Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

Luxury Vinyl Plank or LVP Installation

One of the hottest trends in the flooring world is LVP. Luxury Vinyl Plank, commonly called LVP, is a vast improvement over the old vinyl flooring you may remember from your grandparents’ homes. LVP is the fastest growing flooring type, and it is taking the industry by storm because it offers a lot of benefits and features that homeowners and business owners are looking for. 

The options available for LVP are constantly evolving and changing, new styles and features come out each year. When LVP hit the market, it was floppy! Now it comes in a rigid style with a stone core for increased durability and quality. As the industry changes more features are becoming available as well. Texture and smooth finishes are available as well as click together options, and different bevel styles. 

Choosing the Right LVP Type

When choosing LVP for your home you may be presented with the option of blue down or click together. Glue down is ideal for commercial spaces and large rooms; smaller homes and small retail spaces are good candidates for click together installation. Glue down is commonly more cost effective but does not have all the features that click together vinyl does. 

One of the most asked about features of LVP is the waterproof quality. It is important that you understand what waterproof flooring means. The flooring itself is waterproof and will not damage the flooring. It can withstand wet shoes from rainy days, dog bowls, even a broken waterline. Waterproof flooring can still be affected by moisture. If water if left on the flooring it can start to soak through the joints or seams or under the baseboards and start to cause issues. If your flooring is installed on wooden subfloor this can be an issue. Cleaning water off your floor in a timely manner is still especially important. 

Installing LVP

Padding is a commonly used accessory for LVP. Some vinyl planks have a foam backer attached. Padding is never needed but can be a nice add on. The more rigid LVP can be noisy without padding because it will stretch over uneven areas and the weight of people walking with compress the flooring making a “bonk” or “thud” noise. 

Luxury vinyl plank is a newer flooring type, and you may have some questions on how it is constructed and how it works. The wear layer and coating are commonly merged into one layer and are a very vital part of your flooring. This layer is vital to the quality of your floor. If the wear layer is not strong, it can cause your floor to wear out quickly and look worn prematurely. Additives are an important part of the wear layer and make a huge difference in the quality of your floor. The painted décor layer is the picture that is printed on your vinyl. Then the floor has the core which give it its strength and resilience against dents and damage. Finally, there is the base layer. 

Vinyl plank flooring comes in a variety of different mill wear layers. Some of the thinner products have a wear layer of just 6 mils while a thicker product may be 20 mils. Mils are a ridiculously small measurement and are not the same as millimeters.

Wear layer is an important part of your flooring, but you will also want to consider the sheen levels on the floor and the use they will get. If you have a finish with little to no additives but a thick wear layer and put it in a high traffic area it wont take long before you start to see sheen differences in the walking paths, especially with high sheen finishes. This is because the floor is getting worn down by dirt and debris when people walk on it. This change in sheen is a huge issue for a lot of homeowners. If you want to avoid this issue you will want to look at more matte finished flooring.  While you may be able to find a cheaper product without hardening additives in the finish, Colorado Hardwood Floors recommends upgrading to help reduce wear and changes to the sheen of your flooring. 

Consult an LVP Installer in Denver

When choosing a luxury vinyl plank for your home, spending a little extra money can make a huge difference in your overall experience. While some cheaper products look good, they often do not hold up to the test of time. Quality and stylish LVP is available you just need to know what features to look for. Schedule an on-site visit from an LVP floor installer in Denver to ensure you get the best option for your needs!