Is luxury vinyl flooring durable?

Luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) is so strong, waterproof, and stain-resistant, it’s considered one of the most kid-and-pet-friendly floorings. Stains do not damage it, nor does it scratch easily. LVF is also low maintenance and stylish, making it an inexpensive way to transform your home.

The strength of vinyl flooring

While all vinyl is durable, LVF should have a thickness of at least 8-mm. A top, clear, strong, melamine coating, referred to as the wear layer, protects the floor from scratches and scuffs and aids in the waterproof capabilities. It keeps spills from absorbing, just waiting to be wiped off. The wear layer should measure at least 20 mils.

When a product is waterproof, it is composed of water-repellent materials (in this case, vinyl) and is impervious to liquid. Water-resistant means something is almost entirely non-absorbent, but there’s still a chance, however remote, that something will seep through. With LVF, you can spill on it, or it can be submerged, such as when there’s an appliance flood, and it will always look fine.

Stylish savings

LVF has images inspired by nature. Wood, stone, or tile photographs are taken with 3D photography, so they’re clear and accurate, with knots, grains, swirls, wormholes, and veining variations. The floor is micro-beveled and deeply embossed, giving it depth, dimension, and textured appearances, such as wire-brushed, hand scraped, weathered, and distressed.

Luxury vinyl floors follow all industry trends, whether you want gray wood-look or marble bath floors, or colorful graphic tiles. They come in matte, gloss, and high-gloss finishes, all available in an almost endless number of colors and patterns.

LVF can be cut into long planks to mimic hardwood, called LVP. Another option is to cut it into square, groutable, tile-sized pieces to echo stone or tile. Some feel that extra seams add to the realism, while others prefer plank for stone looks because of the large format and fewer seams that, some say, give it more of the look of quarried marble, granite, slate, terrazzo, limestone, etc.

To learn more about luxury vinyl flooring or any other products or services, come into the Surfaces NW showroom in Salem, OR, serving Dallas, Albany, Corvallis McMinnville. Ask about your free quote.