Choosing vinyl plank flooring
Sharon Wettlaufer
2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
BeverlyFLADeziner
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Choosing between laminate and vinyl plank flooring
Comments (8)We recently were faced with the same decision for our new build. I was almost completely sold on going with Coretec LVP, but after doing more research on both Coretec and the higher end laminates (12mm that are water-resistant), we ended up selecting laminate. Both were identical in price for us so pricing wasn't a factor for us. For me, the biggest pros of LVP: Better traction in socks, perhaps slightly more water-resistant (but they are NOT waterproof), softest underfoot. LVP Cons: Many have a slight vinyl-like sheen to them that bothered me (Coretec included). Installation guide/warranties always mention not allowing direct sunlight through a window hit your floors because it's vinyl afterall and will expand and contract -- major issue for me. Even Coretec which I consider one of the best visuals for LVP in terms of mimicking real wood doesn't hold a torch to the high end laminates. Laminate pros: It's been around for a very long time and the higher end ones are durable, water-resistant (able to be damp mopped -- but neither laminate nor LVP should be steam mopped). The particular brand we bought has a core similar to Coretec (hence the water-resistance) and also has a 2mm pad attached. It is rated safe to use in bathrooms and kitchens. Coretec has a cork backing which is also good. Laminate looked a little more realistic to me in terms of the sheen it has (more matte) and the particular laminate we compared to Coretec sounded less clicky when walked on believe it or not. Coretec sounded a bit more plastic-like which surprised me. Laminate cons: Many are not water-resistant so it depends on what you buy. You get what you pay for. It's a little more slippery in socks than LVP. I'm not sure if there are any other big cons. Ultimately, you get what you pay for with both types of flooring. They both can and will scratch. Our laminate did not mention keeping direct sunlight away from it whereas most (if not all) LVPs do so that was a factor for us. I think we would have been happy with either floor, but ultimately the laminate won for us because of the sunlight issue as well as it looking more realistic. Also, just something to consider, several local flooring companies talked about the LVP floors denting from very heavy objects (bookcases, dining table, sofa legs, etc and not being able to recover where laminate doesn't have that issue as often. I knew it could dent but was surprised to hear the LVP floors didn't slowly recover over time. Oh, and also pay attention to the installation span distance for each brand of flooring you consider. Some laminates can only span a distance of 33ft or so before needing a transition strip (ours can go 66ft so we will not need transition strips). I believe Coretec can go 60+ft as well. I'm not sure about other LVP flooring brands....See MoreKitchen flooring --what should I choose..tile? vinyl plank?
Comments (9)Squares that you can diy. We have some commercial grade carpet near an entry (garage) ...works well. Vinyl squares can be diy.....I wouldn't hesitate to do sturdy commercial carpet squares all the way thru into small galley kitchen. Can replace easily at future time ...i would look for something you can diy and a square or section Or the like can be replaced. Or when you just want to you can change the whole floor when child grows . the key is small galley can be diy and don't hesitate to think it need not be a forever floor. Hardwood is always great but sounds like you are not wanting that....See MoreEngineered Vinyl Plank (EVP) vs. Luxury Vinyl Plank vs Engineered Hard
Comments (24)@V M sorry, just seeing your post above. We are just now finally breaking ground on our home so I don't have pics of the flooring to show you from my house. I will come back and post when I do but that will be some months from now. But we are paying, I think, 15K for our Multi-Length Rigid Core SPC floors in color Sandhill. Our house will be 2975 sf and this floor covering will be throughout the home, except in 3 of the full baths and the utility room. I'm not exactly sure how many square feet that leaves but hopefully you can do some rough math. Everything goes through my builder so I don't have an exact price per square foot to provide you. I also am not sure if this includes labor to install....See MoreVinyl plank floor on uneven sub floor.
Comments (2)I just had Karastan SPC installed by an excellent family owned flooring company with a lifetime guarantee on their installation. Their installers are employees, not subcontractors. They honor their warranty. They will rip out and replace an entire floor, hard surface or carpet, if necessary. The plank has a crushed limestone core. They honor it. In one area, I had 125 square feet of Armstrong Alterna removed. This is a glue down tile. They then skimmed the concrete subfloor to cover the residual glue, as they said that walking on the planks could activate the glue. No shortcuts taken. Not with a lifetime warranty. Most of the concrete subfloor is perfectly level. However, one section has a slant like yours. The installer said the the concrete was lower on one side of the poured joints. Noticeably so. He said with these rigid planks, that would not be a problem. I don’t notice any problem walking on the floor. Did you install a quality rigid plank?...See MoreSharon Wettlaufer
2 years agoBeverlyFLADeziner
2 years agoSharon Wettlaufer
2 years agoBeverlyFLADeziner
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoSharon Wettlaufer thanked BeverlyFLADezinerSharon Wettlaufer
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agodjb10
2 years agoSharon Wettlaufer
2 years ago
Related Stories
REMODELING GUIDESYour Floor: An Introduction to Solid-Plank Wood Floors
Get the Pros and Cons of Oak, Ash, Pine, Maple and Solid Bamboo
Full StoryMATERIALSWhat to Know About Luxury Vinyl Flooring
The flooring material has become increasingly popular. Here’s how to determine its quality and get it installed
Full StoryMATERIALSWhat to Ask Before Choosing a Hardwood Floor
We give you the details on cost, installation, wood varieties and more to help you pick the right hardwood flooring
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESThe Case for Linoleum and Vinyl Floors
Have pets, kids and a tight budget? Easy-care resilient floors may be the choice for you
Full StoryFLOORSNew Groove: Vinyl Floors Are Back!
First vinyl records made a comeback, now floors. See how, where and when to use this durable, easy-to-clean material
Full StoryFLOORS5 Reasons Vinyl Flooring Might Be Right for You
This increasingly popular flooring material has some very real benefits
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNEcofriendly Kitchen: How to Choose Flooring
Conserve natural resources and your long-term finances by choosing kitchen flooring materials with durability and beauty
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNWhich Flooring Should I Choose for My Bathroom?
Read this expert advice on 12 popular options to help you decide which bathroom flooring is right for you
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESDesigner Confessions: Torn Between Wood Floors
19 Photos to Help You Choose a Wood Floor Finish
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESLaminate Floors: Get the Look of Wood (and More) for Less
See what goes into laminate flooring and why you just might want to choose it
Full Story
BeverlyFLADeziner