Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Right for You?
How much does vinyl plank flooring cost?
What is the difference between sheet vinyl and vinyl plank flooring?
What is a LVP floor?
What is vinyl plank flooring?
How long does it take to install vinyl plank flooring?
How thick is vinyl plank?
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What Is Plank Vinyl Flooring?
At its core, plank vinyl floor, also called luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or luxury vinyl floor (LVF), is simply vinyl flooring that comes in long, narr...
Features of Quality Luxury Vinyl Plank
Along with graphics, surface embossing is the quality that makes vinyl plank look more like wood plank. If you hold the product to an angle, you se...
Price Ranges: Moderate to High
Rarely, if ever, will vinyl plank floor reach the level of actual wood plank prices. After all, lower prices are one of the major reasons why homeo...
What About Inexpensive Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Vinyl plank flooring in the rock-bottom pricing range can be found at commodity flooring retailers like BuildDirect, Lumber Liquidators, and Home D...
What is printed vinyl flooring?
Printed Vinyl: This type of vinyl flooring is comprised of backing material, a print layer, and a wear layer that rests over the top. The backing provides stability for the piece, while the print layer can be imbued with nearly any image, pattern, or color combination imaginable. This allows you to simulate the look of natural wood, and stone, use emblem pieces, get creative with designs or even turn your floor into a living mural beneath your feet.
What are the drawbacks of vinyl?
Textural Enhancements: One of the classic drawbacks to vinyl is the fact that it feels flat, manufactured, and plastic. However, there are various textural treatments which can be applied to the material when it is produced, to give it a dimensional feel.
Why is my vinyl floor yellow?
Unfortunately, over time, direct sunlight can cause a vinyl floor to discolor, taking on a yellowing hazy look.
What is composite vinyl?
Solid, and Composite Vinyl: Unlike printed vinyl which has separate and distinct layers, these surface coverings are manufactured in a process that produces a single, congruous material all the way through. Because they are not printed the design options in a living room are somewhat limited. However, the constituent consistency ensures that even as the material wears, the colors will not fade as they run true, all the way through.
How long does vinyl last in a home?
While parties and social gatherings may be held there, and refreshments may occasionally spill, the inherent durability of vinyl will ensure that it is easy to clean and maintain, allowing it to achieve a full 10-20 year potential life cycle before it needs to be replaced.
How much does tile vinyl cost?
Tile Vinyl Floors: $1.00 - $8.00 per square foot. Tiles of standard size and shape, usually consisting of squares or rectangles, which can then be sliced down into triangles. While the composite nature of the installation does hamper design capabilities somewhat, it also allows you to get very creative with the arrangement of individual pieces in the living room area. It is also much easier to install tile vinyl yourself, and if a single piece gets damaged, it can be removed and replaced for a perfect repair.
How much does sheet vinyl cost per square foot?
Sheet Vinyl Floors: $0.50 - $2.00 per square foot. This consists of solid sheets of vinyl which are measured, cut, and then installed as a giant single, seamless piece in a room. The advantage to this is the designs can be printed on the whole floor, as if it were a canvas, allowing you to get very creative with living room designs. The drawback is that it is much more difficult to properly install sheet vinyl on your own, so it may be necessary to hire a professional, which can drive the cost of the floor up.
What is click lock vinyl?
Click lock vinyl is an incredible innovation that has revolutionized the installation process of vinyl plank flooring. It is not as simple as loose lay vinyl, however, click lock is easy to install and is still an option for a DIYer with some experience.
What is a loose lay vinyl plank?
If you’re interested in vinyl plank flooring and have been doing your research, then you’ve probably come across “loose lay vinyl planks,” a style of vinyl that is touted for its affordability and ease of installation.
What happens if you don't install vinyl planks?
If vinyl isn’t installed correctly, it can create openings for dirt, grime, or water to build up. While the surface area of vinyl planks is water-resistant, the area beneath isn’t waterproof. If water is allowed to build up in these cracks, which are hard to clean out, it can permanently damage your floors.
Can you glue down vinyl planks?
Glue-down vinyl may be one of the most complicated and thorough vinyl plank installation methods. As a result, we recommend that only professional installers and the most experienced DIYers attempt to install them. On the plus side, since glue-down vinyl planks don’t shift or move, they don’t have many of the issues associated with loose lay vinyl.
Can you lay vinyl flooring anywhere?
As long as it is correctly installed, loose lay vinyl flooring can go anywhere. It’s a perfect way to elevate your living room and bedrooms. Due to their water resistance, they’re an ideal option for bathrooms and kitchens, too. Vinyl planks are durable to extreme conditions, so they’re a perfect fit for sunrooms and mudrooms.
Can vinyl planks be moved?
Since loose lay vinyl planks aren’t stuck to the ground, they may move or slide apart. As a result, planks may lift up or shift, creating visible seams. That being said, this shouldn’t be a problem if the vinyl planks are correctly installed.
Is loose vinyl plank flooring a good fit?
Unfortunately, it’s not always a perfect fit. Here are a few disadvantages of loose lay vinyl plank flooring to consider when deciding which installation method is right for you:
Why do you need prefinished planks?
There are plenty of reasons to opt for prefinished planks. You won’t have dust from sanding or fumes from finishing to contend with during installation; depending on how it’s installed, you might be able to walk on the floors right away. Prefinished flooring also tends to be less expensive. Perhaps most important, the factory-applied finishes are significantly tougher-wearing than what your contractor would be likely to apply once the floor is installed.
Is porcelain tile good for basements?
Both vinyl and porcelain, which contain no wood fibers, stand up to the worst of these conditions. But porcelain tile tends to feel uncomfortably cold underfoot, especially in basements where the chilly ground underneath makes heating it with an electric floor-warming system extremely inefficient (not to mention expensive). That makes vinyl the clear winner when it comes to basements. It also offers a wide range of formal and informal looks to fit whatever vibe you’re creating.
How many engineered wood products are recommended?
Of the 18 engineered wood products we tested, we recommend two, both from Lumber Liquidators.
Can you put floating floor in basement?
First things first: Make sure to choose a flooring that is rated for installation over below-grade concrete. And, Mackmiller says, read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. In a basement, the surface needs to be installed as a “floating floor,” that is, one that attaches only to itself and not to the subfloor below. This way the entire surface can shift as moisture and temperature levels change, without pieces of the flooring buckling or coming loose.
Can you put engineered wood flooring over concrete?
Engineered wood floors are also less susceptible to seasonal shrinking and swelling because the underlying support structure is designed to be more stable than solid wood. Some can even be installed directly over a concrete subfloor, which isn’t always possible with solid wood. In fact, engineered flooring is often low-profile enough to install over an existing floor—representing a huge potential savings. Still, this choice lacks the longevity of solid wood, particularly for the (very) long haul. In certain household environments, a wood floor might need refinishing every decade or two. Some engineered products can be refinished just once (depending on the thickness of the top “wear” layer), whereas solid wood can be refinished four or five times.
Is wood flooring a good choice?
Though wood remains a widely used aesthetic choice, it won’t stand up well to that assault: Our tests show that, in general, wood floors are far more prone to denting than other materials, and with very few exceptions, foot traffic is tough on the finish.
Can vinyl be scratched?
Today’s vinyl products are also more durable than those of the past, but some may be prone to scratching. Keep fresh felt bumpers on the feet of kitchen stools, and buy an extra bundle of planks now to ensure that you have a perfect match down the road. If any planks get damaged, you can remove them and install replacements as needed.
Is Vinyl Flooring Good for Bedrooms?
When choosing the flooring for your bedroom, there are endless possibilities, from carpet to wood to vinyl flooring.
Why does vinyl flooring fade?
and damage the flooring with scratches, scuff marks, and indentations.
How much does it cost to install vinyl flooring?
Budget-friendly: The net average for vinyl flooring is approximately three dollars per square ft to have it professionally installed, while luxury vinyl planks are about seven dollars a square foot. The cost will be cheaper if you DIY because you can easily save on labor costs.
What is the first thing your feet touch in the morning and the last thing at night?
The bedroom floor is the first thing your feet touch in the morning and the last thing at night.
Does vinyl flooring emit chemicals?
The scent may not be as noticeable, but these are chemicals. They are fume-emitting toxins that, over time, will dissipate, but it is a slow process. Vinyl flooring may also emit other hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde.
Does vinyl flooring reduce noise?
Durable: Using vinyl flooring in your bedroom can help to reduce the noise in the room.
Can you put plywood under vinyl flooring?
If it is not smooth, any imperfections will show through the floor as indentations and bumps. If you cannot get your subfloor smooth, you can put down a well-sanded plywood piece before you put the vinyl flooring down.
Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Right for You?
Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years.
How much does vinyl plank flooring cost?
Prices for materials usually range from $2.50 to $5 per square foot.
What is the difference between sheet vinyl and vinyl plank flooring?
But structurally this is a different product. Sheet vinyl is generally flexible vinyl with a printed top layer covered by a clear wear layer, while vinyl plank flooring is a multi-ply product that features four layers: A topmost layer of aluminum oxide, designed to prevent light scratching and scuff s.
What is a LVP floor?
At its heart, plank vinyl floor, also called luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or luxury vinyl floor (LVF), is simply vinyl flooring that comes in long, narrow strips rather than the traditional square tile shapes. But structurally this is a different product. Sheet vinyl is generally flexible vinyl with a printed top layer covered by a clear wear layer, while vinyl plank flooring is a multi-ply product that features four layers:
What is vinyl plank flooring?
Rather than a thin layer of very flexible vinyl, vinyl plank flooring is a much thicker flooring material that is fabricated in long planks with a modified tongue-and-groove connection system that snaps together, usually called "click-lock.".
How long does it take to install vinyl plank flooring?
Since the learning curve is low, most homeowners can get started on installation right away, with no need to learn special skills or purchase tools unique to the trade. A small room can be completed in three to four hours, usually.
How thick is vinyl plank?
Vinyl flooring planks typically are 48 or 36 inches long.