The flooring manufacturing industry is more diverse than ever. Among the categories that are popular, luxury vinyl plank flooring is the fastest-growing in the United States. But how much do you know about luxury vinyl planks? Whether you are looking for ideal flooring options for your office or home, you should certainly find out more about luxury vinyl planks and what it has to offer.
At Minuteman Floors, we keep a close watch on the flooring industry and like to update buyers on different types of flooring options. Luxury vinyl planks have emerged as one of the best options to lay in-home or office floors. Let us give you all the essential information on this specific category of flooring including what luxury vinyl is, how these planks are made, the pros and cons of using these planks, different forms of luxury vinyl flooring, etc. We also offer professional installations for luxury vinyl planks in business places and residential properties.
What is Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Vinyl has traveled a long, long way after its first introduction into the flooring market. Thanks to advanced technology, people now have options that look incredibly real and attractive.
Abbreviated as LVP, luxury vinyl plank flooring is so named because these planks have a similar look as that of hardwood floors. Luxury vinyl planks are not the same as luxury vinyl tiles because the latter has an appearance of natural stone. The main reason behind choosing luxury vinyl planks is the looks this flooring category has to offer. These planks are available in the market in a wide range of eye-catching forms, each of which looks like the real thing.
Multiple Variations of Luxury Vinyl Flooring
The luxury vinyl plank flooring category continues to evolve itself with numerous attractive forms and designs. Previously, the options in the luxury vinyl category were limited only to glue down. Today, the flooring material is available in a broad range and offers a number of styles to choose from.
At Minuteman Floors, we offer luxury vinyl planks in various styles and textures. These planks come along with useful features. They have eye-catching looks to suit the varying needs of homeowners as well as offices. The best part about these planks is their natural look and wonderful colors. Not only that but luxury vinyl planks are also suitable for every budget. So, you can be sure to find the most suitable options as per the specific needs of your home, apartment, or business place.
Our flooring installation experts offer great tips and advice to help you choose the right style, texture, and color – in order to complement the overall ambiance of your multi-family or single-family house.
How Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Is Made
It is evident by the name that the luxury vinyl plank is made of vinyl. Engineers design these planks using innovative technology. Manufactured from polyvinyl chloride resins, the material is first melted down and mixed with a number of other elements to create durability and resilience.
Luxury vinyl plank consists of several layers, each of which is there to perform a specific role. The very first layer is the backing layer, which stops moisture from entering the subfloor beneath. This is the layer that makes the luxury vinyl planks waterproof and keeps away mold and mildew. Above the backing layer remains the core layer, which is made of vinyl. The core is the thickest of all and it lends strength to the material. At the same time, it keeps the planks flexible.
On top of the core, the digital image is printed for an eye-catching look like the real thing. The digital image can be laid to create different types of looks. In LVP, the digital image resembles the look of hardwood.
The wear layer that you walk on and feel under your feet makes up the floor visually attractive. The wear layer is designed in a way to also prevent wear and tear from everyday use. It protects the material from scratches. The wear layer is thick enough to last for a long time. However, you shouldn’t just go for the thickest wear layer when buying a luxury vinyl plank. A quality finish is what you should look for, as this is exactly what will matter the most. There are ways to add more hardness to the wear layer by using additives. Feel free to get in touch with one of our experts at the Minuteman Floors to find out more in this regard.
Key Advantages of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
There are multiple features that make luxury vinyl plank flooring one of the best choices for residential or small retail flooring. Given below are some of the main advantages of this type of flooring.
Looks Incredibly Real
Thanks to advanced technology, luxury vinyl flooring is designed to look as real as hardwood. In fact, these planks have such an incredible natural look that many customers think it is actually hardwood. If the planks are a little thicker, it will be hard for people to find out that it is not real hardwood.
Waterproof
Luxury vinyl planks can be installed in all areas of a home or office. These planks are water-resistant. So, you can be sure that the floor will not easily get affected by spills. It is this waterproofing quality that makes luxury vinyl planks a good option for not just the living room or bedroom, but they are also a great option for areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, or any wet space inside the house or apartment. Our experts will tell you more about how to clean luxury vinyl plank floors.
Affordable
The luxury vinyl plank doesn’t only offer you a wide range of styles, colors, and textures, but it is affordable as well. You may think of this option as highly expensive, but actually, it is not. If you plan for luxury vinyl plank installation in all areas of your home, you can get it done within your specific budget. In fact, the installation cost of this type of flooring is lower than most other flooring material. Even if you decide to replace this flooring with another flooring material in the future, you can get it done easily. You’ll save the costs which are usually wasted on tile rip-up.
Feels Comfortable Under the Feet
Luxury vinyl planks flooring also feels great under the feet – like the real thing. Though it appears like hardwood, the flooring material feels soft when walking on. At Minuteman Floors, we offer professional flooring installation as well as proper underlayment for additional cushioning. Depending on your exact needs, you can also go for alternative cushioning to maximize walking comfort.
Easy to Repair and Maintain
Luxury vinyl planks are not just easy to manage, but these planks are also easy to repair. Tiles are almost impossible to repair. But damaged luxury vinyl planks can easily be popped out and replaced. Cleaning this type of flooring doesn’t require any special cleaner. You can use any of the all-purpose cleaners to clean luxury vinyl plank flooring and keep them glossy for a long time.
A Broad Range of Stylish Colors
Original hardwood and tiles don’t offer the variety of colors that you can find with luxury vinyl planks. A wide range of stylish colors is available. As per the ambiance of your home, apartment or office, you can pick the most suitable color option. Each color has a unique stylish look of its own.
Get in touch with one of our flooring pros to find out more about what luxury vinyl plank has to offer in terms of features, styles, colors, and textures. At Minuteman Floors, we remain committed to helping our customers find the most ideal flooring style for their homes, apartments, and office.
What to Look for When Buying Luxury Vinyl Planks
Whether it is about looks, cost, or the ease of installation, luxury vinyl plank flooring is the way to go. Before you buy this type of flooring, you should always focus on the quality of the material. It is always advisable to go for branded products, as these products offer the best quality and the most attractive styles.
Whether you plan to install these in your residential or commercial spaces, the options for achieving a unique look are unlimited. Apart from getting to choose from a large palette of coordinated colors, you can also have some customization done to bring more realism and uniqueness. Even if your retail business gets plenty of foot traffic, you can confidently choose to install luxury vinyl planks on your commercial floors. Luxury vinyl planks show resilience even under the most intense situations. This is something that even real hardwood fails to offer.
Some of the key considerations when buying luxury vinyl planks for your home or office floors include the size of the planks, thickness level, warranties, and underlayment among others. Before you buy these planks, don’t forget to ask about the cleaning tips. Most luxury vinyl planks require the least cleaning effort. Mopping and cleaning are both easy and fast with this type of flooring.
Let Us Do the Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation for You!
If you have additional questions or want to install luxury vinyl planks in your home or office spaces, you should call Minuteman Floors in Manchester, New Hampshire. Our flooring experts will educate you and help you choose the most ideal style, color, and texture of luxury vinyl planks. We operate within 40 miles of our location and serve a wide range of clients.
Give our office a phone call for a free consultation and estimate for luxury vinyl plank flooring installation in your properties.