not a breathable material, which means that moisture cannot escape through the flooring.
Humidity can take its toll on your vinyl plank flooring. Monitor humidity levels with a hygrometer. You may be able to find a relatively inexpensive one that will save you the cost of replacing your flooring later on. The humidity should range between 35 and 55% or whatever your flooring manufacturer suggests.
When LVP flooring gets wet due to a spill or accident, the mess can just be wiped straight off the tiles with a damp cloth if the floor has remained properly sealed. Luxury vinyl planks are waterproof – and therefore, most spills don't turn out to be a problem for the quality of the floor.
Put mats in planned locations all overyour home to catch spills and dirt. Make sure not to place mats with rubber or latex backing, as they can permanently scratch luxury vinyl flooring. Use floor protectors to protect your luxury vinyl from scuffs and tears, this is to avoid permanent damage to your vinyl flooring.
But, it can also be one of the big disadvantages of floating floors if you live somewhere that experiences extremely high humidity. This is also due to the space between the floor and subfloor. If a lot of moisture accumulates in there, it may contribute to warping, pitting, or mold growth.
As a rule, install permanent cabinets first, then install vinyl flooring. If you install the flooring first, use only specific types of flooring under certain conditions. Let's go over those specific types of flooring.