There’s no doubt about the popularity of today’s luxury vinyl tile and planks for flooring. Vinyl or resilient flooring is now the second most popular flooring choice (after hardwood) among homeowners remodeling their kitchens, according to the 2022 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. The rapidly growing selection of these products is testament to its versatility, ease of maintenance and durability. Designer Carolyn Elleman of Case Design/Remodeling in Washington, D.C., says luxury vinyl flooring is “life-proof,” very forgiving and cost-efficient.
“The cost savings is amazing compared to other materials like hardwood and tile,” Elleman says. That said, the quality of this material varies, and to some it is just not as desirable as the wood, stone and ceramic it imitates. Here’s a guide to the latest in luxury vinyl and what to consider if you’re going to use it.
“The cost savings is amazing compared to other materials like hardwood and tile,” Elleman says. That said, the quality of this material varies, and to some it is just not as desirable as the wood, stone and ceramic it imitates. Here’s a guide to the latest in luxury vinyl and what to consider if you’re going to use it.
What Is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) come in a wide array of sizes and designs, from a variety of manufacturers. They mimic an array of natural surfaces, from refined and distressed wood to concrete to slate, marble and other stone. Each tile and plank is constructed of multiple layers of plastic and padding, which vary by thickness and in the composition of the core layer; these elements affect how quiet and comfortable the floor is to walk on, and how durable it is.
Layer by layer. The clear outer surface, called the wear layer, does what its name suggests — it wears under foot traffic and furniture, so its thickness is an important consideration. The thickness of this layer is measured in mils, with 1 mil equal to one-thousandth of an inch (about 40 mils equals 1 millimeter). The thicker the wear layer, the more durable and long-lasting the tile or plank. Most residential vinyl wear layers range from 8 to 12 mils thick. Experts recommend at least a 20-mil-thick wear layer for heavily used areas. The faux-wood vinyl plank shown here, Hafren Signature from Flooret’s Modin collection, has a beefy 40-mil wear layer.
The wear layer has a urethane coating for further protection, and textured grain and knots are often embossed into the surface to match the material the vinyl is imitating.
Below the wear layer, a high-definition photographic layer of digitally imprinted paper is what gives the tile or plank its natural look of wood, stone or encaustic tile.
Below the wear layer, a high-definition photographic layer of digitally imprinted paper is what gives the tile or plank its natural look of wood, stone or encaustic tile.
The next layer down is the core, often made of a thick vinyl mixed with a plasticizer or fiberglass, to give the tile or plank stability. Some products have an attached underlayment, usually made of cork or foam. This layer provides cushioning to make the floor more comfortable to walk on.
The overall thickness of luxury vinyl tile or planks is measured in millimeters, and higher-quality products are at least 8 millimeters thick. Thicker tiles are usually preferred if they’re clicked together for installation.
The overall thickness of luxury vinyl tile or planks is measured in millimeters, and higher-quality products are at least 8 millimeters thick. Thicker tiles are usually preferred if they’re clicked together for installation.
Design enhancements. Some luxury vinyl tile is even groutable, for a real fool-the-eye tile look. This photo shows Karndean Designflooring’s Da Vinci tile in the Drift option, a 12-by-18-inch luxury vinyl tile that imitates limestone; strips can be added between tiles to mimic grouting, as seen here. Beveled edges provide an authentic stone effect.
Rigid-core vinyl. An increasingly popular subset of luxury vinyl flooring is rigid-core vinyl. Tiles and planks made of this material have a reinforced engineered wood or stone core, referred to as WPC (wood plastic composite) or SPC (stone plastic composite).
With their sturdy core layer, these tiles and planks are considered more durable and dent-proof than those made entirely of vinyl, and can usually be installed on top of existing floors. The kitchen floor shown here is from COREtec, which produces luxury vinyl tile and planks with a rigid core made of recycled wood and bamboo dust, limestone and virgin PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
With their sturdy core layer, these tiles and planks are considered more durable and dent-proof than those made entirely of vinyl, and can usually be installed on top of existing floors. The kitchen floor shown here is from COREtec, which produces luxury vinyl tile and planks with a rigid core made of recycled wood and bamboo dust, limestone and virgin PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
Where to Use It
Because it’s usually waterproof and easy to maintain, luxury vinyl flooring is a good choice for wherever there are spills, kids and pets, making it a sensible option for kitchens, bathrooms, entries, mudrooms and playrooms. The luxury vinyl planks in the entry shown here are from Stainmaster, which has a Pet Protection line of luxury vinyl flooring with a special coating to resist scratches and provide traction.
Because it’s usually waterproof and easy to maintain, luxury vinyl flooring is a good choice for wherever there are spills, kids and pets, making it a sensible option for kitchens, bathrooms, entries, mudrooms and playrooms. The luxury vinyl planks in the entry shown here are from Stainmaster, which has a Pet Protection line of luxury vinyl flooring with a special coating to resist scratches and provide traction.
Where there’s water. Bathrooms and kitchens are ideal spaces for luxury vinyl flooring. Most luxury vinyl tile and plank options are moisture-friendly and can withstand spills from cleaners and chemicals. This bathroom has Easy Style luxury vinyl planks in Coconut Milk from Shaw Floors.
Vinyl flooring also makes sense for laundry rooms. This laundry room, in a custom home from Kaufman Homes, has a luxury vinyl tile called Linear Chalk from Amtico laid in an alternating vertical and horizontal pattern.
Luxury vinyl flooring can also withstand heavy use in mudrooms and entries. This entry in a home in England, designed by Johnston Parke Interiors, utilizes luxury vinyl tile in an attractive encaustic pattern from Harvey Maria’s Neisha Crosland collection.
For heavy traffic and comfort. Kitchens might be the most practical space for luxury vinyl flooring. Designer Elleman used faux-wood luxury vinyl planks for this kitchen in Washington, D.C., and likes the material for its versatility. “If you are using a room fairly often, such as an office or kitchen, maybe you look at vinyl that has a cork backing on it. It helps add a little padding when you are on your feet,” she says.
This basement got a durable faux-wood luxury vinyl tile from Karndean during a renovation for a busy family in Lafayette, Colorado.
Getting It Installed
The installation of luxury vinyl flooring depends on the type of tile or plank. Some types are glued down. Click-lock flooring comes in pieces that are locked together and float atop the subfloor without any adhesive. Loose-lay tiles or planks are made heavier with added plasticizers and are laid atop existing flooring, also without adhesive, making it easier to remove and replace individual pieces or the entire floor.
Each installation option has its pluses and minuses, but regardless of which you choose, it’s most important to make sure the floor you’re installing the tile or planks on is smooth, undamaged and level. Keep in mind that although LVT and LVP products tend to be more cost-efficient than hardwood or real tile, quality installation can drive the price up very quickly.
Not including installation, the per-square-foot cost of luxury vinyl tile and planks tends to range from less than $1 up to about $7, with most averaging $2 to $5.
The installation of luxury vinyl flooring depends on the type of tile or plank. Some types are glued down. Click-lock flooring comes in pieces that are locked together and float atop the subfloor without any adhesive. Loose-lay tiles or planks are made heavier with added plasticizers and are laid atop existing flooring, also without adhesive, making it easier to remove and replace individual pieces or the entire floor.
Each installation option has its pluses and minuses, but regardless of which you choose, it’s most important to make sure the floor you’re installing the tile or planks on is smooth, undamaged and level. Keep in mind that although LVT and LVP products tend to be more cost-efficient than hardwood or real tile, quality installation can drive the price up very quickly.
Not including installation, the per-square-foot cost of luxury vinyl tile and planks tends to range from less than $1 up to about $7, with most averaging $2 to $5.
Call in the pros. You can install it yourself if you’re handy, but know that it’s very time-consuming and you must be meticulous to make sure everything lines up and there are no gaps or peaking (when tiles are forced together and pushed up from expanding and contracting due to temperature fluctuation).
A word about what’s underneath. As mentioned above, some of today’s luxury vinyl tiles and planks, especially those with a rigid core, come with an underlayment, which is the lowest layer that attaches to the subfloor and provides sound-muffling and cushioning for foot comfort. In general, an underlayment should be included for luxury vinyl that will be installed over existing hardwood, concrete or vinyl without cushioning. For vinyl flooring that will be installed in areas where there are moisture issues, a vapor barrier underlayment is usually recommended.
How Safe Is Vinyl Flooring?
For homeowners concerned about the safety of vinyl flooring, there’s a third-party certification called FloorScore to ensure that a product, including adhesives and underlayment, has been tested and adheres to indoor-air-quality standards. Since vinyl is a plastic product, it might include phthalate plasticizers, and can emit volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde.
“It’s important when buying flooring to know who the manufacturer is and to see a valid FloorScore certificate,” says Karen Righthand, director of sales and marketing at SCS Global Services, the organization that developed the FloorScore certification with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute. The flooring shown here, Country Oak from Karndean’s Van Gogh rigid-core collection, is FloorScore-certified.
For homeowners concerned about the safety of vinyl flooring, there’s a third-party certification called FloorScore to ensure that a product, including adhesives and underlayment, has been tested and adheres to indoor-air-quality standards. Since vinyl is a plastic product, it might include phthalate plasticizers, and can emit volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde.
“It’s important when buying flooring to know who the manufacturer is and to see a valid FloorScore certificate,” says Karen Righthand, director of sales and marketing at SCS Global Services, the organization that developed the FloorScore certification with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute. The flooring shown here, Country Oak from Karndean’s Van Gogh rigid-core collection, is FloorScore-certified.
In addition, SCS has recently developed a certification called Assure, specifically for rigid-core flooring products. The new Assure certification will include products that have been tested for indoor air quality, performance characteristics, and heavy metals and ortho-phthalates. “For people considering rigid-core vinyl, that will be something they’ll want to choose,” Righthand says.
Consumers can check whether a vinyl flooring product has been FloorScore-certified by looking it up in SCS’s online Certified Green Products Guide. The Karndean rigid-core vinyl flooring shown here—Korlok Select in the Texas White Ash option—is FloorScore-certified.
Consumers can check whether a vinyl flooring product has been FloorScore-certified by looking it up in SCS’s online Certified Green Products Guide. The Karndean rigid-core vinyl flooring shown here—Korlok Select in the Texas White Ash option—is FloorScore-certified.
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