Luxury Vinyl Flooring 101 For Homeowners
Over the years, plenty of new trends and styles have come up in the home flooring market. While traditional options such as hardwood flooring, laminate products, and ceramic tiles are still popular, the demand for modern materials such as luxury vinyl planks is also increasing.
The big demand for luxury vinyl floors can be attributed to one thing: price. Luxury vinyl floor products are significantly cheaper than wood, tile flooring, and carpet products. They’re also highly versatile and come in various designs and textures that can resemble natural stone, ceramic tile, porcelain, and hardwood products.
What Is Luxury Vinyl Flooring Made Of?
Most vinyl floors are constructed with one main material which is polyvinyl chloride plastic or PVC. This is a synthetic material that contains carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. To create luxury vinyl floors, PVC is mixed with limestone minerals, plasticizers, pigments, trace stabilizers, and a carrier sheet made of either wood or calcium carbonate. These components help make luxury vinyl floors sturdier and more durable than tile and sheet vinyl.
Like most flooring products, a luxury vinyl floor is also composed of different layers. Here are the typical layers of a luxury vinyl plank:
- UV coating – This is the top layer which mostly consists of a glossy coating that provides protection against sunlight, discoloration, and scratches.
- Wear layer – This is another clear layer that’s applied on the top of the vinyl plank to protect its hard surface and the decorative layer. This helps the flooring material withstand natural wear and tear and lengthen its lifespan.
- Decor or print layer – This layer provides the design and texture of the vinyl plank.
- Rigid core layer – Luxury vinyl floors are known for their rigid core material that increases its resilience and allows it to be installed using a tongue-and-groove system. It can be made of wood plastic composite (WPC) which is mixed with thermoplastics, solid polymer (SPC), or 100% hardened vinyl.
- Foam layer – Also known as the backing layer, this provides an underlayment for the plank so you don’t have to install anything to the subfloor. It also helps reduce sounds, insulate floors, and provide overall comfort when walking.
How Does Luxury Vinyl Differ From Other Types of Vinyl Floors?
There are three main types of vinyl floors: vinyl tile, sheet, and luxury vinyl plank. Although they’re all made of the same PVC material, there are distinct differences between them and each has its own set of benefits. Here’s a table to help you better differentiate the kinds of vinyl floors:
| Luxury Vinyl Floor | Vinyl Composite Tile | Sheet Vinyl | |
| Material | PVC mixed with limestone minerals and other materials | PVC combined with limestone, fillers, color pigments, and thermoplastics | Made of a continuous sheet of polymer plastic with a layer of fibrous or felt material |
| Water-resistant capabilities | A great choice for water-prone rooms since it has multiple layers and a protective coating that makes it incredibly waterproof | Also waterproof but may not perform as well as luxury vinyl since it has seams in between the tiles | Another popular waterproof flooring option since it’s made of sheet plastics |
| Maintenance | Low maintenance and easy to clean on a daily basis | Easy to maintain and repair since tile products can be removed | Repairs may be difficult since some sheets are glued down |
| Installation | Can be installed on your own since the planks are easy to assemble and cut into pieces | Also a good flooring choice for avid home DIYers | May require professional help since vinyl sheets are hard to cut and fit on your own |
