Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Guide

Gone are the days when homeowners and interior designers were limited to a narrow range of flooring options. Today, advancements in technology and design have paved the way for a multitude of choices in home flooring solutions. One such development is Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring, a superior option that offers the appearance of traditional hardwood with remarkable durability and affordability. This article will delve into the characteristics, benefits, potential drawbacks, and purchasing considerations of LVP flooring, helping you make an informed decision for your space.

The Basics of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

LVP is a type of vinyl flooring that simulates the appearance of natural materials, such as wood and stone, through realistic textures and colors. Unlike standard vinyl flooring, LVP is thicker, more stable, and provides a more realistic look and feel. It is often designed with multiple layers that include a backing layer, core layer, design layer (featuring high-resolution photographic imagery), and a protective top layer or 'wear layer' that shields the planks from damage.

Why Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring?

  • Versatility and Aesthetics: LVP comes in an extensive array of styles, patterns, and colors, allowing you to mimic everything from aged oak to modern marble in your home.
  • Durability and Resilience: LVP is known for its high durability and resistance to damage from daily use, including scratches, dents, and stains, making it a perfect choice for high-traffic areas and homes with pets or children.
  • Ease of Installation: Most LVP options come with a 'click-lock' design, allowing for easy installation over existing flooring. It can be a DIY-friendly project for those with some home improvement experience.
  • Water Resistance: Unlike traditional hardwood flooring, LVP is water-resistant, and some options are even 100% waterproof. This feature makes it an ideal choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
  • Comfort and Sound: LVP tends to be warmer and softer underfoot than traditional tile or stone. Additionally, it is quieter, reducing noise when walked upon.
  • Affordability: Compared to other luxury flooring options, LVP offers a premium look at a fraction of the cost. Its longevity and minimal maintenance requirements add to its overall value.

Considerations and Potential Drawbacks

However, as with any product, there are a few aspects to consider before investing in LVP flooring.

  • Biodegradability: LVP is not as environmentally friendly as some other flooring options. It's made from PVC, which is non-biodegradable.
  • Repair: While LVP is highly durable, if it does get damaged, it can be a bit tricky to replace individual planks, particularly if they are in the middle of your floor.
  • Resale Value: Though LVP is gaining popularity, some homebuyers may still prefer natural materials like wood or stone, which could impact your home's resale value.

Making Your Purchase

When selecting your LVP flooring, pay attention to the wear layer's thickness. A thicker wear layer means better durability. Look for at least a 20-mil (0.02 inches) wear layer for areas with heavy foot traffic. Consider the overall thickness of the plank, too, which typically ranges from 2mm to 8mm. Thicker planks will feel more similar to hardwood floors and provide better sound insulation.

In conclusion, Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring offers a harmonious blend of style, durability, and value, making it an appealing choice for a wide array of spaces. While it may not be the perfect choice for every homeowner, its plethora of benefits make it well worth considering in your next home remodeling project.


Featured Brands

The Best 10 Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands


Johnsonite Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

Johnsonite Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website | Install | Maintain | Green

Johnsonite luxury vinyl planks creates beautiful spaces in office, hospitality, education, healthcare and retail segments. It’s the perfect solution to meet your performance and design needs. The natural moisture resistance of luxury vinyl floors allows for installation in any room in the home and many light commercial environments. Learn More

Mannington Adura® Flooring
Click here to view brand

Mannington Adura® Flooring

Profile | Website | Warranty | Install | Maintain

Adura is the next generation of luxury vinyl, and the fastest growing category in the flooring business. Why? Adura provides the look and elegance of wood, tile, or stone without the worry! Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, and installation options, Adura delivers award-winning fashion to your home. With proprietary technology, Adura is engineered to look and feel like the real thing, easy to maintain, and is backed up by a limited lifetime residential/6 year light commercial warranty. Learn More

NAFCO Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

NAFCO Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website | Warranty | Install | Maintain | Green

Tarkett was founded over 130 years ago and is now the largest resilient manufacturer in the world with over 28 production centers in more than 100 countries. In North America, Tarkett owns and operates nine manufacturing units that support a distribution network extending across the United States and Canada. Its comprehensive product lines are renowned in the industry for their high quality, diversity and innovation. Learn More

Armstrong Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

Armstrong Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website | Design Tools | Install | Green

Armstrong Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring creates stunning floors that are meticulously designed to look like hardwood or stone, and built to endure the busiest lifestyles. Enjoy nature's diverse beauty throughout your home — in the kitchen, bath, basement and beyond. Learn More

Shaw Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

Shaw Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website

Shaw Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is beautiful from any angle. Thanks to remarkably realistic texture, this is a great description of our Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) styles. Sure to draw admiring glances, they have a tactile appeal that’s pleasing to the eye … and to the touch. Like they came straight from Nature herself. Learn More

Flexco Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

Flexco Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website

Blending the beauty of natural woods with the durability and resilience of vinyl flooring, Flexco luxury vinyl plank uses original designs to transform rooms with the look and feel of realistic wood. As flexible to install and as easy to use as traditional vinyl tile, this commercial-grade resilient flooring provides the warm and welcoming atmosphere only wood can create. Learn More

Karndean Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

Karndean Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website | Design Tools | Tips | Maintain | FAQs | Blog

Karndean luxury vinyl plank flooring offers natural wood inspired designs without the practical drawbacks of real wood. Featuring all the intricate details and unique characteristics you’d expect to see in traditional wood flooring, our planks are carefully designed for authenticity. Colours are defined with variable shades and tones, just as they are in natural wood. Learn More

CoreTec Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

CoreTec Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website | Design Tools

The floor that started it all with our patented and revolutionary waterproof, rigid WPC core. Available in hundreds of styles and colors that provide comfort for life. Learn More

COREtec Plus Luxury Vinyl Tile
Click here to view brand

COREtec Plus Luxury Vinyl Tile

Profile | Website | Design Tools

COREtec Plus represents the next revolution in luxury vinyl flooring. The 9 ft. wide, 6 ft. long luxury vinyl planks of our patented COREtec Plus XL will make a statement in your home. XL decors take vinyl from the utility room to the living room. From modern to country, find the look and performance you need for your home. Learn More

Burke Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Click here to view brand

Burke Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Profile | Website

Burke luxury vinyl plank flooring combines the two most desirable attributes a floor can exhibit – beauty and durability – to give you a floor that’s incredibly long-lasting and attractive. Burke LVT is 67% postconsumer recycled content. LVT products that were previously discarded in a landfill are now reclaimed in a proprietary process. These products contribute to LEED credits. Burke LVT Natural Wood Planks replicate 13 multiple wood finishes in rustic and fine grains. Use a single finish, mixed finishes or combine our LVT wood planks with our LVT slate, concrete, solid black or solid white tiles. Learn More

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Videos

The Top 2 Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Videos


ADURA® Vinyl Plank: Indentation and Scratch Resistant
ADURA® vinyl plank flooring is designed to be lived on, perfect for every room and household. The floors are waterproof, kid and pet friendly, as well as easy to clean and maintain. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures and installation options, ADURA® delivers award-winning fashion to your home. Simply choose the floor you love, then choose the construction and installation that best suits your needs.

Mannington ADURA® Vinyl Plank
ADURA® vinyl plank flooring is designed to be lived on, perfect for every room and household. The floors are waterproof, kid and pet friendly, as well as easy to clean and maintain. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, textures and installation options, ADURA® delivers award-winning fashion to your home. Simply choose the floor you love, then choose the construction and installation that best suits your needs. View ADURA® here: https://www.mannington.com/Residentia...