what is vinyl flooring?

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring, or vinyl flooring, is an all-vinyl plank design that looks like wood floors–but with all the advantages of a vinyl product. LVP floors were developed in the 1970s, but they did not become trendy until around the year 2012. 

LVP is a highly engineered product. The luxury vinyl plank flooring we are familiar with has a click system that provides easy installation with maximum performance. This product’s popularity really comes from the technical brilliance and efficiency–not only do you get scratch-resistant floors, but you also get the desired waterproof features. That gives you the opportunity of installing vinyl floorings throughout your bathrooms and kitchens without any concerns. No spills or minor leaks will damage your floors! Both Stone Polymer Cores (SPC) and Wood Plastic Composite Cores (WPC) will provide this waterproof factor. 

When the time has come to look at luxury vinyl plank options, you will find that there’s a variety of things to consider: the core type, overall product thickness, wear layer, visuals, etc. 

The most important spec to consider is the product’s wear layer: an extra clear coating between the printed vinyl plank flooring design and the protective finish on top. That additional layer provides shine and protection and gives you the wood visual vinyl floorings are known for. The thicker the wear layer, the more resistant and durable your vinyl flooring will be against traffic. In addition, the thicker the luxury vinyl plank is, the more buffer it will have in case you have imperfections in your subfloor. 

For residential use, a 12 mil (wear layer measurement) is the minimum entry point Best Buy Floors recommend for you to install in your home. Best Buy Floors is ready to help you find the right vinyl flooring for your needs. Get a quote, or contact us today! We are prepared to answer your questions and provide flooring solutions in the greater Seattle area.