Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors: Why We Use Them in Our Home
Last week we posted a picture of our downstairs luxury vinyl plank floors in our Instagram Stories and were flooded with questions on the product so we thought we’d pass on what we’ve learned to you.
We’ve used Luxury Vinyl Floors in two of our homes and LOVED them. Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors (LVP) and Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) are a great option for a busy household. LVP looks great and is the most durable flooring we’ve had in our homes. They are easy to install, scratch-, mold-, and moisture-resistant, easy to clean, and kid- and pet-friendly. LVP flooring is more affordable than real hardwoods, and we also love it because it is a great DIY project.
WHERE CAN I USE LVP FLOORING?
Anywhere in your home! You can lay LVP over any subflooring (another reason it’s a great option for basements) and can be laid as either a floating floor OR glue down. We have also used them frequently in bathrooms and laundry rooms because they have the same look as wood or tile without the maintenance.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LUXURY VINYL TILE (LVT) and LUXURY VINYL PLANKS (LVP)?
Easy! LVT flooring are tiles and LVP are planks. Generally speaking, the tiles are often used when a homeowner would like the look of stone and the planks are placed where homeowners would like to see the look of wood.
HOW MUCH DOES LVP COST?
The average cost of LVP is around $5/square foot, but you can purchase a lower-quality flooring for as low as $2/square foot and we’ve seen some of the higher end ones sell for around $7/square foot.
It’s very important to do your research on the product you are using and the application you’re using it for. Some brands have a built-in underlayment so you don’t have to purchase any additional materials before laying it. Some are thicker so they feel more durable when doing a floating floor, and some have a built-in water barrier in case your floor gets wet. Believe it or not, there is a big difference between brands. Do your research and don’t just grab the cheapest one you find. Some have more advanced technology with features that make it well worth the cost.
BRANDS WE LOVE?
We’ve personally worked with Mannington, Shaw Floors, Evoke, and Metro Flor and love all of them for different reasons. Each brand carries a great quality product that come in an amazing array of patterns and colors. These brands also stand behind their product and are leaders in the flooring industry so we know that we are always getting the most advanced technology with their products. We used this flooring in our previous house and installed this one in our current home.
LVP VS. LAMINATE FLOORING?
Luxury Vinyl flooring is just what it sounds like: it’s vinyl! It’s similar to laminate in that both products are an image of wood or tile, can be installed on any floor of your home, and you guessed it: are both DIY-friendly.
The main difference between the two types of floors is the application process. Laminate only comes in a floating floor option vs. LVP, which provides floating OR glue down. Most LVP floors have moisture- and mold-resistant technology built in and. laminate does not. LVP flooring is made to be quieter and warmer underfoot than laminate, and is priced higher than laminate flooring.
HOW DOES LVP HOLD UP TO LARGE ANIMALS AND KIDS?
We are so glad you asked! This flooring is like Fort Knox when it comes to durability! We’ve dragged numerous pieces of furniture across ours, let the kids ride their bikes on them, and our large dog runs around with ZERO issues.
To see more of the Mannington floor we used in our last home, and see the amazing before and after, you can read all about it here.