Is Luxury Vinyl the Right Fit For Your Home

As a flooring type, luxury vinyl has evolved over time to become one of the fastest growing categories in the industry, and its improvements since the vinyl of the 1930s has been astounding. Today, there is an incredible amount of variety in the colors and materials available that are easily accessible and installable. Many of these options have the strikingly similar appearances and textures as real hardwood, making it easy to mistake luxury vinyl for the real thing.

Is luxury vinyl tile or plank the right choice for your house? What is all the hype about? Let’s explore what luxury vinyl flooring is, why it’s popular right now and what some of the factors are that make it one of the most desirable and versatile floor types out there.

What is luxury vinyl?

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) both come in individual units (unlike sheet vinyl) that either look like the planks you see in real hardwood floors (plank) or take on the appearance of natural stone (tile). For the most part, these floor types are either fully waterproof or extremely water resistant, at the least.

In its original form, vinyl was only able to be glued down directly to sub-flooring. However, these first-generation vinyl sheets were very thin, and didn’t offer any cushion or protection from the floor below. This vinyl was cheap and easy to install, but it often showed bumps in warped floors and was quite hard to walk on.

Today, with the advancements in luxury vinyl, most types are thicker, heavier and snap together to form a decently absorbent surface that is protected and insulated from the concrete or plywood below.

What are the benefits of luxury vinyl?

Obviously the main appeal of luxury vinyl is its visual and textural similarities to real hardwood and stone. The fact that it can mimic natural materials is the primary reason homeowners are drawn to it. However, there are a handful of practical benefits to installing luxury vinyl in your home. Let’s walk through a few of these major beneficial elements.

First things first: luxury vinyl is waterproof! For moisture-prone rooms like basements, mudrooms, kitchens and bathrooms, luxury vinyl tile or plank is an invaluable asset to protect against potential water damage. This offers peace of mind for homeowners wishing to avoid those dreaded warped floors as a result of leaks and sitting water, without having to sacrifice style!

Another great aspect of luxury vinyl is its versatility. Luxury vinyl tile or plank can be placed atop almost any type of flat surface, making it a dream for installation. Whether it’s on top of concrete, plywood, vinyl or tile, you can rest easy knowing that this material is thick and resilient enough to even withstand extreme internal and external temperatures.

Many flooring decisions come down to the level of financial investment required. Luckily, luxury vinyl tile and plank affordable options that don’t skimp on quality or style. These floor types are less expensive than natural hardwood or stone tile, and since they are easy to install on top of other surfaces, you won’t have to worry about the extra labor costs associated with ripping up the underlying flooring.

Luxury vinyl tile and plank also has a low profile, which allows it to be easily installed underneath cabinets, doors, appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, dryers). The thin surface works well in conjunction with some of these existing elements that may have height restrictions.

As far as ongoing maintenance, luxury vinyl tile and plank are both relatively easy to fix and very simple to clean. Broken or damaged planks can be seamlessly plucked out and replaced, which is highly desirable compared to the painful process involved with replacing standard cracked tiles.

Finally, this floor type offers a remarkable number of colors and styles that work well in almost any home and any room. Whether modern, neutral grays are your thing or you’re looking for something more warm and traditional, luxury vinyl tile and plank offer a veritable feast of visual and textural options.

As you can see, luxury vinyl plank and tile have become the go-to for many homeowners and remodelers. Whether it’s the practical benefits of being waterproof, versatile and affordable or the aesthetic benefits of its variety and similarities to natural materials, there’s no doubt that luxury vinyl is here to stay.

If you’re considering a new floor type and these aspects appeal to you, we recommend taking some time to order samples, research styles and textures, and weigh your options. We hope you find a type that matches your design style, while checking the boxes of functionality and longevity. It might be time to add luxury vinyl to your new build, remodel or renovation wishlist!