Long story short, Luxury vinyl plank flooring, also referred to as LVP, duplicates the look and feel of real hardwood for cheaper and adds benefits that you can't find with wood flooring. These floors come in more colors, styles, and patterns to easily match your design aesthetic. They are very easy to install (DIY friendly) and require no maintenance. For more info, keep on reading.
Luxury vinyl is made up of several layers, which include a high-definition, direct digital print that is backed up with PVC (waterproof material), and sealed under a protective clear coat. The PVC material is what makes vinyl flooring a 100% waterproof. The structure and texture of vinyl flooring makes it the best slip-resistant flooring.
The scratch resistance and durability is determined by the thickness of the top clear coat, also referred to as the wear layer.
Tip: A .3mm or 12mil wear layer indicates a residential quality. A .5mm or 20 mil wear layer is commercial quality. You can pick between the two options based on your personal needs and how much traffic you're anticipating on you new vinyl floors.
The common thickness of vinyl flooring ranges between 2mm to 8mm. The thickness does not determine the durability of the planks, unlike some believe, but it is an important factor to consider when choosing your floor. Thickness in luxury vinyl generally determines how stable and comfortable the floor feels after installation.
Tip: Quality thickness includes 5.5mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, and 8mm. Go with a higher thickness, if you are looking for a sturdier floor with higher foot traffic.