Luxury Vinyl Flooring: Is it the right choice for me?
What do I need to know about Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury Vinyl Flooring is one of the fastest-growing flooring types worldwide. From schools, hospitals, luxury hotels and high-end bars, the possibilities are endless. Not only is Luxury Vinyl Flooring a popular choice for commercial ventures, but homeowners are turning to the high-end, high spec opulence offered by vinyl options. Luxury Vinyl Flooring, or LVF, raises the bar for interior design with its flexibility, myriad design options and product variety as well as its robust construction, practical benefits and uncomplicated installation. Our clients often ask us about the benefits and drawbacks of LVF, if you want to find out whether Vinyl is the right choice for your next flooring project then read on and discover the potential of Luxury Vinyl Flooring.
What is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury Vinyl Flooring is a product that can look like genuine stone or wood flooring in a range of styles, effects and designs. Most commonly found in the form of Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) or Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP), this flooring type is indistinguishable from the real thing!
With a multi-layer construction of; a solid vinyl backing, a rigid core, the print film layer and a clear protective layer finished with a Polyurethane coating, it will withstand the toughest of environments.
So what are the pro’s of Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
When considering Luxury Vinyl Tile and Luxury Vinyl Plank for your flooring needs, there are benefits and detriments to be taken into account. For those wanting the benefits of other types of hard flooring without the drawbacks of high costs and intensive maintenance needs, Luxury Vinyl Flooring is one of the best options both aesthetically and in terms of practicalities. Vinyl is warmer underfoot than real wood or stone but if you’re looking for more warmth, LVF is suitable for use with underfloor heating systems. With its realistic effects, highly customisable features and practical benefits, it is no surprise that Luxury Vinyl Flooring is so popular! Below are some of the key benefits of choosing luxury Vinyl Flooring.
Variety and Flexibility of design:
Both LVT and LVP offer a vast range of design options, replicating a real wood or natural stone aesthetic at a fraction of the cost! Beyond basic visual impact, the advanced manufacturing techniques used to create both tiles and planks in Luxury Vinyl allow for the texture and feel of wood or stone to be created. Wood grain, for example, can be embossed into the tile to give that realistic feel of walking on hardwood floors.
It is a common misconception that the design will wear out through use, but as the design is printed on the film layer which is underneath the clear wear-layer, your floor will be guarded against walk-off and scuffs and scratches.
So whether you want that rustic manor house stone floor sensation, or to feel like you are treading the hardwood floors of a French château, Luxury Vinyl Flooring may be the choice for you!
Low-intensity Maintenance:
The notoriety of hard surface flooring for being maintenance intensive is undeniable. For wood and stone, specific treatments and maintenance regimes are required to prevent staining and damage which impairs the look of the materials. This is also partially true for Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT), which, albeit simpler than for natural products, has a daily maintenance requirement of mopping and sweeping combined with regular waxing and polishing to protect its surface.
Due to the protective wear-layer of Luxury Vinyl Flooring, your stylish and hardwearing floor requires minimal maintenance in the form of mopping and sweeping as-and-when needed, to maintain that as-new look. Additionally, depending on the thickness of the wear-layer and any additional coating options, it could be up to 10 years before it need be reapplied. It couldn’t be easier!
Waterproof:
Combined with the beauty of hard surface flooring, Luxury Vinyl Flooring has the additional benefit of being waterproof. This hardy flooring is unaffected by the daily spills and leaks that life throws our way. In instances of higher volumes of water, once standing water is removed, your Luxury Vinyl Planks or tiles can be left to dry out themselves!
The layering technology of this flooring system means that the tiles and planks are impervious to water. If water permeates between planks or tiles, they can simply be removed, and reinstalled once the area is dry. It’s that simple!
Cost and comfort:
With a variety of pricing options to suit all budgets, Luxury Vinyl flooring is a cost effective flooring system for spaces whether residential or on a commercial scale. LVT and LVP give a high-end expensive finish at a fraction of the cost of other hard surface flooring solutions with the added benefit of increased comfort and durability.
It sounds too good to be true!
As with all things, there are some down-sides to Luxury Vinyl Flooring. Ultimately, the benefits of using vinyl tiles or planks include; a high-level finish, flexibility in design, ease of installation and practical elements which allow for targeted repair, but alongside this there are some aspects to consider when deciding whether Luxury Vinyl Flooring is the best option for you.
Fading and discolouration:
As with carpet and some other flooring types, direct and excessive exposure to UV light can cause some discolouration or fading to your Luxury Vinyl Flooring. It is advised that LVT and LVP not be used in conservatories and sunrooms because of this, however, spaces exposed to average levels of UV light should not experience problematic fading. It should also be noted that due to the tiling or planking options available with Luxury Vinyl, areas affected by discolouration can be replaced at a very low cost.
Denting and punctures:
Although the layered construction of Luxury Vinyl Tiles and Planks means that the flooring is tough and durable, care should be taken with excessively heavy items or sharp objects. Luxury Vinyl is a softer material that most hardwoods, tiles and laminates. Heavy items may cause some denting when placed on the LVF for long periods of time. Vinyl flooring is not compatible with the dropping of kitchen knives or the sliding of metal chair legs, so care should be taken to avoid punctures.
What next?
The flooring market can be hard to navigate with so many options available. It can be hard to narrow down the search for the perfect flooring system for your project but the experts at Hamilton Flooring are here to help, and you can explore Luxury Vinyl Flooring and many other solutions on the, exploring the exciting options in more detail.
Unless otherwise stated, Images are used for illustrative purposes and do not represent work untaken by Hamilton flooring - examples of work completed can be found in our Gallery