
Is smartcore a good flooring?
So, your vinyl flooring will look unattractive over time and you should be ready about this. SmartCore flooring has a WPC core. It’s good but there is nothing so special about it if you compare it with the industry practice. For general people, it’s just too technical about various cores like EVP or LVT flooring, WPC, PVC, etc.
Is smartcore vinyl flooring good?
Yes! If you like wood floors but have a limited budget, Smartcore ultra vinyl flooring might be a good option. With many vinyl brands on the market, being able to distinguish itself as Smartcore ultra did, is a good sign of quality.
Who manufactures smartcore flooring?
Smartcore vinyl plank flooring is manufactured by COREtec, a brand that makes Basic, Better and Best lines (See our COREtec Review for details on this leading brand) This Smartcore LVP/LVT flooring review provides in-depth research to assist your buying decision. It includes:
What is smartcore flooring?
- Waterproof: SmartCore Ultra flooring is designed to be waterproof, so they do not swell when exposed to water. ...
- Durable: It may last for eight years or more with proper care.
- Ease of installation: SmartCore Ultra is easy to install and can be done by DIY installers.
Where Can I Install SmartCore Flooring?
How much does Smartcore cost?
What Colors Does SmartCore Flooring Come In?
Who Actually Makes SmartCore Flooring?
What About SmartCore Naturals?
How long is Smartcore flooring warranty?
Who owns Coretec flooring?
See 2 more

Does SmartCore flooring need an underlayment?
Resilient flooring is not recommended directly over fire-retardant treated plywood or preservative treated plywood. An additional layer of APA rated 1/4" thick underlayment should be installed.
Does SmartCore flooring need a vapor barrier?
PRE-INSTALLATION JOBSITE REQUIREMENTS A ground cover of 6–20 mil black lm is essential as a vapor barrier. Joints must be lapped 6′′ (15 cm) and sealed with moisture resistant tape. The crawl space should have perimeter venting equal to a minimum of 1.5% of the crawl space square footage.
Do I need underlayment if it is already on the vinyl plank?
Pre-attached: Some vinyl plank flooring has a layer of underlayment already attached. In this case, the only type of extra underlayment required is a moisture barrier, if installing in wet areas or over concrete.
Do you need a moisture barrier under vinyl plank flooring on concrete?
Is a moisture or vapor barrier required for vinyl flooring? Typically, moisture barriers are needed when vinyl flooring is installed on top of a concrete subfloor or crawl space.
Do I need underlayment for vinyl flooring with attached pad?
It is safe to say that you will need underlayment for your luxury vinyl flooring. The only time you may not need to install underlayment is if there is already a pad attached to the LVP flooring you have purchased.
Is SmartCore Ultra flooring scratch resistant?
SmartCore flooring does have scratch resistance – and in the case of SmartCore Pro added dent resistance; but it is not completely scratch or dent proof – and like all flooring, sensible measures can be taken to ensure durability.
What flooring does not require underlayment?
Underlayment Not Required - Laminate Wood Flooring - Laminate Flooring - The Home Depot.
Do you need underlay for luxury vinyl flooring?
Most vinyl flooring or luxury vinyl tiles do not require underlay. Vinyl floors are designed with a base layer, making the addition of underlay pointless. This baselayer makes the vinyl flooring incredibly durable and comfortable to walk on.
What happens if water gets under vinyl plank flooring?
Vinyl flooring can either be glued to the subfloor or it can float on top of it, and either way, moisture underneath it causes problems. Moisture weakens glue bonds and causes the edges to lift and bubbles to form in the middle. It also deteriorates and softens the vinyl and promotes the growth of mold.
Does luxury vinyl plank need a vapor barrier?
Luxury vinyl plank manufacturers mention only vapor barrier in their installations. They recommend this due to not allowing (concrete subfloor) getting moisture or alkalinity to your flooring choice. This will eliminate any potential for claims or damages to the manufacturers flooring.
Can you install vinyl plank over concrete?
The slab needs to be free of debris, as dry as possible and level. The LVP needs to be thick enough so imperfections don't telegraph through, and then you'll be fine. You'll also need to consider if you have moisture concerns; if so, a moisture-barrier will be recommended.
Can mold grow under vinyl plank flooring?
Although vinyl flooring is known to be waterproof, liquids can still seep through the grooves, edges, or unsealed seams and get trapped underneath the flooring, causing mold to grow.
What is Smartcore underlayment made of?
Smartcore Ultra LVP is called WPC flooring: It is a blend of wood fibers and polymer plastics. WPC floors are softer. The best use of a WPC floor is residential, but Smartcore Ultra has a 5-year commercial warranty too.
Does Smartcore flooring have Formaldehyde?
These SPC floor planks are risk-free for everyday use as they are non-toxic and do not contain formaldehyde. Also, the SPC flooring planks are designed for regular use. So you can mop or vacuum it easy to keep your floor clean and tidy.
Does LifeProof need underlayment?
Does LifeProof flooring require underlayment? The answer is no.
Does Smartcore flooring need to acclimate?
Moreover, another advantage of SmartCore flooring is that it does not need to be acclimated to the home environment before installation. So once the subfloor is ready, you can begin installing your flooring right away. Manufacturers advise that you should install the flooring in a climate-controlled environment.
Problems With SmartCore Vinyl Flooring: Should You Go For It?
To be fair to SmartCore, a lot of these are common vinyl plank flooring problems.However, here is a list of its common drawbacks: Scratches easily. Denting problem. No protection against moisture from the underlayment.
Has anyone used Smartcore Floors from Lowes - Houzz
Hi, we're looking for something that we can put over ceramic tile in a rental property. The smartcore flooring from Lowes is advertise to lay over existing flooring. Has anyone used this product? Thank you!
SmartCore Ultra Flooring Review: Should You Use It?
The floor in your home is important. It’s the foundation of your house and is also the first thing you see when you walk in the door. You will want something that will withstand the test of time, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on it. SmartCore Ultra Flooring is a revolutionary new […]
What is Smartcore Ultra?
Smartcore Ultra flooring is a special flooring brand with some distinguishing benefits, some of which include:
What is the difference between Smartcore Ultra LVP and Smartcore Pro?
Smartcore Ultra LVP is equally referred to as WPC flooring while the Smartcore Pro is referred to as SPC flooring. The WPC stands for wood, polymer core and it is a mix of wood fibres as well as polymer plastics while the SPC stands for stone polymer core and it contains pulverized limestone mixed with polymers which fortifies it for additional strength and rigidity.
How long is SPC flooring warranty?
SPC flooring comes with a 10-year warranty for commercial use and a lifetime warranty when used in homes while Smartcore Ultra is most adapted to home use only because the warranty on commercial floors is just 5-years.
What are the two lines of Smartcore vinyl planks?
Basically, there are two known lines of Smartcore vinyl planks – Ultra and Pro.
How long does Smartcore flooring last?
It is a perfect mix of quality and reduced cost which combine to give the best value to the end-users. The product is durable and can last some 8 to 12 years and even longer when treated with love and care.
What woods are available in Smartcore Ultra?
Furthermore, Smartcore Ultra features a vast range of options to choose from, such as Canberra Acacia, Stillwater Oak, Rustic Hickory and others.
How thick is vinyl plank?
For such a residential-type vinyl plank material, the average range of thickness is 6-12 mil. Besides, with this product type you don’t have to incur the cost to refinish hardwood floors again.
What does vinyl underlayment do?
Using a vinyl flooring underlayment can help reduce noise, soften the feel under foot and aid in moisture protection.
What is the thickness of WPC?
WPC and SPC vinyl are more dimensionally stable and usually come in a thickness of over 4mm. For click lock WPC and SPC vinyl flooring, you can install it with a vinyl flooring underlayment, or directly on top of the subfloor. Higher end WPC and SPC vinyl floors may come with an attached underlayment. This typically adds cushion, ...
Does vinyl floor have an underlayment?
Higher end WPC and SPC vinyl floors may come with an attached underlayment. This typically adds cushion, a vapor barrier and sound reduction to the floor. If your vinyl already has an attached underlayment, you should not add any additional cushion to the planks.
Can you put vinyl underlayment over 4mm?
The rule of thumb is any vinyl over 4mm can have a vinyl specific underlayment. With thinner vinyl flooring construction, adding a foam underlayment can effect the locking system strength. Vinyl floors under 4mm should be installed right over the subfloor.
Can you put vinyl flooring over a subfloor?
When you’re installing vinyl floors over an existing subfloor, such as tile or linoleum, you can use an underlayment for added cushion and sound reduction. Moisture will not be an issue for you in this case.
Can you put vinyl plank flooring over concrete?
If you are installing your vinyl plank flooring over a concrete subfloor, you may want to use an underlayment for three reasons. First, it will give you some added cushion to help make the floor softer to walk on. Second, you may want an extra vapor barrier above the subfloor to reduce any risk of moisture.
Do you need underlayment for vinyl flooring?
It is important to know if you need underlayment or not with a vinyl flooring installation. Unlike laminate flooring, most vinyl floors are designed to lay directly on top of the subfloor. The type of vinyl flooring and type of subfloor you have will determine if you are able to use a vinyl flooring underlayment.
Where Can I Install SmartCore Flooring?
Technically speaking, you can install SmartCore Ultra or SmartCore Pro anywhere you would install any other type of vinyl flooring. But like we said, you’re going to need an additional moisture barrier to protect your subflooring if you want to put it anywhere it might deal with excessive moisture (you know, like anywhere you’d usually want to install LVP? )
How much does Smartcore cost?
You can generally buy SmartCore for about $3–$4/sq. ft., which is a bit cheaper than what many of the best vinyl plank flooring brands charge, on average. To put that in context: buying SmartCore floors is head-over-heels more affordable than buying hardwood floors.
What Colors Does SmartCore Flooring Come In?
SmartCore offers a pretty decent color selection as far as faux-wood flooring goes. From the light touch of ash flooring to the jet-black of ebony flooring, SmartCore comes in a lot of hues and patterns.
Who Actually Makes SmartCore Flooring?
Lowes slaps its name on SmartCore flooring—but who actually manufactures it? As it turns out, that’s a little complicated.
What About SmartCore Naturals?
In addition to SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra, Lowe’s also sells a third collection: SmartCore Naturals. This line is made of real wood with a bamboo veneer. Lowes markets it under the SmartCore brand name because, like SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra, it’s supposedly waterproof.
How long is Smartcore flooring warranty?
The commercial warranty for most LVP products that have a 12-mil-or-thicker wear layer is roughly 10 years. SmartCore’s commercial warranty is only 5 years —and all of the “exceptions” outlined above still apply.
Who owns Coretec flooring?
That said, COREtec is actually owned by USFloors. And USFloors is actually owned by Shaw Industries —the second-largest flooring manufacturer in the world. Shaw offers everything from low-VOC vinyl flooring to just about every wood flooring type in the world, so at least you know SmartCore flooring is being made by people who know what they’re doing.
