For centuries, hardwood flooring has been sought after for its beauty, style, and durability. Indeed, compared to other flooring options, hardwood floors have the best record for endurance. Even when they start to show signs of wear, they are widely accepted as “having character” and “charm”. And when they get too worn, they can be refinished and easily restored to their original glory.
Carpet and vinyl flooring just won’t last longer than a decade or so without showing signs of age and needing replacement. So what’s all the fuss about luxury vinyl flooring these days? We’re glad you asked. At SVB Wood Floors, we offer luxury vinyl flooring (sometimes called luxury vinyl planks and luxury vinyl tile) and we have a lot of customers with a lot of questions regarding this new choice in flooring. Let’s break it down for you.
What Is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury vinyl flooring is synthetic and made to look like hardwood (and stone) but it’s not the “vinyl” flooring of yesteryear. Vinyl flooring of today is a highly engineered, much more durable product than the rolls of vinyl that adorned kitchens and bathrooms from the 1950s to the turn of the last century. And it is more affordable than real hardwood floors. So, if you’re considering luxury vinyl flooring, here’s a little more information to help you make the best decision for your home.
How Is Vinyl Flooring Made?
Vinyl flooring is made with a decorative top layer that’s glued to a core of compacted wood fibers. That top layer is actually a printed photograph of wood species, (and also stone and ceramic tile). A clear, durable coating of plastic resin protects against scratches and spills.
Vinyl flooring products come in a range of thicknesses. Thicker products are typically higher quality, have better warranties, and also have a higher price tag. The best products offer warranties on the wear layer of up to 15 years.
Vinyl flooring is manufactured as stiff individual planks with interlocking edges that snap together. It’s sometimes referred to as a “floating floor” because the material isn’t nailed down to the subfloor. The planks are installed over a thin underlayment pad and the interlocking edges hold everything tightly together.
Pros of Luxury Vinyl Planks
Affordability
Luxury vinyl planks are significantly cheaper than traditional hardwood and can offer a similar look and decent durability for your budget.
Aesthetically Pleasing
LVP mimics other materials like wood and stone and is available in many style options to match almost any decor.
Waterproof
Luxury vinyl planks are great for kitchens and bathrooms where water is more of a concern because they are much more impervious to water than real wood. We carry 100% waterproof planks so you’ll never have to worry about wet shoes, kitchen spills or bathtime.
Durable
LVP is scuff, dent, and scratch resistant and can handle heavy traffic.
Cons of Luxury Vinyl Planks
Lower Resale Value
LVP is not hardwood, and many buyers see it as a step down. Vinyl plank won’t get you the same ROI in resale as solid hardwood floors will.
Cannot Be Refinished
LVP cannot be refinished like many hardwood floors can be.
Luxury Vinyl Lines We Carry
At SVB Wood Floors, we carry a wide range of luxury vinyl plank flooring. We’re sure to have the style you’re looking for. Check out these great brands.
Provenza Waterproof Luxury Vinyl Planks
At SVB, we carry Provenza’s MaxCore 100% waterproof vinyl planks. These beautiful floors offer the best of both worlds – gorgeous designs that feature unique patterns, micro and painted bevels, and variation between planks that create a real wood look while also offering easy maintenance and the durability to stand up to homes with pets, kids and heavy traffic.
Multi-Length Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Tile
Another luxury vinyl line we offer is Multi-Length Rigid Core flooring. It comes in varying lengths from two-foot to 6-foot to more closely mimic real wood floors. The natural wood-like texture, multi-tone patterns and beveled edges offer the beauty of wood, but you also get the scratch and stain resistance plus waterproof durability of a waterproof luxury vinyl floor.
All Tile CCS Luxury Vinyl Tile
All Tile CCS Flooring carries several types of luxury vinyl floors. Their Congoleum line features high fidelity digital imaging for a realistic wood look and the Cleo line is PVC-free, and uses domestically sourced eco-forward materials. Another line, Earthwerks LVT, products are made with Tuff Shield™, a method that adds extra strength to the urethane protectant for additional resistance to normal wear, giving you one of the best and longest lasting finishes in the industry. They also use FloorScore® to test and certify flooring products for compliance with indoor air quality emission requirements.
If you’re interested in learning more about luxury vinyl flooring or seeing it up close, feel free to come by our showroom in Grandview, MO. Or call us at (913) 396-6769 or (816) 965-8655 and we can answer any questions you may have.
