I would like to get feedback on the Supercore Basics line. I am looking at Solitude for around 1,000 sf. I have an old wood subfloor that I am going to need to do a lot of leveling on. Where do you draw the line for telling someone that a 4.5mm floor is not for them? I know I only get a 12mil wear layer, but the fact that it is still Aluminum Oxide and has a stone composite core makes me feel it will be ok. Is there any difference in the locking system? The lock does not seem as hefty on the samples for the basics line. I get concerned that with an old pier and beam supported floor that has settled, even if I level the floor, will the less hardy locking system fail if I get slight movement with any further settling?

I’ve looked at so many floors I’m burned out. I should’ve done a spreadsheet like the author of this post. I originally wanted Flooret’s Modin line but I’m just not liking the 9” planks.. right now Provenza Moda is my front runner because of the 7” wide plank texture and long boards (I do NOT want 48” planks). Does anyone know of a brand that I should be considering?? I want SPC, do NOT want a pronounced pained bevel (but do like a thin bevel). Prefer some texture, want low color variation in light-medium brown. (Did not care for SuperCore or Paradigm samples)

SPC is not LVP. LVP can be brittle, especially the thinner click locking mechanisms. SPC is a solid vinyl product that should perform well and having sold it for roughly 2-3 years, am unaware of any consistent problems with them. As far as finish wear on vinyl, again some of the more cost effective products are likely only finished out with a few coats of polyurethane but many of the better quality materials are finished out with polyurethane PLUS either a ceramic-bead or aluminum oxide finish which make the finish more resistant to scratches. Newer vinyl products are being referred to as "RVP" which stands for Rigid Vinyl Plank and are also well-performing products. I do not think you'll have issues with furniture denting SPC or RVP-core products - LVP, yes if it's heavy enough. Laminates are also solid materials. They are similar to vinyl in that they are not real wood (rather they are digital prints - pictures of wood) but quality products will hold up to wear-and-tear nicely. They can scratch but not easily but most laminate products do not perform as well with respect to moisture. The core underneath a laminate is fiberboard which is essentially sawdust (wood) and a few other things - wood swells with moisture and most laminates will do the same. The newer water-resistant categories will perform better with respect to moisture however they are not waterproof so if they are exposed to moisture for a prolonged period of time some swelling will occur (though most say it is marginal). Engineered is "real" wood - it is not a digital print. Big win is you get more return on your investment come resell time as you can advertise real wood when you sell the home but they will likely scratch easier and wood does not hold up to moisture quiet as nicely. Let me know if I can help in any other way.

When talking about "cheap vinyl" we are talking about anything LESS than $3/sf. When we talk about THIN vinyl planks we discuss anything that is LESS than 7mm thick. Virgin vinyl is the most stable product we have. It is to be used for flooring. As much as 'recycled content' sounds nice, it is notorious for delamination, shrinkage, warping, etc. And most vinyl comes out of China. It is almost impossible to avoid. So long as it has the CARB II requirements you are fine. And yes, "usually" means during daily use. In a fire, most of us do not stand around inhaling the chemicals in our flooring. We run like the dickens to get out of the house. And in a house fire, the vinyl is one of THOUSANDS of products that give off chemicals. If you are concerned about chemicals, off-gassing and release of chemicals during I fire, I highly recommend a site finished waxed hardwood or porcelain tile. Man-made products may not be for you. And please be aware of vinyl's LONG history of instability in direct sunlight/heat. Please assess your windows for UV blockage. A low-priced vinyl (anything less than $3/sf) is going to have issues with discolouration, warpage and shrinkage when exposed to pools of sunlight. So long as your windows have 70% (or more) of UV blockage, you should be fine. Anything less and you risk a problematic floor.