Vinyl sheet and tile have traditionally been popular choices for kitchen and bathroom flooring, often perceived as somewhat less upscale compared to other options. However, this perception has changed with the introduction of vinyl plank flooring. Commonly referred to as luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) or luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP), this type of flooring is significantly thicker and is produced in elongated planks featuring a specialized tongue-and-groove system that allows for easy assembly.
Vinyl plank flooring gained popularity due to its impressive resemblance to traditional wood flooring, surpassing even that of plastic laminate options. Recently, the market has seen a surge in vinyl plank flooring varieties, featuring designs that imitate ceramic, porcelain, and natural stones such as marble and granite. Typically, the designs that resemble stone are available in tile formats rather than plank shapes.
Contents
Vinyl Plank Flooring
- Completely water-resistant
- Simple to set up
- Easy to upkeep
- Worn-out boards that are challenging to fix.
- Might not consistently look like wood.
- Connecting click-lock joints can be challenging.
What is Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Plank vinyl flooring is essentially vinyl flooring designed in elongated strips instead of the conventional square tiles. However, it is fundamentally a distinct product. Unlike sheet vinyl, which is typically a flexible material with a printed surface layer protected by a transparent wear layer, vinyl plank flooring is a multi-layered product consisting of four distinct layers.
- A premium coating of aluminum oxide, engineered to protect against minor scratches and abrasions.
- A transparent film coating that safeguards against significant ripping and tearing.
- A design layer that offers a lifelike appearance of wood or stone.
- A support layer constructed from relatively stiff vinyl, accounting for nearly 90% of the overall thickness of luxury vinyl.
Luxury vinyl is significantly thicker than conventional sheet vinyl, being nearly five times its thickness, which gives it a semi-rigid quality. Additionally, plank vinyl flooring often features more pronounced embossing and superior graphics, making it a more realistic representation of wood and stone compared to earlier versions of sheet vinyl or plastic laminate flooring.
Vinyl planks are available in styles that feature a heavily weathered or worn appearance, complete with hand-scraped surfaces, dents, scratches, and even nail holes. However, these options tend to come with a higher price tag, as the planks must be sufficiently thick to support the intricate texture.
Vinyl flooring planks generally measure either 48 or 36 inches in length. The standard width for most planks is approximately 6 inches, although some can be as wide as 7 3/4 inches.
Press Play to Discover the Advantages and Disadvantages of Vinyl Plank Flooring.
Cost of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Vinyl plank flooring is seldom as pricey as authentic hardwood flooring, which typically costs five to ten times more than vinyl options. The material prices typically fall between $3 and $18 per square foot. Hiring a professional for installation can increase costs by $2.50 to $6 per square foot, but vinyl planks are among the more straightforward flooring options to install on your own, similar to plastic laminate planks. In general, the expense for vinyl planks is roughly equivalent to that of laminate planks.
The expenses associated with luxury vinyl plank materials are similar to those of ceramic or porcelain tiles. However, with tiles, you need to consider the expenses of supplementary materials like thin-set and grout, as well as the need for specialized tools. Additionally, installing ceramic tiles requires significantly more labor, making it more challenging for those who choose to do it themselves.
Upkeep and Restoration
This type of flooring is relatively simple to care for. Many manufacturers suggest performing daily sweeping and weekly damp mopping using a gentle detergent and a mop, or cleaning pads. It’s important to avoid steam cleaning these floors, as the steam pressure may force moisture into the seams, reaching the wooden subfloor beneath.
Fixing vinyl plank flooring can be somewhat challenging. For minor damage, you might be able to use a vinyl repair kit that matches the color of your flooring. However, if you need to replace entire planks, the process typically requires you to take apart the flooring from one wall to the damaged plank, install a new plank, and then reassemble the flooring back to the wall.
Design
Vinyl plank flooring comes in a vast array of colors and designs from leading flooring brands. It is often favored by interior designers and real estate experts as a better option compared to sheet vinyl and laminate flooring. However, it is still seen as less prestigious than solid hardwood or porcelain tile.
The majority of plank-style luxury vinyl is designed to imitate hardwood floors, and it achieves this resemblance remarkably well. Upon first inspection, vinyl planks can closely resemble real wood. Similarly, tile variations of luxury vinyl aim to replicate ceramics or natural stone, and they do so with impressive accuracy.
Installation of Vinyl Plank Flooring
One of the main benefits of vinyl plank flooring is its straightforward installation process. Luxury plank flooring is ideal for DIY enthusiasts, as the chances of making mistakes are quite low. With a minimal learning curve, many homeowners can begin the installation process immediately. Typically, a small room can be finished in about three to four hours.
Vinyl plank flooring features a click-lock mechanism that allows the edges and ends of the planks to interlock seamlessly. Typically, this type of flooring is laid as a floating installation, sitting atop the underlayment without the need for adhesive. Although it is important for the subfloor and underlayment to be as level as possible, vinyl planks are thicker and can better accommodate minor flaws in the underlayment compared to traditional sheet vinyl.
The installation process starts with placing the initial row of boards along the most prominent wall of the room. For the end walls, a sharp utility knife can be used to trim the planks, while tin snips are handy for creating notches and openings to accommodate any obstacles.
