Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a highly regarded flooring option as it provides numerous advantages, including durability, low maintenance, and affordability. As one of the most popular flooring kinds, LVT is a modern, stylish and cost-effective flooring solution that can provide an alternative, even to some of the most expensive flooring options available. When it comes to flooring, luxury vinyl floors cannot be beaten, and are a great flooring option for both residential and commercial settings.
This blog will detail the pros and cons of luxury vinyl in a completely unbiased fashion, to show you why we believe that this option is the best in the flooring industry.
Luxury vinyl tile flooring is much superior to standard vinyl flooring on a roll because of its ability to closely mimic the look of real materials such as wood, porcelain, or stone.
Luxury vinyl tile flooring is typically far more durable than other forms of sheet vinyl flooring and resembles classic hardwood or stone in appearance. It achieves this similarity by having a surface layer with a detailed image of actual wood or stone, with a mix of grain or textured patterns that replicate the real materials.
Luxury vinyl tile flooring is an extremely long-lasting flooring option for both home and commercial applications. Most are waterproof, allowing them to be installed in damp places such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms etc, without fear of damage to the subfloor. This is the main reason that LVT wins in the war between vinyl and laminate flooring.
They are also scratch-resistant and stain-resistant, providing that any spillages are cleaned up quickly. You should always check the suitability of the flooring choice for the room or environment in which it is to be used.
Customers can assist protection of the wear layer by putting protective felt on the bottom of furniture and moving items, like heavy appliances, using sliders.
One of the most important advantages of luxury vinyl tile is its low maintenance compared to stone, tile, or even wood. LVT flooring does need cleaning and polishing to maintain its look and protective wear layer. A quick dry mop, and sweep with a broom or vacuum will be sufficient to remove dust and light soiling. However, do not use a steam mop as they could cause your floor to fail.
While it is recommended that you use the manufacturer’s products for cleaning and maintaining the floor; if you are planning on using any all-purpose cleaning product, make sure it is safe to use on LVT. You can always ask your manufacturer for advice on vinyl flooring care and upkeep.
Avoid using aggressive cleaners and detergents that contain ammonia, bleach, or abrasive substances, since these might damage the floor’s surface. It is possible to use household products such as white vinegar but ensure these are highly diluted. Also, while mopping up spills, consider cleaning the entire floor rather than just one location, as spill-prone areas may exhibit early deterioration.
When compared to other flooring options, such as solid hardwood flooring, ceramic and porcelain tiles and natural slate, luxury vinyl tile flooring is a highly affordable option. Not only that, but it also performs an excellent job of replicating the same wood and stone at a fraction of the expense.
Furthermore, unlike carpet, which can harbour dirt and dust, and must be replaced or professionally cleaned more frequently, LVT is far easier and less expensive to maintain and keep clean.
When it comes to low maintenance, it is safe to say that LVT cannot be beaten. All you need is a damp mop.
Luxury vinyl tile flooring, unlike natural materials, does not require the same level of specialist care or renovation to preserve its appearance. It even duplicates real hardwood, stone, tile or porcelain in a variety of styles with no effort.
As manufacturing technologies have improved over the years, luxury vinyl tiles now replicate everything from wood to stone to porcelain and slate without the drawbacks that natural materials have.
These tiles have great water and stain resistance, allowing them to be used in a variety of rooms around the home, particularly those with high moisture risk areas, like as bathrooms and kitchens.
Installing luxury vinyl flooring is also quite easy compared to many natural hardwood floors, with LVT Click, the floating floor option, being very beginner-friendly for the competent DIY’er.
LVT flooring can be used in both residential and commercial settings, with a protective wear layer that is suitable for use in both low and high-traffic areas.
The high-quality design layer enables the floor to look like whatever type of flooring you want, whilst at the same time, feeling more comfortable and being reinforced with the defences that LVT flooring naturally offers.
Rigid core products also come with a realistic texture, mimicking the feel of floorings such as wood floors.
LVT is incredibly durable, yet, like every other flooring type, it is not indestructible. Luxury vinyl flooring can scrape or scuff, especially if there is heavy point loading caused by big appliances, furniture, or other heavy objects being used or dragged across it. However, keep in mind that LVT is still more resistant to scratches than many other types of floor, such as natural hardwood floors.
Luxury vinyl flooring will not fade as much as other cheaper varieties of domestic sheet vinyl or carpet, and, likely, fading may not be evident even after a few years.
However, there are several steps you can take to keep your flooring from fading. Blinds, solar shades or curtains will help with direct sunlight. In areas of extreme or prolonged direct sunlight, you can put a UV-blocking film or tint on your windows that will help to prevent floor-damaging rays while still allowing sunlight to enter your home.
Moving furniture around regularly might also aid in reducing fading. This is because vinyl can fade unevenly in areas where there is no furniture. Refreshing an area now and then will help keep LVT looking evenly great over time.
One reason to keep extra LVT to hand is so you can replace individual tiles that may have faded in areas such as around glass patio doors or large windows. So, when calculating your excess, make sure to include extras for this purpose in case your specific floor runs out of stock or production.
As previously said, some luxury vinyl, such as glue-down tile, is simple to replace when your LVT flooring needs to be removed, but click-lock or floating LVT is a different issue. When the LVT becomes damaged, depending on where it is in the room. Planks need to be ‘unassembled’ to replace the damaged plank and then relaid.
Using heat on LVT to lift a glue-down tile to repair damage should only be done by a professional and you must ensure the same adhesive as the original floor installation is used.
Luxury vinyl tile is not only attractive, warm and comfortable to walk on, but it is also a long-lasting, easy-to-clean, and cost-effective option that many people prefer.
With technological advancements, flooring is now competing with some of the most luxurious and expensive flooring options on the market, thanks to its realistic patterns, dramatic textures, and convincing finishes.
However, while it does have some minor drawbacks, these can easily be overcome, avoided or minimised, just by taking a bit of extra care or additional steps to maintain the appearance of your LVT. There is no single type of flooring that does not have drawbacks of some kind, and when weighed up, LVT is an excellent option for those who want an attractive floor that is going to have the ease of cleaning and longevity they desire.
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