Luxury vinyl is an innovative flooring product that delivers aesthetic and performance of the natural materials such as wood and stone. It has all the features of hardwood, stone and ceramic combined but in lower price tag! It comes in variety of rich colors and patterns to accommodate any design. It feels cushioned underfoot, yet it is durable enough to last long in high traffic rooms. It feels warm and luxury at the same time.
Pros of Using Luxury Vinyl
The first good thing about vinyl flooring is its high durability. This makes it a great choice for both residential and commercial use. Luxury vinyl is also waterproof, so application even in humid rooms is absolutely possible. So if true waterproof flooring is important to you, go with vinyl. It is also pet friendly as being stain resistant makes cleaning the pet accidents effortless. You can sweep, vacuum or wipe it, just remember to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on cleaning products.
Cons of Using Luxury Vinyl
There are some considerations as well. Due to its softness compared to ceramic and stone, scratch might be a possibility. Since it is not actual hardwood, your return of investment (ROI) is not as high as the real wood. Another drawback of luxury vinyl floor is that it can fade slightly if exposed to direct sunlight. There ways though to prevent this such as having rather thick curtains keeping the sunlight away. Furthermore, Vinyl is a bit hard to remove since it’s glued down. If you ever decide to change the flooring, you may find yourself struggling with the hardened adhesive. In this case you will need some help with the process.
Types of Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl comes in 2 formats of plank (LVP) and tile (LVT), both of which are easily installed and maintained. In tile form, it is more like ceramic, slate or stone. In plank form, it is more hardwood look alike because it often comes in big dimensions of 36”, 48” or 60” lengths and 5”, 6” and 7 3/4” widths. It also has edging options such as beveled edges to provide different looks and seams. Great embossing and striking graphics are the factors that set it apart from other vinyl flooring.
Is Vinyl the Right Choice for You?
Choosing a flooring always comes down to your project. Where do you want to do the flooring? How much traffic is there? Are there any pets? How humid is the region? As mentioned, there are a few drawbacks to vinyl which could be easily handled. But if natural beauty and resilience of the wood and stone is what you desire without having to pay their high prices, luxury vinyl is the perfect choice for you .
