Reasons to Opt for Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
Posted on: 13 January 2022
Vinyl makes great flooring for kitchens and bathrooms, as it can withstand moisture and water spills. However, should you opt for standard vinyl in tiles or a continuous roll? Or would luxury vinyl planks be better? Here are some reasons to opt for luxury vinyl planks.
More Attractive and Authentic
These planks will create a more attractive floor than standard vinyl. Luxury vinyl planks are made with multiple layers to form rigid boards. They have a top shine coating, a protective wear layer, and a decorative layer with a timber photo. Under this, the vinyl planks can be padded with foam or corkboard and have another bottom vinyl layer. This structure makes the planks relatively thick to better mimic authentic hardwood planks. The planks click together and thus form joins on the flooring, similar to those on a solid timber floor.
On the other hand, standard vinyl floors in rolls or tiles are much thinner. The tiles don't look realistic as they don't form authentic deep grooves that mimic grouting. Rolls of vinyl can display different designs, including a faux timber finish, but the flooring won't look genuine without joints or obvious planks.
Comfort
Another reason to install luxury vinyl planks over standard vinyl is that they create flooring that's more comfortable to stand on. Even though the boards are more rigid than standard vinyl, luxury planks are padded at the bottom, so the floor has more give. Depending on its specific design, this padding may be foam, cork, or another material. Conversely, standard vinyl is thinner and doesn't have a soft backing. Thus, it forms a relatively hard flooring.
Regardless of which you opt for, you can use an underlay, which will add to the overall cost. The comfort of flooring is especially crucial in a kitchen. Consider how many hours you spend standing and walking around over an entire year.
Maintenance and Upkeep
Luxury vinyl planks also come out on top in terms of maintenance and upkeep. This flooring usually has a thicker wear layer that can better withstand traffic without sustaining dents or cracks. It will look better for longer compared to standard vinyl flooring.
Additionally, if a plank becomes damaged, you can pull up that section and replace the plank. Though matching can be tricky if the floor is faded by the sun. You can buy spare planks when you install the floor, in case you need to make such spot repairs. Conversely, standard vinyl is often glued to the subfloor, so sections can't be easily replaced.
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