Ready to see if LVP is perfect for your home?
LVP stands for Luxury Vinyl Plank, and it’s one of the most popular flooring choices today and for good reason. It came about as a solution to two common problems: vinyl sheet flooring was tough but not very stylish, and real wood looked great but couldn’t handle moisture, especially in places like basements or bathrooms. So someone had a smart idea: take the durability of vinyl, make it into easy-to-install planks, print realistic wood patterns on top, Boom, LVP was born.
It gives you the look of hardwood with the waterproof benefits of vinyl. Simple, stylish, and super practical!
What is LVP
LVP or “Luxury Vinyl Plank” is extruded polymer plank with a vinyl print and additional wear layer on top along with an attached padding underneath.
LVP is usually a floating floor, which means it’s not attached to the subfloor in anyway so that it can expand and contract as needed. LVP is attached together by either a drop lock or angle lock.
LVP thickness is measured in Millimeters and it’s wear layer is measured in MIL’s. Cheaper products will be thinner and also have a thinner wear layer. Anything less than a 6mm and 20 MIL’s can be prone to failure, despite what the manufacturers say. You want a solid product that will hold together and fight the expansion and contraction that naturally happens due to temperature’s fluxing.
FLOORING PRO TIP – “LVP goes under your baseboards, which require the baseboards to be removed because of the angled locking mechanism so be prepared to include the removal and reinstallation along with touch up for your baseboards in your budgeting!”
SPC vs WPC
SPC vs WPC!? You’ve heard these terms while shopping around but what do they actually mean and which one is better for you? Well, SPC or Stone Plastic Core is what the core of LVP is made from and includes calcium carbonate or other materials as an durability agent. This makes the floors more rigid but dense and solid. WPC or Wood Plastic Core consist primarily of thermoplastics, calcium carbonate, and also includes foaming agents. The foaming agents are what give the core its softer, thicker, and lighter qualities compared to SPC. Wood was used in early products, but is no longer an industry standard.
Which is better? That depends! SPC is prone to breaking on the edges if the subfloor isn’t perfect, but it can hold more weight like a pool table and wont expand as much as WPC would in a sunny room. WPC can handle edge stress better and is not as heavy as their stone counterparts.
Cheap VS GOOD
Ok, so what’s cheap and what’s good? Well I’ll keep this brief! Better LVP’s will come with stuff like beveled edges and registered & embossed textures, but what they don’t share is how many plank repeats the are and how far the product can go before needing an relief transition strip. Plank repeats require more printing, thus more production times, and the more stable a product is the longer it can go before needing a transition.
Here’s what you want: 20 Mil’s Wear Layer 8mm Thickness 9″ x 72″ Planks or 7″ x 60″ Planks. Try to get a IXPE backing as those polymers have two molecules, not one like EVA, so they will be less cushiony, but more durable for the life of your floors.
SCRATCH RESISTANT
Scratches are measured on a hardness scale. The hardest thing you have in your house is most likely sand paper. LVP will now and day’s come with a aluminum oxide coating and it’s hardness rating is a 9 of 10. The MIL’s are there to prevent deep scratches, so you can scratch these floors by dragging a couch with a staple under the foot. I know, because I did that on my own floors. Think of slicing meat with a knife, you don’t push down, you drag it across the cut. When you drag stuff across your floors your cutting into that layer, preventing you from hitting the print layer, but non the less it can scratch.
WHAT IT REQUIRES
The answer is floor prep. STOP DISCOUNTING FLOOR PREP! YOU CREDIT PAINTERS SO CREDIT FLOORING PREP! Whoo folks, sorry for that! But floor prep is critical for long lasting LVP. If you’re installing on concrete, then floor prep & a 6 mil vapor barrier for moisture. What about the crinkling sound? That’s why you bought a sturdy 8mm product, so its heavy, solid and long lasting.
WHEN TO USE LVP
Generally, the best time to use LVP is when you buy it from me! Just kidding, LVP can be used in a ton of places! Read the installation specs for your product to find exactly what’s in the warranty, but aside from outside on you’re deck, some companies like Bjelin make LVP that goes up walls! So be creative and follow the install specs!
Want Professional Planning for your next Project?
From product selection to prep and installation, I’ll help you choose the right floor for your space, your style, and your budget. Let’s make your project stress-free and done right the first time.
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