LVT Flooring Pros and Cons

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a highly regarded flooring option as it provides numerous advantages, including durability, low maintenance, and affordability. As one of the most popular flooring kinds, LVT is a modern, stylish and cost-effective flooring solution that can provide an alternative, even to some of the most expensive flooring options available. When it comes to flooring, luxury vinyl floors cannot be beaten, and are a great flooring option for both residential and commercial settings.

This blog will detail the pros and cons of luxury vinyl in a completely unbiased fashion, to show you why we believe that this option is the best in the flooring industry.

WHAT EXACTLY IS LUXURY VINYL TILE FLOORING?

Luxury vinyl tile flooring is much superior to standard sheet vinyl flooring on a roll because of its ability to closely mimic the look of real materials such as wood, porcelain, or stone.

Luxury vinyl tile flooring is typically far more durable than other forms of sheet vinyl flooring and resembles classic hardwood or stone in appearance. It achieves this similarity by having a surface layer with a detailed image of actual wood or stone, with a mix of grain or textured patterns that replicate the real materials.

PROS OF LUXURY VINYL TILE FLOORING

Luxury Vinyl Flooring is strong.

Luxury vinyl tile flooring is an extremely long-lasting flooring option for both home and commercial applications – when you shop with Luvanto all of our ranges come with a lifetime domestic warranty and a 10-year commercial warranty (20 years for our Luvanto Endure Pro range). All of our LVT range are waterproof, allowing them to be installed in damp places such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms etc, without fear of damage to the floor. This is the main reason that LVT wins in the war between vinyl and laminate flooring.

They are also scratch-resistant and stain-resistant, providing that any spillages are cleaned up quickly. You should always check the suitability of the flooring choice for the room or environment in which it is to be used.

Customers can assist in the protection of the wear layer by putting protective felt on the bottom of furniture and moving items, like heavy appliances, using sliders.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring is easy to clean.

One of the most important advantages of luxury vinyl tile is its low maintenance compared to stone, tile, or even wood.  LVT flooring does need cleaning and polishing to maintain its look and protective wear layer. A quick dry mop, and sweep with a broom or vacuum will be sufficient to remove dust and light soiling. However, do not use a steam mop as they could cause your floor to fail.

While it is recommended that you use the manufacturer’s products for cleaning and maintaining the floor; if you are planning on using any all-purpose cleaning product, make sure it is safe to use on LVT. You can always ask your manufacturer for advice on vinyl flooring care and upkeep. If you shop with Luvanto we offer a Floor Care, Cleaning & Maintenance Kit that we recommend above all other products.

Avoid using aggressive cleaners and detergents that contain ammonia, bleach, or abrasive substances, since these might damage the floor’s surface. It is possible to use household products such as white vinegar but ensure these are highly diluted. Also, while mopping up spills, consider cleaning the entire floor rather than just one location, as spill-prone areas may exhibit early deterioration.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring is affordable!

When compared to other flooring options, such as solid hardwood flooring, ceramic and porcelain tiles and natural slate, luxury vinyl tile flooring is a highly affordable option. Not only that, but it also performs an excellent job of replicating the same wood and stone at a fraction of the expense.

Furthermore, unlike carpet, which can harbour dirt and dust, and must be replaced or professionally cleaned more frequently, LVT is far easier and less expensive to maintain and keep clean. 

Luxury Vinyl Tiles are low maintenance.

When it comes to low maintenance, it is safe to say that LVT cannot be beaten. All you need is a damp mop.

Luxury vinyl tile flooring, unlike natural materials, does not require the same level of specialist care or renovation to preserve its appearance. It even duplicates real hardwood, stone, tile or porcelain in a variety of styles with no effort.

As manufacturing technologies have improved over the years, luxury vinyl tiles now replicate everything from wood to stone to porcelain and slate without the drawbacks that natural materials have.

These tiles have great water and wear resistance, allowing them to be used in a variety of rooms around the home, particularly those with high moisture risk areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Installing luxury vinyl flooring is also quite easy compared to many natural hardwood floors, with LVT Click Plus, the floating floor option, being very friendly for the competent DIY’er. 

Luxury Vinyl Flooring has a lot of versatility.

LVT flooring can be used in both residential and commercial settings, with a protective wear layer that is suitable for use in both low and high-traffic areas.

The high-quality design layer enables the floor to look like whatever type of flooring you want, whilst at the same time, feeling more comfortable underfoot and benefiting from the defences that LVT flooring naturally offers.

On top of this, LVT flooring is compatible with underfloor heating systems. 

Another form of LVT is SPC or rigid core products. They also come with a realistic texture, mimicking the feel of wood flooring but with a stone content layer that provides enhanced stability . The great part about this is the fact that this special variant is still a cost-effective alternative to real wood.

Luxury Vinyl is so versatile and comes in the form of Luxury vinyl planks and tiles of various sizes.to allow you to create the style and pattern to suit any room.  There are two installation formats. The stable but very involved gluedown style and the easy installation of click together LVT.

THE CONS OF LUXURY VINYL TILE FLOORING

LVT Could Mark

LVT is incredibly durable, yet, like every other flooring type, it is not indestructible. Luxury vinyl flooring can scrape or scuff, especially if there is heavy point loading caused by big appliances, furniture, or other heavy objects being used or dragged across it. However, keep in mind that LVT is still more resistant to scratches than many other types of floor, such as natural hardwood floors, and replacing individual tiles in the event of damage is much simpler and more cost effective, too.

LVT Can Fade In Direct Sunlight

Luxury vinyl flooring will not fade as much as other cheaper varieties of domestic sheet vinyl or carpet, and, likely, fading may not be evident even after a few years.

However, there are several steps you can take to keep your flooring from fading. Blinds, solar shades or curtains will help with direct sunlight. In areas of extreme or prolonged direct sunlight, you can put a UV-blocking film or tint on your windows that will help to prevent floor-damaging rays while still allowing sunlight to enter your home.

Moving furniture around regularly might also aid in reducing fading. This is because vinyl can fade unevenly in areas where there is no furniture. Refreshing an area now and then will help keep LVT looking evenly great over time. Regular cleaning with recommended care and maintenance products will also protect the flooring from ageing over time.

Top Tip

One reason to keep extra LVT to hand is so you can replace individual tiles or planks that may have become damaged in high traffic areas or faded in areas such as around glass patio doors or large windows. So, when calculating your excess, make sure to include extras for this purpose in case your specific floor runs out of stock or production.

LVT Flooring Removal Can Be Difficult

As previously said, some luxury vinyl, such as glue-down tiles and planks, is simple to replace when your LVT flooring needs to be removed, but click-lock or floating LVT is a different issue. When the LVT becomes damaged, depending on where it is in the room. Planks may need to be ‘unassembled’ to replace the damaged plank and then relaid to achieve the same level of finish..

Top Tip

Lifting a glue-down tile to repair damage should only be done by a professional and you must ensure the same adhesive as the original floor installation is used.

LVT Quality Varies By Brand

Whilst this is true for all flooring, it’s perhaps most applicable to luxury vinyl flooring. Some brands selling LVT Flooring cannot stand against foot traffic due to a weak wear layer and overall composition of the layers and quality of materials used in the product, whilst others hold volatile organic compounds – Always look for an A+ rating.

The quality doesn’t only extend to the actual product but also the warranty. Luvanto’s warranty requires professional installation standards as well as reasonable maintenance, with our floor care and maintenance kit being more than you need – but we offer a lifetime domestic warranty for our core ranges.

Always go with a reputable brand.

IS LVT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR PROJECT?

Luxury vinyl tiles are attractive, warm and comfortable to walk on, they are  also a long-lasting, easy-to-clean, and cost-effective option that many people prefer to other flooring products. 

With technological advancements, LVT flooring is now competing with some of the most luxurious and expensive flooring options on the market, thanks to its realistic patterns, dramatic textures, and convincing finishes. 

However, while it does have some minor drawbacks, these can easily be overcome, avoided or minimised, just by taking a bit of extra care or additional steps to maintain the appearance of your luxury vinyl tiles.  There is no single type of flooring that does not have drawbacks of some kind, and when weighed up, LVT is an excellent option for those who want an attractive floor that is going to have the ease of cleaning and longevity they desire.