Luxury vinyl flooring can be a great option for homeowners to choose from. In this article, we help you to learn more about luxury vinyl flooring.
Experts predict that the global flooring industry will peak at a value of $406 billion by 2026, and resilient flooring has the lion's share of this rapidly growing market.
As part of the resilient flooring category, luxury vinyl flooring is experiencing a huge increase in demand too, with savvy homeowners choosing this convenient type of flooring over conventional materials.
Are you considering replacing the flooring in your home soon and interested in this popular innovation? Here's what you need to know about luxury vinyl flooring.
What Is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury vinyl flooring first came to market during the 1970s as a solution for the shortfalls of vinyl flooring. A decade later, its popularity soared and today it challenges laminate flooring as the top choice in modern flooring solutions.
Although it contains similar PVC vinyl to standard vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl flooring is thicker and more comfortable underfoot. It's available in a range of formats that easily conform to any room shape or design.
Standard vinyl flooring comprises a thin layer of solid vinyl backed by fiberglass or felt and comes in sheets or tiles.
In contrast, luxury vinyl flooring has up to eight layers of material. These include a:
- Shiny top-coat layer
- Clear wear layer
- Printed design layer
- Foam cushion layer
- Fiberglass backing layer
- Solid PVC backing
Some types of luxury vinyl floors also have ground limestone in their makeup.
The printed layer comprises high-quality graphics that can imitate the look of many types of high-end flooring, like hardwood and stone.
Different Types of Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Apart from numerous colors and designs, you can also choose from three main types of luxury vinyl flooring. Within these categories, you'll also find several more categories to suit your exact needs.
The main types of vinyl flooring are:
Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring
Luxury vinyl tile flooring comprises over 50% of the $34 billion resilient flooring market. It's a multi-layered product with many practical applications.
LVT offers excellent resistance to water and is an exceptionally durable floor covering.
You'll find a host of trendy as well as classic designs available in this category of luxury vinyl flooring. You can use it to create the look of natural stone and porcelain tile.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
This type of flooring's most often used to create the same impression as hardwood flooring. It offers all the durable, waterproof benefits of luxury vinyl flooring and is easy to install when compared to hardwood planks.
While vinyl doesn't last as long as well-maintained hardwood, you'll still get to enjoy it for about 20 years.
Luxury Vinyl Sheet Flooring
Luxury vinyl sheet flooring's the upgraded version of traditional vinyl sheeting. It's easy to fit it to odd-shaped floors and you get to choose from all your favorite looks including tile, wood, and stone.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Pros and Cons
Most homeowners regard luxury vinyl flooring as 'life-proof'. It provides a host of benefits that make it ideal for people with children, pets, and busy lifestyles.
These are some of the main advantages luxury vinyl floors bring to any home:
Durability
LVT's manufactured from robust materials that can withstand the rigors of a busy household and even commercial settings. They're impervious to heavy foot traffic and flame resistant.
The higher quality flooring you choose, the more waterproof it is. Even the lower grades of LVT are water-resistant, while the top brands can resist even flooding.
Versatility
With so many different styles to choose from, you're bound to find luxury vinyl flooring for every room in your home. You can even install it in bathrooms and kitchens thanks to its water and stain-resistant qualities.
Luxury vinyl floors are non-slip, so they're also safe in any setting.
Warmth
The thick layers of luxury vinyl flooring provide comfort and warmth underfoot. That if you install it in your bedroom, you'll never have to deal with cold feet when you get up in the morning.
The luxury feel also closely imitates that of the more expensive types of flooring, unlike the old-fashioned thing vinyl which creates the same feel as walking on a concrete floor.
It's also quieter to walk on when compared to other types of floors.
Easy Maintenance
If you damage your LVT flooring, it's easy and quick to repair it. You simply remove the damaged part and replace it with a new one. You can even order new planks or tiles online for extra speedy service.
Cleaning's a breeze too. You needn't worry about LVT getting too wet, so you can mop and scrub it to your heart's content.
Excellent Design
Thanks to cutting-edge technology and high-quality printing, you can barely tell the difference between luxury vinyl flooring and the 'real thing', when it comes to hardwood and stone LVT.
The click-lock system's easy and quick to use and you don't need to install any extra insulation when you buy high-end luxury vinyl flooring.
Drawbacks of Luxury Vinyl Flooring
The only problems with luxury vinyl tile, planks, and sheets are that they're inclined to cost a little more than standard vinyl. They're still a lot cheaper than the stone and hardwood floors they represent, especially since you can easily install them yourself.
Since it's a floating floor, you can't install luxury vinyl flooring on uneven surfaces. So, make sure your subfloor's level and free of debris before you install it.
Would You Like to Experience The Best Flooring Solutions?
Luxurious flooring adds immeasurable appeal and comfort to your home and will complement any design style.
We stock all the best high-quality luxury vinyl flooring solutions available today. Browse our website for more information and inspiration or get in touch for your free in-home consultation today.
