Luxury vinyl flooring is among the most rapidly-growing types of flooring in the world due to the astounding innovation and advancement of these products in recent years.
The growing popularity is easily explained; luxury vinyl flooring is a beautiful, modern, durable, and affordable flooring option that can compete with some of the costliest flooring varieties in the market.
Given the advantages of luxury vinyl, any home or business owner considering the installation of a new floor has a difficult choice to make: either save money and get a durable, good-looking faux option or open the purse strings for original hardwood or stone.
It is a choice that will impact the next many years at your home or business and should be made as an educated, knowledgeable customer. That way your choice will be made with an informed confidence and result in the floor that is best for you, your family, customers, and most importantly, your budget.
Let’s take a closer look at this popular flooring option and make a full examination of the pros and cons of luxury vinyl flooring to support you in making the right choice for your circumstances.
What is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury vinyl floorings are fundamentally similar to regular vinyl flooring, but stand out for their remarkable ability to closely resemble natural materials, like wood or stone. Typically thicker than other types of vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl features a surface layer that contains both the texture and photo-created image of authentic, classic hardwood or stone.
Pros of Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Easy to Install:
Advances in the vinyl flooring industry have made the product DIY-friendly. Vinyl had been produced as big, unwieldy sheets; nowadays, the tiles and plans are more convenient to install without sawing or hammering. Many luxury brands now have self-adhesive vinyl – just take off the backing and press into position on a well-prepared subfloor.
Looks like Authentic Hardwood:
Hardwood flooring is one of the most attractive floors available for your home. But it is among the most expensive and difficult to maintain in good condition for years. Luxury vinyl looks exactly like natural hardwood, but without the expensive cost and maintenance. Concerns that the pattern will eventually rub out of your luxury vinyl flooring are a myth. Luxury vinyl contains a protective wear layer, which ensures that the print will survive heavy foot traffic and maintain its remarkable resemblance to authentic hardwood.
Affordable:
Perhaps the biggest advantage of LVP (luxury vinyl flooring) is that you can achieve an almost-perfect hardwood finish for half of the cost. Hardwood flooring is inarguably an attractive choice for any home but it is among the costliest options available. The median cost of hardwood is between $8 and $25 per square root, compared to ,LVP which costs between $2 and $5 per square foot.
Spill-resistant:
Luxury vinyl wood flooring is durable in environments with children and pets. You don’t have to worry about stains and spills when you install it. As long as you quickly clean spills they will not cause permanent damage to the floors. The water resistance feature of LVP makes it an ideal choice for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and more.
Scratch-resistant:
Vinyl flooring is far more resistant to scratches than hardwood floors. You can install it in entryways or high-traffic areas in your home that will wear out hardwood over time. Of course, you will still need to move heavy furniture and appliances with care. While the flooring is scratch-resistant, it is not impervious to damage.
Easy to Maintain:
Sweep your luxury vinyl flooring to remove hair, dust, and other debris. You may clean your luxury vinyl floors with a damp mop. Take care not to saturate your floors with water. Contrary to hardwood, you won’t have to worry about polishing or waxing your luxury vinyl flooring.LVP
Cons of Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Doesn’t Maintain Value:
Luxury vinyl flooring won’t appreciate the value of your home in the way that hardwood or tiles do. If you consider investment value in your choice of floor, this factor may influence your choice between luxury vinyl and hardwood.
Not Impervious to Damage:
This product is far more durable than natural hardwood. Yet, while it is resistant to stains and scratches, it is not totally safe from damage. Luxury vinyl wood flooring cannot be repaired and will require replacement to get rid of scuffs, dings, scratches, and dents. Commit to taking proper care of your luxury vinyl wood flooring to ensure that it lasts for many years to come.
Installation Challenges:
Because some luxury vinyl is sensitive at the installation phase, your subfloor may need a lot of preparatory work if it is uneven or wavy. If you are facing a stubborn subfloor, luxury vinyl woods will not align well. If this is any issue in your home, you will likely want to add a self-leveling solution (which will add extra cost) or opt for a glue-down installation.
Inconsistent Quality:
Quality differs among the large range of luxury vinyl manufacturers, even among such highly-rated brands such as Armstrong, Lumber Liquidators, Shaw, Mannington, and Karndean. Concentrate on thickness and construction to determine the quality before purchase.
Check out this illuminating video about the Pros and Cons of Vinyl Plank Flooring:
FAQ about Pros and Cons ofLuxury Vinyl Flooring
Does luxury vinyl flooring scratch easily?
If you have kids and pets causing mayhem in the house, vinyl is a perfect match as it can take a lot to scratch, chip, or cause any kind of damage that will really make it look bad. It is easy to clean and maintain vinyl wood flooring.
What are some common problems with vinyl wood flooring?
Vinyl wood flooring problems are its susceptibility to discoloration, scratches, cracking, stains, peeling and crumbling at the edges. There are also some challenges related to installation that you should be aware of. These include curling, peaking, mold, warping, and mildew.
Can mold grow under vinyl wood flooring?
Even though vinyl floors are highly resistant to liquid, mold and mildew can grow if the flooring is in contact with standing water around the grooves, borders, or under the floor.
Can you install vinyl flooring directly on concrete?
Although one can technically install vinyl flooring directly on concrete, it is not recommended. Vinyl installed in this way can become separated from the concrete over time. Also, a basement floor built like this won’t feel too warm underfoot.
Conclusion
Luxury vinyl flooring has been doing great over the past many years and has increased in popularity as one of the people’s choices for household flooring. Knowing the different styles of luxury vinyl flooring, and the advantages and setbacks of the material will help you make an informed choice for your home.
