So, what's the difference? Luxury vinyl planks are thicker and more durable than standard vinyl, making them ideal for high-traffic areas or homes with pets. They're also easier to install, as they can be clicked together like laminate flooring. Standard vinyl flooring, on the other hand, is thinner and less durable.
Because it is a thicker product, luxury vinyl feels softer underfoot and has better sound-blocking properties than standard vinyl flooring. This is especially true of luxury vinyl with cork or foam underlayment layers built into the product. Top-quality luxury vinyl is often superior to laminate flooring for comfort.
While marble, natural stone, bamboo, ceramic tile and luxury vinyl have been trending in recent years, hardwood is still the dominant choice of flooring for high-end homes.
Pro: Very Affordable
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.
Heavy furniture and commercial appliances getting dragged around are one of the main culprits for destroying luxury vinyl floor tiles. Sometimes things need to be moved, and it's out of your control whether the furniture is lifted correctly or dragged across the floor, causing nasty scrapes and marks.
Appearance. Laminate is the best flooring option for appearance, as it can mimic hand-scraped hardwood, stone, ceramics, and other materials more realistically than vinyl.
Thanks to the manufacturing process and durability, you can see 10-20 years, if not more, in the lifespan of your vinyl floor. Of course, you can only achieve that through proper installation and maintenance.
Vinyl Flooring “Don'ts”
Don't use wax or solvent-based polishes. Don't use ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning solutions.
Polyvinyl chloride is a known carcinogen and contains health and environmental toxins such as dioxin and phthalates. While dioxin is generally only released when exposed to heat, such as during the manufacturing process, it poses a lesser threat to you and your family's health.
The average cost to install 1,000 square feet of vinyl flooring is between $2,000 and $7,000 for standard vinyl planks and between $3,000 and $10,000 for luxury vinyl planks. Adding in labor costs brings the total to between $5,000 and $20,000.
Another downside to luxury vinyl plank flooring is that it can be noisy. The planks can create a hollow sound when they are walked on, which can be unsettling for some people. In addition, LVP Flooring can be slippery when wet.
For residential spaces, 4-6mm vinyl planks are ideal for balancing comfort and durability. These are perfect for living rooms and kitchens where you spend most of your time. In commercial settings, go for 6-12mm to handle the heavy foot traffic of places like restaurants or retail stores.
For some homeowners, the choice between luxury vinyl and genuine hardwood comes down to a variety of factors including budget, lifestyle, and personal taste. High-end homes may still opt for the timeless appeal of real hardwood in main living areas, while using LVP or LVT in spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.
ORACAL® 951:This is an even higher-grade cast vinyl. It is designed to last about 2 years longer in the sunlight than even 751 (around 8-10 years). It is also more expensive. We carry 106 colors of this product in limited that are not made in the 651 or 751 lines.
Conclusion: What Flooring is Best Value for Money
For the best balance of affordability, durability, and looks, consider luxury vinyl plank (LVP).
But while a damaged luxury vinyl plank may need to be replaced, an engineered hardwood plank can be sanded and refinished several times. Ultimately, engineered hardwood floors are likely to last 25 to 50 years or more, while luxury vinyl plank flooring may need to be replaced in 20 to 30 years.
1 common oak. A flooring product characterized by prominent color variation that also contains prominent characters (with size limits) such as knots, open checks, worm holes, along with machining and drying variations. No. 1 Common is a tasteful floor where prominent variation is expected.
The result is a durable yet flexible vinyl plank with urethane wear layer that comes in three variations based on thickness: 2mm Builder Grade that with a 12mil wear layer, 3mm Premium grade with a 20mil wear Layer, and Mission Point Plus at 5mm with a 20mil wear layer.
If your planks already have a pad-attached underlayment, you most likely won't need an additional one, unless the flooring manufacturer's installation instructions allow for it. However, if your vinyl flooring doesn't have a pad-attached underlayment, adding one is highly recommended.