Luxury vinyl flooring (LVP) is one of the most popular flooring choices today. It offers all the beauty and durability of real hardwood without its high price tag. Plus, LVP has some big advantages over hardwood, not the least of which is that you don’t have to refinish it every few years! The cost savings in this sort of maintenance can add up over time, making an even better value than it already is. Here are some reasons why luxury vinyl planks are an affordable option that you should consider when choosing new flooring.
What Types of Luxury vinyl flooring?
The traditional options are linoleum and vinyl. Linoleum comes in some patterns, but it doesn’t always have the same warm, fog mellan plankor feel that vinyl does. LVP comes in a number of colors and textures to suit your taste, with some even imitating wooden floor-wide planks or stone. Some other considerations are ease of care (vinyl requires regular sweeping) or the type of floor heating installed if any.
How Does it Wide planks of vinyl flooring?
Wide planks of vinyl flooring, also known as a luxury vinyl plankor (LVP), are available in a variety of designs and colors. This type of flooring has many benefits to offer over other types of floor coverings. The price is one very attractive feature. It can be anywhere from five to ten times less expensive than a genuine article. Ranging from $2 to $5 per square foot, LVP can be quite a bit more affordable than wood floors or carpeting. The cost savings are even more apparent when you consider the care required for LVP compared with its alternatives. With wood floors, for example, upkeep includes periodic refinishing or sanding and waxing; LVP requires only an occasional sweep with a broom or vacuum cleaner.
What’s It Made Of?
The first thing to consider when shopping for LVP is the type of look you are going for. If you want a wood or stone type of look, then planks are likely your best choice. This option will give you the most realistic-looking flooring and tends to be very durable. Another thing to think about when buying planks of LVP is if you want the joints to be visible or not. The joints can be left visible for an authentic appearance, but it can also make it difficult to clean your floors because of all the grooves in between the boards.
For those looking for something less expensive, vinyl tiles are another option with which many people seem to have success.
How is it Installed?
Installation is as easy as installing sheet vinyl flooring. Thin planks of luxury vinyl are put down, one next to the other, with a thin layer of glue or adhesive. If you’ve installed real wood in the past, the process will be familiar to you. There are several advantages to using a thin plank design: it’s faster than installing individual tiles; there’s no need for any kind of padding underneath, and it’s easier to clean.
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