For a long time, sheet vinyl flooring was considered the ideal pick for areas that needed to have a strong resistance to liquid and spots. Those areas included bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and kitchens. But traditional records are composed of a slender layer of vinyl with an art layer printed on it and topped off with a protective coating. This type of material is vulnerable to being gouged and torn, and can be quite rigid when you walk on it, especially when it is put in place above a concrete foundation.

Manufacturers have come up with a new type of vinyl called “luxury vinyl flooring” (LVF) in response to the issue. It is available as semi-stiff luxury vinyl planks (LVP) or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). The same type of interlocking edges as those on laminate flooring are used to install it. Many people find themselves in the midst of a discussion concerning luxury vinyl or laminate flooring when deciding against the pricier hardwood, ceramic, or stone tiles as a second-tier choice.

Deciding between vinyl and luxury vinyl is an option that many individuals have to confront. Just like standard vinyl flooring, there are both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to luxury vinyl flooring. Although the basic ingredients are alike, there are some notable distinctions between vinyl and luxury vinyl.

Standard Vinyl vs. Luxury Vinyl Flooring: Major Differences

Vinyl flooring can be obtained in the form of flexible sheets or in square tiles. Vinyl is typically crafted using a bottom tier of either felt or fiberglass as its base, with a thin layer of strong vinyl adhered to the top. A design is printed on this vinyl layer, and then a clear covering is applied to shield it. Standard vinyl is pliable and quite slim, with an abrasion layer of only 10/1000 to 15/1000 of an inch.

Luxury vinyl flooring is a distinct type of flooring, though it shares the same PVC vinyl material as typical vinyl flooring. Luxury vinyl is available in planks and tiles of different sizes, with protective layers that measure anywhere from 8/100 to 3/10 of an inch in thickness. Luxury vinyl planks have a much thicker dimension compared to regular vinyl, making them somewhat solid.

Luxury vinyl flooring is composed of a combination of up to eight layers, including a top layer that brings a gloss, a protective layer to avert the design, a layer containing a printed image, a foam layer which makes walking over the floor comfortable, a fiberglass base and a rigid PVC base layer for durability.

Appearance

Standard Vinyl

The traditional goal of standard vinyl sheet flooring or tiles has been to look like ceramic or stone tile. There is a wide selection of patterns, designs, and colors one can choose from, including those that resemble wood. Yet, since the top layer of a standard vinyl floor is a level, steady area with few gaps, the false breaks between “boards” typically are not very believable.

Luxury Vinyl

LVPs tend to have patterns that give them an appearance similar to wood, which is also true of most laminate flooring. On the other hand, LVTs usually have designs that imitate stone or ceramic tiles. The current models of luxurious vinyl flooring can be quite convincing, making it hard to decide between luxury vinyl and laminate when aiming to replicate a wood structure. Hundreds of colors and styles are available as well.

  • Best for Appearance: Luxury Vinyl

Water and Heat Resistance

Standard Vinyl

Vinyl sheeting is a highly water-resistant material. There are fewer gaps in the sheets than planks or tiles, which could let water get through to the level below.

Luxury Vinyl

Luxury vinyl is a man-made material that is not susceptible to water harm. Nevertheless, an issue with luxury vinyl tile is possible water leakage at the areas between tiles (or planks) and the underlayment.

  • Best for Water and Heat Resistance: Standard Vinyl

Care and Cleaning

Using the same cleaning techniques, both ordinary vinyl and high-end vinyl can be cleansed. Cleaning with a broom or vacuum cleaner should be done on a daily basis and messes should be taken care of straight away. Mop the floor with a mix of lukewarm water and a gentle soap about every seven days. Vinyl floors do not need to be treated with sealants or wax, which is different from the old style linoleum surfaces, which needed regular sealing and waxing in order to keep their shine.

  • Best for Care and Cleaning: Tie

Durability and Maintenance

Standard Vinyl

Standard vinyl flooring is not overly hard and can be prone to dents, scratches and tears. Fixing a weathered surface is difficult to make believable, and in most cases, the flooring is substituted or concealed when it becomes clearly worn.

Luxury Vinyl

Luxury vinyl plank is firmer and has a thicker construction than regular vinyl, making it more long-lasting. In addition, if any of the floorboards get ruined, the flooring can be taken apart so that the broken plank can be exchanged.

  • Best for Durability and Maintenance: Luxury Vinyl

Installation

Standard Vinyl

Sheet vinyl flooring is mostly installed with a full adhesive that fastens it to the base layer. Certain kinds of flooring can be set up with an adhesive that attaches it only to the edges and joints. The typical way to install vinyl tiles is to use an adhesive to hold them in place.

Luxury Vinyl

Luxury vinyl planks or tiles usually come with a click-lock mechanism which holds the edges of the boards or pieces together. Floors can be installed without the need for any adhesives to stick them in place over the existing subfloor. Certain situations may require that a particular type of luxury vinyl be installed by applying adhesive glue.

  • Best for Installation: Luxury Vinyl

Cost

Standard Vinyl

The cost for materials for standard vinyl ranges from fifty cents to two dollars per square foot at large home improvement stores. The price of having vinyl flooring installed by a professional is quite reasonable, as the job usually doesn’t take very long. Figure out roughly one to two dollars per square foot to pay for professional installation.

Luxury Vinyl

The price of luxury vinyl bought from the same place usually falls between $2 and $4 per square foot. Luxury vinyl flooring that is designed by a designer, and bought at a store that specializes in flooring, can cost up to $7 or more per square foot. Many property owners pick to put in luxury vinyl on their own, considering DIY set up is quite simple.

  • Best for Cost: Standard Vinyl

Lifespan

Standard Vinyl

Vinyl flooring typically lasts for about 10 years, though some higher quality types can remain in good condition for up to 15 years.

Luxury Vinyl

If looked after properly, luxury vinyl can be expected to last between 20 and 25 years.

  • Best for Lifespan: Luxury Vinyl

Sizes

Standard Vinyl

Standard sheet vinyl comes in 6- or 12-foot-wide rolls. Tiles are generally 9- to 18-inch squares.

Luxury Vinyl

Luxurious vinyl floor covering is generally available in either plank or tile forms. The standard size of a plank generally measures 48 inches long and 4 and a half inches wide. In general, typical tiling is 16 x 16 inches, but there are also smaller and bigger options available.

  • Best for Sizes: Tie

Best Vinyl Flooring Brands

When discussing vinyl planks, one must balance cost-effectiveness with better quality. These companies supply an excellent balance of quality and cost and are the suggested ones in 2023.

  • Shaw Vinyl Flooring. Shaw is arguably the best flooring company in many categories. Their LVP is one of them.
  • Armstrong LVP. Armstrong floors specialize in durable, beautiful planks that are affordable and reliable.
  • LifeProof Vinyl Flooring. LifeProof is a Home Depot exclusive that offers a highly affordable LVP with decent durability and selection.
  • Karndean Flooring. One of the highest quality flooring options, Karndean brings elegance and beauty to any LVP option.
  • COREtec LVP. COREtec is one of the most popular LVP brands in the market. With thousands of reviews and millions of installs, it is an interesting option.

Considerations When Buying Vinyl Plank Flooring

Core Type

Vinyl flooring comes with a variety of core types.

This is the core material inside the board that provides it with firmness, toughness and longevity.

The most common is called WPC or wood-plastic composite.

This newer form is referred to as stone plastic composite (SPC).

The differences aren’t slight, either.

When you walk on WPC, it has a softer feel; however, it is not as hard-wearing and it cannot handle excessive strain. Wood plastic composite planks are typically used in homes rather than in commercial settings.

SPC, in contrast, is produced from a limestone composite material for added strength and sturdiness.

SPC is difficult to damage with scratches and gouges, making it ideal for retail establishments that experience a lot of customer activity, like shopping carts and numerous visitors.

It is necessary to exchange something to receive SPC flooring, and that is that it is less flexible, does not reduce noise as much, and can be difficult to switch out.

Thickness

When you are in the process of purchasing luxury vinyl planking (LVP), you will be aware of the plank’s thickness, which is determined in mil. For residential applications anything over 5 mil is preferred.

The thicker the planks, the greater the mil number, indicating that they will be more resilient and endure for a considerable time.

The more expensive varieties offer a longer warranty, although they require a larger financial investment in each square foot when purchasing and setting them up.

Business projects should strive for a minimum 20 mil thickness, although 12 mil might be adequate sufficiently based on the foot traffic going over the floor.

Install Method

Whether you do the job yourself or hire a professional, there are three principal forms of vinyl flooring setup.

Using an adhesive spray, compound, or flooring glue is the most typical way of attaching each piece to the floor.

You also have the groove method, or interlocking planks. Every board possesses a projecting and recessed edge pattern that interconnects with the neighboring part.

Once you have set the planks side by side, they click into one another, forming a strong and immobile base once the final component is joined.

Finally, there is the loose lay method. You require boards with a rubber-coated lower side for these.

Each piece lays in place without glue or interlocking.

The planks of flooring are loosely placed on the underlying base layer with a rubber padding that stops them from sliding.

Availability

It might be beneficial to remember the accessibility of the board style that you select.

This is often overlooked during the purchasing process.

Nevertheless, as novel materials are created, diverse styles come out and other firms come into the market, you may not be able to come upon your design afterwards.

If you pick a brand, design, or style that may not be widely available in the coming years, you will need to either aquire more planks or opt for something else.

I can’t think of anything worse than having to replace a few boards, only to realize that an exact match isn’t attainable.

Additional Features

Vinyl flooring has advantages which may or may not be desirable to you that are not present in other types of flooring.

An illustration of this would be that generally, vinyl planks are somewhat resistant to moisture; however, there are also planks that are impermeable to water. These are excellent for putting into laundry spaces or restrooms.

You can also come across tiles and boards which have a textured surface and that may not be easily accessible in many other sorts of flooring. This encompasses not only the wood grain, but also various surfaces such as stone, tile, EIR- embossed in register, hues, designs, and even transparent.

LVP is made up of several combined elements, which makes it possible to buy a cushioned style that gives a cozy feeling when you walk on it.

No matter what type of flooring you are looking for, you are likely to find a vinyl option that meets your requirements.

Price and Warranty

Of course, your budget will come into play. Doing it yourself might be an option, but putting it together can be time-consuming and costly.

It is important to choose the perfect planks that match your home’s style and fit within your budget.

If you decide to go with a professional installation, make sure that the estimate includes timely delivery, removal of the old flooring, and discarding of any subsequent dirt and leftovers.

You might be stunned by what expert fitters don’t take into account in their cost estimations.

You should pick flooring that offers a lengthy warranty.

The majority of floors in private houses tend to last for much longer than 5-7 years and some may stay in good condition up to 15 or even 20 years.

For business uses, the warranty period may be shorter than usual, however, it should still fulfill what is expected. It may not be beneficial to invest in something with a term of fewer than 5 years.

LVP Installation Cost

The total expense of the venture will be greatly impacted by whether you do it yourself or enlist the services of a specialist.

Doing it yourself will save you money as you are supplying the work force. Nevertheless, it is your responsibility to handle the preparation, tidy up thereafter, and provide all the necessary utensils and components.

The cost of LVP of high calibre will fall somewhere between two and six US dollars per square foot. You should not have to spend additional money to buy underlayment because top-grade planks are provided with it already attached.

If you already have the necessary equipment, the extra parts, like separators and blocks for tapping, are going to be relatively inexpensive.

Professional install will cost more, however. You will have to calculate the cost of labor, typically billed either hourly or per square foot. Keep in mind that working costs do not include materials, which contractors usually supply.

The cost of professional installation of a square foot should be between $3 and $10, according to Home Advisor.

The Verdict

If you have the money, it is usually recommended to opt for the more expensive luxury vinyl flooring instead of the regular vinyl due to its superiority in many aspects. If price is a major factor and there is a desire for a watertight floor, then vinyl with minimal-seam construction may be the best option.

Jonathan
Author: Jonathan