Luxury vinyl plank flooring or LVP flooring is one of the most popular flooring options these days thanks to its various advantages; from easy installation to versatility in design and color. You can use different types of luxury vinyl flooring in each part of the home, depending on the conditions and features you are looking for.
To save you from a lot of headaches and confusion, we have put together a simple and comprehensive guide to everything you should know about luxury vinyl plank flooring.
So, read on to learn about the advantages of LVP flooring, choosing the right LVP for your home and each part of it, tips about LVP installation and maintenance, and more.
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Advantages of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Flooring is one of the most noticeable and important parts of your home. It can change the look and ambiance of a place. But it is not all. The type of flooring you choose for a room has to match the conditions and purpose of the room as well.
For example, if you are choosing the right flooring for your hallway, which is a high-traffic area, strength, and durability should be the most important features you are looking for in flooring.
Therefore, knowing about the benefits and drawbacks of any flooring type you are considering is crucial. That is why, for the first part of our guide to vinyl plank flooring, we review the main advantages of LVP flooring.
LVP Flooring Installation Is Easy
Hardwood flooring, stone flooring, or ceramic flooring are all beautiful classic choices, but the installations are difficult and need a proper flooring contractor to do the job. However, LVP flooring installation is DIY friendly and does not require a lot of skills, equipment, or tools. And, they look like wood and stone. So, you can get the ambiance you are looking for more easily.
Another advantage of LVP installation is that it is done in a short time, as you do not even need to get rid of the previous flooring. Luxury vinyl flooring can be installed on almost any kind of surface without any underlayment.
There are three different Luxury vinyl plank installation methods:
Click-and-Lock Luxury Vinyl Planks Flooring
To install click-and-lock LVP flooring, you just need to lock each board with the previous one. The boards have tongues and grooves and can be locked together very easily without any special tools.
Peel-and-Stick or Self-Adhesive Vinyl Flooring
Another super easy way of flooring installation. All you should do is peel the paper on the back of the planks and then press them down where you want them to be installed.
Glue-Down Luxury Vinyl Planks or Tiles
This type of vinyl flooring is installed and secured by some kind of adhesive tape or glue.
In all, lining up the planks or tiles and installing them is not a complicated task when it comes to luxury vinyl plank flooring. However, if you prefer it to be done faster and better, hire flooring contractors.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Is Affordable
You can save money with luxury vinyl tile or plank flooring. Even a high-quality LVP is more budget-friendly than many other flooring types. The LVP flooring installation fee is not high either. And, if you decide to do it yourself, you will save even more.
So, as far as money is concerned, LVP is a good choice to go with.
LVP Durability and Resistance Is Satisfactory
Luxury vinyl tile or plank is made of different layers. Each of these layers adds a certain quality to the board. An LVP at least contains a base layer, a center layer, a decorative layer, a transparent layer on the top, and a UV layer.
These layers make the board resist water, heat, scratch, sunlight, stain, moisture, and even slip resistant. In some cases, there are other layers for more resistance. For example, an anti-microbial layer can make your floor resistant to the growth of microbes. This is a great feature for kitchen flooring, especially for those with children and pets.
All these mean your luxury vinyl flooring is durable and tough enough for high-traffic places. If you want to make it even more durable, you can use a sealant on it as well.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Is Low Maintenance
LVP maintenance is equal to keeping it clean, nothing more. You do not have to worry about moisture or water damage, stains if your child pours something on it, or pests.
As long as you use a sweep or a vacuum regularly to clean it, or wash it with water and a suitable light detergent for deep cleaning, you are good.
Later, we will go over some more tips to maintain your LVP flooring and increase its durability.
LVP Design and Style Options Make it a Versatile Flooring Type
High-quality luxury vinyl planks look as realistic as possible to any design that you choose, including wood, ceramic, stone, granite, and more. So, you can use it to create any kind of style and ambiance.
One of the great benefits of luxury vinyl plank flooring is that you can easily find a pattern, design, and color to complete your home décor. It is so versatile that you can even use it for walls as well. This is an excellent option for interior design.
Other Benefits of LVP Flooring
Except for these five main advantages of LVP flooring, we can also count on the following benefits.
- It feels comfortable under the feet, especially during cold seasons. The luxury vinyl boards do not make your bones freeze!
- It is possible to use it with underfloor heating systems.
- It is flexible and can bend to some extent without being damaged.
Do you need flooring repair services? We are here for you in New Hampshire, US. Call us for a free consultation or to get a quote.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right LVP for Your Home
When you want to choose the right LVP for your home or different areas of your home (kitchen, bathroom, hallway, etc.), you should consider a few factors to make a good decision.
We have already discussed different methods of LVP installation above. The following factors are also important in selecting the right type of LVP.
LVP Flooring Different Designs and Layers
Before buying the flooring materials, it is important to think about the style of your home and decide what flooring design and color you need to create a pleasant harmony, for example, a wood-look vinyl or a stone-look vinyl.
Besides, as mentioned earlier, luxury vinyl boards include various layers for different options. For instance, some of them offer a cork layer to make it more comfortable and warmer. The following layers and features are the most important ones that you should consider.
- Waterproof luxury vinyl planks: For areas with a lot of moisture and water, such as bathrooms and kitchens, a waterproof LVP will put your mind at ease. If your house is located in a very humid area, it is recommended to choose waterproof LVP flooring options for the whole place.
- Wear layer: There is a thick protective wear layer on luxury vinyl tiles and planks to make them more durable and stronger. However, the thickness of this layer varies from type to type. If your place is high traffic, select an LVP type with a wear layer thicker than 5 mm.
- Enhanced urethane finish vinyl planks: To make your flooring more resistant to scratches and get a high-gloss appearance, choose LVPs with an enhanced urethane finish. However, these types of Luxury vinyl plank flooring are more suitable for dry and low-traffic areas.
So, it is a good idea to consider what features you prefer your flooring to have before making your choice.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Thickness and Size
Another option available to you is the LVP thickness. Luxury vinyl plank flooring comes in a range of thicknesses. Choosing the right flooring thickness depends on where you want to install them.
Thinner boards, such as 12 mils, are more suitable for houses, but if a room gets higher traffic, for example, the kitchen, or if you have kids and pets, thicker options, like 20 mils, are better choices for you.
In addition, you should determine what plank size you prefer. The width of LVP planks falls between 5 to 8 inches and the length between 36 to 48 inches.
If the room is large, wider and longer planks will look better and more modern. It will also make the installation go faster. But for smaller rooms, go with the narrower boards to make it look larger.
Tips on LVP Installation and Maintenance
Although LVP installation and maintenance are easy, following the tips below makes the result more satisfactory and helps you in keeping your LVP flooring in good shape for longer.
If you are planning to install your luxury vinyl planks or tiles yourself,
- Follow the tips and recommendations the manufacturer or the flooring store has given you.
- Keep the flooring materials in your home for a couple of days before installation to let it adapt to the new climate and environment.
- Do not secure them immediately. First, think about the pattern and how you want to mix and match the boards with different designs. To make a more realistic look, try not to repeat the same design close to each other.
- Do not forget about spacers and shims to make sure there is enough room for the boards when they expand.
- Forget about hammering the planks or tiles when installing. You will damage the boards.
- Do not walk on or clean glue-down LVP flooring for a couple of days after installation.
See this guide on DIY flooring installation to find out if you are up for it or not.
Luxury Vinyl Maintenance
As previously said, you just need to clean your LVP flooring regularly to maintain it. Here are some more tips to consider.
- Rugs and mats are useful in some areas, such as at the foot of doors or sinks, to keep your flooring clean and protected.
- Make sure you use furniture coasters for big and heavy furniture.
- Try to dry up spills and clean up stains as soon as possible.
- Using vinegar to clean the stains usually works well.
- Use only light detergents.
The more you care about your flooring, the longer you can enjoy it.
If you are still not sure what type of LVP is suitable for you, call us for a short free consultation.
Easy Access to LVP Supply and Installation in New Hampshire, US
Now that you know the benefits of luxury vinyl planks flooring, and got familiar with the installation and maintenance, it is time to visit some reputable flooring stores, get your flooring materials, and start the installation project.
But if you need professional help, our flooring replacement services are available in different cities in New Hampshire, US. We have served numerous clients in Manchester, Hooksett, Bedford, Candia, and Goffstown over the years, and as a result, we have become experienced and skilled in our expertise (see some of our projects here.).
No matter what flooring materials and installations you are looking for, Minuteman Flooring is what you need. Pick up your phone 603-782-1942 and schedule an appointment to discuss your project more. We are open even on Saturdays.