Overview
Vinyl plank flooring is a fast growing floor covering, loved for its durability and water proof features. Vinyl planks (also referred to as LVP or LVT) look similar to laminate and hardwood plank flooring, however its material is comprised of vinyl, which is a plastic. Unlike laminate and hardwood flooring, vinyl planks will not swell, when wet. Vinyl planks also have less expansion and contraction capacity, which means the flooring does not move with seasonal temperature and humidity changes. Our company has been installing more vinyl plank and and less laminate as the product gains popularity in the marketplace.
We completed a vinyl flooring installation job for a client who wanted their flooring to have a wood grain look. This product was purchased from Contractors Furnish Mart. As you can see by the pictures in this post, the vinyl plank flooring looks very similar to laminate flooring. It is even installed in the same fashion as laminate. Our client decided to floor their home, with the exception of the bedrooms, with LVP. The sub floor in this home was a concrete slab. In accordance with the flooring manufacturer’s instructions, we installed a vapor barrier. Unlike, laminate, LVP does not require a padding, so a simple plastic vapor barrier will suffice but check the manufacturer’s instructions before installing.
Conclusion
We often hear from our clients that their kitchen and bathrooms were the reason they chose to install vinyl plank flooring. The water proof nature of vinyl (plastic) flooring makes it a great choice for wet areas. Laminate flooring has been the industry standard for years but it seems like vinyl is starting to take over. Although it does not do as good of job as replicating the look and feel of wood, its durability cannot be overlooked. Vinyl is more scratch resistant and cannot be crushed, like a wood product can. We highly recommend installing LVP in your home. If you are in Vancouver, WA and the surrounding areas, please checkout our homepage. We offer free flooring installation quotes and would be happy to come to your home and take a look at a future project.