Really? I would need to know hwere you are putting it , waht your style is before advising either way. I have Allure from HD it is in my walk out has been there for 13 yrs looks like new cleans like a dream and was very inexpensive . We did it with dri core underneath for a warmer floor. The new LVP are made with a materila under the plank if you get the click type so many makers to choose from but really depends a bit on where you will be using it, some can handle lots of sun others not so much. I use Mannington with great success for clients if you want to start your search there .

Thanks! We are planning to use it throughout the entire first floor of our home- kitchen, living, dining and bedrooms. We’ve looked into a Cali bamboo and a Shaw floorte line, but just making sure those are good ones and trying not to make a hasty decision. It will cover roughly 2000 sq feet.

You will want to decide whether or not you can/will put in a floating vinyl (click together) or a glue down (may not be possible depending on the house's age and location). A floating floor will need to have transition strips through the bedroom doorways. There are some products that allow for a MASSIVE installation size (over 1000sf of continuous flooring) but it is very rare to see 2000sf as a continuous floor.

To get away from the transitions through doors (a very cheap and very common situation) you would have to move to a glue down situation (very expensive).

I don’t think we are concerned with the transitions, but thanks for bringing that up. I’ve heard that the floating/click together flooring is typically more soundproof which is a bigger concern for us.

Sound proof and LVP don't usually go together. Carpet works very well. Cork flooring works very well. Cork UNDERLAY underneath hardwood or laminate works well.

Vinyl 99% does NOT allow underpad of ANY SORT! And it is the underpad that is the noise reducer. Sigh.....I can't tell you how many people have thought they can use noise reducing underpad under vinyl only to find out (usually after purchase) that it is NOT allowed.

I would assume it is NOT ALLOWED until you can find a document on the producer's website that SPECIFICALLY states what is allowed as underpad. If the document does NOT say it...it is NOT allowed.

If you need noise reduction look to high-end Laminate out of Europe (same price range as vinyl) and work with 6mm cork underlay for the acoustic benefit (and the thermal...).

Yes, we’ve just been leaning towards the thicker materials to help with the sound, but we understand it’s definitely not going to be soundproof by any means. thanks for the tips!

Hi. We love our Flooret Modin Rigid in Arbor. Decided on this product after getting dozens of samples from practically every vinyl plank manufacturer. Put the samples under furniture legs, tried to scratch them, smeared with mud, etc... Installation (by pros) was in September 2019 and they look great. Their specs included the longest continuous run and widest temperature range I was able to find. Transition strips were only required at the bathroom doors. We have two large dogs in a rural (read snowy and muddy) location. Good luck with your project.

My recommendation is not to install LVP. IMO, it adds no value to your home and a poor investment should you sell down the road.

My suggestion should you go ahead is make sure is it an engineered vinyl floor. I think Coretec is engineered.

Isn't engineered vinyl floor same as LVP? I'm just starting to research for flooring choices for our kitchen remodel and all these terms are making my head hurts.

@ekinna Yes. The LVP and engineered vinyl are the same CATEGORY of flooring = Luxury vinyl. The construction of the plank is different. LVP traditionally has vinyl on vinyl. CoreTec and a few other brands are on an SPC (non-vinyl) core. They are thicker and are considered a bit more stable with a price tag to match!

At the end of the day, vinyl is vinyl is vinyl. It has many uses. It is versatile and easy to work with and it comes 100% from a chemical factory (99% out of China). It is the 'soy bean' of the flooring industry. You can make it look like anything, feel like anything you want. It just isn't real 'meat'...that's all.

So are SPC or WPC a better product than just non-brand specific LVP in terms of durability, ease of care, and less potentially harmful chemicals?

Durability = no difference because it is the FINISH on top (really has to be 20mil for USA household) is what makes the difference in durability

Ease of Care = no difference, see above

Potentially Less Harmful = *theoretically the LESS VINYL (PVC) in a product the LESS chances of chemical issues...but in reality it doesn't make much difference.

The DIFFERENCE is the THICKNESS of the product AND stability (less prone to LARGE changes when there's a change in temp/humidity).

Hi Sue Pederson, can you post pictures of your Flooret Modin Rigid in Arbor? thanks!

Hi RC. Pics of the flooring in kitchen and bathroom.

Also, Sue, is the Flooret Modin glue down or floating? Thanks!

It's a floating floor. After watching the installers lay the floor throughout the downstairs, my husband installed it in the upstairs bathrooms.

Beautiful, @Sue Pedersen! Thank you!

thanks everyone for your comments advice and input! We’ve been leaning more towards engineered hardwood, just can’t commit to an LVP. @SJ McCarthy, i have noticed you giving great advice on all sorts of flooring.

Do you have any recommendations for a good brand and model? Trying to stay around the $4.5-6/sq ft price range. Currently considering these two from Bella Cera.

Thanks!

thanks everyone for your comments advice and input! We’ve been leaning more towards engineered hardwood, just can’t commit to an LVP. @SJ McCarthy, i have noticed you giving great advice on all sorts of flooring.

Do you have any recommendations for a good brand and model? Trying to stay around the $4.5-6/sq ft price range. Currently considering these two from Bella Cera.

Thanks!

Lydia, did you decide on your floor yet? I am in the same situation as you. LOT of LVP in a new home instead of hardwood, but there is a lot to choose from. Wondering if you have input on what you chose and why? Also I was in a show home in our area (Cincinnati Homearama 2020 Bella Vista home). They had Bella Cera Lugano through the main floor and it was truly the most beautiful floor I had seen and I'm trying to match the LVP color to that

Has anyone tried or looked at flooret lato base? https://www.flooret.com/luxury-vinyl-plank-flooring/lato-base/ looks so good. I can't find any installation pics here