Experiencing record-high sales, Vinyl plank flooring is growing popular with homeowners. This is likely due to the unique benefits that Vinyl plank flooring provides. It’s easy to install and maintain, long-lasting and provides a comfortable surface. In many cases, these are waterproof. Vinyl plank flooring is one of the top fake wood flooring options!
First things first: What is exactly Vinyl Plank flooring?
Vinyl plank flooring is a thermoplastic material that is synthetically made up of several different layers. It’s like hardwood-but it’s mainly made of PVC, a type of plastic named Polyvinyl Chloride.
Vinyl is durable, versatile, affordable, and able to withstand moisture and heavy foot traffic. It is often confused with other resilient flooring surfaces such as linoleum and laminate- and while luxury vinyl has similarities to laminate, there are significant differences in the construction of these products that set them apart from one another.
The most basic vinyl layer provides the foundation and an underfoot feel. Depending on this product, it can either be rigid or flexible.
The patterned vinyl layer can mimic natural wood, tile, or stone. The layer protects the vinyl plank from any damage, including UV fading. It is see-through!
Types of vinyl flooring
A quick search for “Vinyl flooring” will almost always reveal a confusing list of initials like LVP and LVT.
You need to understand the difference because some disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring will apply to one of these products but not the other.
So, what’s the difference between Luxury Vinyl Tile(LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Plank(LVP)?
It’s simple: Appearance.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring looks like wood looks like vinyl plank flooring, and luxury vinyl tile looks like, as you guessed- a tile!
What are the Pros and Cons of Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Now you will know everything about the specific advantages and disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring. And since we love this space-age surface, we’re going to start with the positives. Then cope with the negativity.
The advantages and disadvantages of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Scratch resistance, easy maintenance, and a gorgeous appearance that’s comfortable and affordable. What’s not to like? Yet, it has some disadvantages too!
Maintenance and Repair
This is one of the more accessible floors to maintain. Most manufacturers recommended simple sweeping daily and weekly damp mopping with a mild detergent and mop or with a Swiffer-type cleaning pad. These floors should never be steamed-cleaned, however. While the flooring is impervious to moisture, the pressure of a steam cleaner can potentially drive moisture down through the steams to the wooden subfloor.
Repairs can be a lil’ tricky with vinyl plank flooring. You may be available to repair small areas of the damage with a vinyl repair kit chosen to match the color of your flooring. The patched area will usually not be a perfect match, though. Replacing entire planks usually involves disassembling the floor from one wall up the damaged plank, installing a replacement plank, then reassembling the floor back to the wall.
Design
Major flooring manufacturers offer Vinyl plank flooring in hundreds of colors and patterns. Interior designers and real estate professionals regard it as superior to sheet vinyl and laminate flooring but still considerably less prestigious than solid hardwood or porcelain tile.
Most plank forms of luxury vinyl seek to mimic hardwood flooring, and they do this quite effectively. At a casual glance, vinyl planks can look quite similar to natural wood-it can be a better illusion than what is offered by laminate flooring. Tile forms of luxury vinyl generally seek to mimic ceramics or natural stone-again, quite effectively.
Comfort and Convenience
Luxury vinyl plank flooring offers much of the easy-care convenience of sheet vinyl. Still, because it is a thicker material, it has slightly more “give” underfoot, making it more comfortable. Because it is made from waterproof materials through and through, this is a much better flooring for damp areas than laminate flooring or hardwood. A few flooring materials are better choices in a kitchen, bathroom, mudroom, or laundry.
Durability
Vinyl plank flooring is highly durable. If installed and maintained correctly, it can last upwards of ten-twenty years. That said, vinyl is a great choice for the rooms in your house that get the most foot traffic. Additionally, most kitchen vinyl flooring has a wear layer on its surface that resists scratches ad stains. Some vinyl products even offer warranties of up to fifteen years on the wear layer. As with any flooring, the quality of the material you purchase will affect how long it lasts.
Stain Resistance
As mentioned previously, some vinyl tiling has a wear layer that resists stains and spills-you can expect this protection with printed vinyl tiles and sheets. On the other hand, solid and composite vinyl tiles do not have this surface protection. As such, they are more susceptible to stains and require occasional stripping and polishing to keep them looking new.
Thickness
Vinyl is generally soft beneath your feet. Some vinyl sheets and tiles have a padded layer, making walking on vinyl more comfortable. Also, vinyl plank floors are often offered as “resilient.” This means the floors have a certain degree of elasticity when you walk across them. Luxury vinyl tile is also quieter; it has sound-absorbing properties.
Sunlight
Unfortunately, most types of flooring are susceptible to damage from the sun. Over time, vinyl flooring can fade in direct sunlight. It’s recommended that you draw the curtains shut to protect your flooring during times of heavy sunlight.
Ease of installation
Installation of vinyl plank flooring is typically easier than installing other flooring materials. A floating vinyl sheet, for example, doesn’t require glue or staples. Instead, peel-and-stick vinyl can adhere to a prepared subfloor. You need a utility knife called Vinyl Pank Cutter. It is most commonly used to cut vinyl planks for flooring. The method involves using it to score the plank, and the offcut place is bent up to snap the plank along the scoreline. It can also be installed over concrete, hardwood, or plywood. It can be installed over existing waterproof vinyl plank flooring; however, it isn’t recommended if you have two or more pre-existing layers.
Recommended usage
Because of its durability, vinyl tiling makes a great choice:
*Kitchens
*bathrooms
*basements
*family rooms
* laundry rooms
* Maintenance
This is one area where the flooring shines. Maintenance tends to be a breeze. After sweeping your floor to remove dirt and grit, run a damp mop over it(using an approved vinyl plank floor cleaner) to keep your flooring looking its best. Most waterproof flooring has a “ no-wax “ finish and will look just as shiny after moping as the day that you bought it.
How much does Vinyl Plank Flooring cost?
Rarely, if ever, will a vinyl plank floor cost as much as genuine wood flooring, which is usually five to ten times more expensive than vinyl planks. Material prices usually range from 200 BDT to 500 BDT per square foot. Professional installation can be around 1000 BDT per square foot, but it’s one of the easier flooring materials to install yourself-comparable to laminate flooring planks. Overall, the cost of vinyl planks is about the same as for laminate planks, though this flooring is arguably a superior flooring material.
Material costs for luxury vinyl plank prices are comparable to ceramics/porcelain tile. Still, with tile, you must factor in the cost of additional materials (thin-set and groud), plus tile-specific tools. And ceramic tile is a much more labor-intensive installation for DIYers. So, while kitchen vinyl plank might have a wide price range, it can be much more affordable than installing engineered hardwood floors.
Everyone wants a floor that will increase their home’s resale value. And luckily, vinyl plank is excellent at increasing a home’s resale value. As you can see, vinyl flooring makes a great choice for the heavily trafficked rooms in your home. With its durability, economical pricing, and simple maintenance, it’s a very popular choice for people who wish to improve the look of their home. And with many design options available, vinyl plank flooring provides several attractive looks and finishes. So why not buy Vinyl Plank Flooring for your home?