What is Vinyl Plank Flooring? [Easy Guide!]

Sheet vinyl and vinyl tile have always been popular flooring materials for kitchens and bathrooms, but they have always been perceived as being slightly more affordable when compared to other types of flooring products.

This is not the case with vinyl plank flooring, often known as luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) or luxury vinyl plank flooring, which has become increasingly popular (LVP).

Instead of a thin layer of extremely flexible vinyl, vinyl plank flooring is a much thicker flooring material that is fabricated in long planks with a modified tongue-and-groove connection system that snaps together, commonly referred to as “click-lock.”

Vinyl plank flooring is available in a variety of colors and styles.

Vinyl plank flooring initially gained popularity because it was able to accurately imitate wood plank flooring—better than even plastic laminate flooring—for a relatively low cost.

The number of options for vinyl plank flooring has increased dramatically since then, with products that mimic ceramic and porcelain as well as natural stone like marble and granite now available.

It is more common for stone-look goods to be formed in tiles rather than planks.

What Is Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Vinyl planks are available in a variety of thicknesses, with the thicker planks being more expensive but also more difficult to install than the thinner planks.

Vinyl plank flooring is meant to click together, eliminating the need for nails or glue to be used to install it.

Thinner boards are more difficult to click together and install, which increases the difficulty of the job and increases labor expenses dramatically.

Vinyl planks are waterproof and require little maintenance, making them a perfect alternative to hardwood flooring.

They have natural-looking wood grain and can be installed as a floating floor over a concrete subfloor without the need for additional support.

Luxury vinyl planks are higher-end type of flooring that is more durable.

The boards are thick, and the top layer is made of sturdy, long-lasting material.

More realistic wood grain is seen in luxury vinyl planks, which offer the appearance of natural hardwood flooring.

They also have a click-locking mechanism and may be used over any type of subfloor.

What Is Vinyl Plank Flooring and How Does It Work? [An In-Depth Look]

It’s really nothing more than vinyl flooring that comes in long, narrow strips rather than the typical square tile shapes.

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl floor (LVF) are two terms that refer to the same thing.

However, structurally, this is a very distinct product.

Sheet vinyl is typically flexible vinyl with a printed top layer protected by a clear wear layer, whereas vinyl plank flooring is a multi-ply product with four layers: the top layer, the wear layer, the bottom layer, and the bottom layer.

A thin film of aluminum oxide on the surface of the glass, meant to prevent mild scratching and scuffing.

A clear film layer that provides further protection against more severe ripping and tearing is used.

A design layer that gives the appearance of wood or stone that is photo-realistic in appearance.

A backing layer consisting of somewhat hard vinyl that accounts for over 90 percent of the entire thickness of luxury vinyl is used.

As a result, luxury vinyl is nearly five times thicker than standard sheet vinyl, allowing it to be semi-rigid in its construction.

Luxury vinyl planks are installed by snapping them together rather than by rolling them out over the floor and gluing them down.

Luxury plank flooring manufacturers provide dozens of various types to match the distinctive appearance of different wood species—from textured surfaces that approximate real wood grain to smooth surfaces that mimic real wood grain.

A further advantage of plank vinyl flooring is that it typically has deeper embossing and sharper graphics, allowing it to be a more accurate representation of wood and stone than prior versions of sheet vinyl flooring or plastic laminate flooring.

You may also buy vinyl planks with a strongly aged or distressed appearance, with hand-scraped, dinged, scratched, and dotted with nail holes, to give your floor a unique character.

However, because the planks must be relatively thick in order to support such extensively embossed embossing, these goods are more expensive than other options.

In most cases, vinyl flooring planks are 48 or 36 inches in length.

The width of most planks is approximately 6 inches, while some are as large as 7 3/4 inches in exceptional cases.

When it comes to vinyl, what’s the difference between sheet vinyl and plank vinyl?

Often, when people think of vinyl plank flooring’s negatives, they are actually thinking of the drawbacks of vinyl sheet flooring, which is a different product altogether.

And it’s logical why they would do so.

Vinyl sheet flooring, which was sometimes confused with linoleum (an older, comparable product), was the preferred kitchen and bathroom flooring for many years.

You can probably envision it in your mind’s eye right now: your parents’ or grandparents’ floral-printed vinyl sheet kitchen floor from decades ago.

It was bitterly cold in the winter and strangely sticky in the summer.

And, if you manage to gouge it, good luck trying to fix it afterward.

However, that is not the type of vinyl plank flooring we are discussing here! Nope!

Luxury vinyl plank flooring is completely different from ordinary vinyl plank flooring.

Instead of being offered in a roll, it is sold as planks, just like genuine wood.

It’s thick, has texture, and bounces, just like real wood should.

Rather than being similar to vinyl sheet flooring, it is more similar to the best-engineered wood flooring.

Is it still possible to find vinyl sheet flooring? Absolutely!

Additionally, it is excellent for more practical applications such as cellar flooring and bathroom flooring.

It’s important to remember that vinyl plank flooring is a completely different sort of flooring than vinyl sheet flooring.

Therefore, the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring have absolutely nothing to do with the downsides of vinyl sheet flooring whatsoever.

What Is the Difference Between LVP and LVT and Why Should You Care?

Even a basic search for “vinyl flooring” will nearly always turn up a long-range of abbreviations, including letters such as LVP and LVT.

The reality is that you must grasp the differences between the two types of vinyl plank flooring since some of the downsides of vinyl plank flooring will apply to one of these items but not the other.

The difference between Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is that the former is made of vinyl.

It’s as easy as this: appearance.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (also known as a vinyl plank) has the appearance of a wood plank!

In addition, Luxury Vinyl Tile is designed to look like (you guessed it) a tile!

Aside from that, there aren’t normally any notable differences between the two.

Vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile are the most commonly used generic names to represent all varieties of luxury vinyl flooring, including plank-look and tile-look products, these days.

Similarly, we refer to all modern athletic shoes as “tennis shoes” when referring to tennis shoes.

Take into consideration that LVT and vinyl plank are the “tennis shoes” of the vinyl flooring industry.

When Deciding on Vinyl Flooring, there are Several Factors to Consider

Purchasing wood vinyl flooring can be a wise investment, but you will only know if the material is perfect for your home if you consider the advantages and disadvantages of the material. Take a look at each of them separately:

Featuring extra-wide and extra-long planks with an overall thickness of 8.5mm, which includes a 1.5mm underpad that has been pre-attached, this flooring will provide a premium look and feel, as well as a lifetime residential guarantee.

In Gibraltar, Vesdura Vinyl Planks 8.5mm SPC Click Lock XL Ridge Collection are being used as flooring. 15262454 is the barcode for this item.

Advantages:

Many different varieties of vinyl plank are backed with a felt-like material.

When this feature is implemented, it results in a softer floor that has more give in it.

• Although the top will have the appearance and feel of hardwood, standing on vinyl for extended periods of time is much more comfortable than standing on genuine wood, which is why many people prefer it. Additionally, when objects are dropped on vinyl, they are less likely to break, which is excellent news for things like glasses and mugs.
• Water-resistant vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for both bathrooms and kitchens due to its resistance to moisture. In fact, vinyl outperforms both laminate and hardwood when it comes to water damage prevention and sealing. In addition, some vinyl flooring alternatives are completely waterproof, making them ideal for bathrooms.
• Vinyl plank may be laid directly on top of your existing subfloor, making the installation procedure quick, cost-effective, and straightforward (given that the subfloor is in good condition). When you remove your old flooring, check the subfloor to make sure it’s in good condition before installing vinyl on top of the surface.
• In the event that you do not want to put up much effort in preserving your floors, vinyl plank is an excellent option. To maintain the product looking like new for a long time, it only requires routine cleaning (i.e., sweeping and mopping every now and then).
• Vinyl flooring has a lengthy life expectancy of up to 20 years and is extremely durable. As soon as it’s down, you’ll have a beautiful floor to enjoy for many years to come.
• If you’re looking for methods to make your house more luxurious, you may install in-floor heating beneath a variety of vinyl flooring alternatives.

Disadvantages:

• Vinyl goods have a tendency to distort in response to any particles that remain beneath them after they have been installed. For example, a clump of dust that has accumulated over time may eventually form a bump in your floorboards. As a result, you must exercise extreme caution during the installation process to ensure that no particles are left on the flooring. This can be time-consuming, but the final product is well worth the effort put into cleaning.
• Despite the fact that vinyl will last for many years, it can be damaged. Dropping a glass or moving heavy furniture can leave scuffs and gouges on the surface of the glass that is difficult to repair. In the event that you decide to rearrange furniture, make sure to cover the feet with felt or elevate each piece off the floor before transferring it.
• Vinyl, in contrast to hardwood, does not significantly increase the resale value of your home. When upgrading your home in order to raise the value of your property, vinyl may not be the ideal material to choose.

How to Install Vinyl Planks

In comparison to hardwood and other forms of flooring, vinyl plank installation is far easier to execute, and it may be done at home or by a professional installation company.

If you decide to do the installation yourself, make sure you thoroughly read the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Frequently Held Beliefs About Vinyl Plank Flooring

Following are some of the most popular misconceptions about vinyl flooring, as debunked by Mannington:

It’s out of date or aesthetically unappealing. It’s amazing how far vinyl flooring has come since the 1970s!

Vinyl plank flooring is now available in a wide range of styles and colors, including some that are designed to seem like hardwood or tile.

It’s made of flimsy and inexpensive materials. Not all vinyl planks are created equal, just as not all other types of flooring are.

However, while there are some budget-friendly brands that will not last the test of time, all of the vinyl plank that Mannington has to offer is waterproof, incredibly robust, and resistant to stains, scratches, and everyday wear and tear.

It will ultimately lose its attractiveness and luster due to wear and tear.

Many people believe that vinyl plank flooring carries a risk of the walk-off, which refers to the belief that the design would wear away from the vinyl after years of use, which is incorrect.

Most modern vinyl planks are constructed with protective wear layers and a finish to ensure that the floor remains lovely for many years to come.

Our Final Thoughts

The good news is that vinyl flooring requires little to no maintenance at all.

It’s so simple to clean and maintain that you won’t dread having to do your tasks.

Make sure to vacuum away any dust, grime, or debris from your vinyl floors before you begin cleaning them.

It is preferable to use a vacuum with no beater bar for this task.

If you want to maintain your vinyl flooring clean, you may also use a moist mop.

Always wipe up spills right away to avoid permanent damage to your floor covering.

All it takes to have clean floors is a little elbow grease!

Frequently Ask Questions