One of the hottest products on the market today is an LVT, which stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. You’ve probably seen them in your local doctor’s office, Wal-Mart, or Dave’s Marketplace. They look like real wood or real ceramic tile.
Today, people are installing LVT in their kitchens, replacing linoleums, and putting them in their bathrooms, replacing ceramic tiles.
They come with a lifetime residential warranty, and a 20-year commercial warranty. They’re 100% waterproof and resilient.
Why should you choose Ace Wood Flooring to do your vinyl tile flooring? Last year we completed thousands of houses, several hundred of those just in luxury vinyl flooring alone. Most recently, we completed the library at the Rhode Island School of Design.
12 Tips on How to Choose the Best Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
Luxury vinyl flooring is a terrific choice for heavy traffic rooms in your house. It is durable, economical, and is one of the easiest and quickest for maintenance. Many people love vinyl flooring and it is continuing to grow in popularity. It makes homes look more modern. It also provides you with a bevy of beautiful designs and finishes.
Types of luxury vinyl tile. Vinyl flooring comes in two types: tile flooring and sheet flooring.
- Tile flooring comes in 9 or 12 square inch tiles. It simulates the look of ceramic tile but is more economical.
- Sheet flooring comes in 6 or 12 feet wide sheets. It is water resistant and easier to install.
- Luxury Vinyl Tile comes in 7 inch wide by 48 inch long planks. It replicates either stone or wood.
Types of finishes. There are three types of finishes when going with luxury vinyl tile: vinyl no-wax finish, urethane finish, and enhanced urethane finish.
- Vinyl no-wax finish is the lightest type of finish and ideal for light foot traffic and light exposure to dirt and moisture. This choice will require more care than the other two options.
- Urethane finish is heavier and therefore more durable to traffic and exposure. It is the middle option on price and resistance to damages.
- Enhanced urethane finish is the heaviest finish available and can withstand the heaviest amount of traffic. It is resistant to scratches, stains, and lasts with the least amount of care.
Cost. Typically, the cost of vinyl flooring is decided by square foot of the floor. On average, it can range from $2 to $12 per square foot installed. Luxury vinyl tile costs about $3 to $14 per square foot installed. Vinyl tile flooring, in comparison to its counterpart wood, stone, and ceramic, offers significant savings.
Installation. To install vinyl flooring, you must peel and stick the vinyl then placed on a prepared subfloor. Luxury vinyl tile can be installed over numerous other types flooring, including plywood, concrete, or hardwood. It is not recommended that you have over two or more preexisting layers at one time in your home.
Durability. Luxury vinyl flooring is very durable. It usually lasts around 10-20 years, so it is perfect for the areas of your home that conjure the most foot traffic, such as your living room and hallway. With vinyl flooring can also come a layer on the surface to protect it from scratches and stains as well. Keep in mind that the quality of the material chosen affects how long it will last too.
Stain resistance. As previously mentioned, vinyl flooring is very durable and can stand large amounts of stains and any other damage over an extended amount of time. However, without the surface protection layer on top, they obviously become more susceptible to stains, scratches, and scuffs. In addition to that, they will require stripping and polishing on occasion to keep it in good condition.
Thickness. Another good thing about vinyl flooring is that it is soft underneath your feet. The padded layer on top of the surface that keeps it from scuffs also makes it more comfortable to walk on without shoes. That is how vinyl floors have received the nickname “resilient floors.” The floors have very high elasticity when they have been walked along for years. Plus, they have sound absorbing material, making them less likely to creak when stepped on with age.
Recommended Usage. Vinyl tiles can work for any room in your home due to its great durability. It is most typically found in living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. If you are going to put it in a heavier traffic area of your home, it is recommended that you use urethane finish or enhanced urethane finish to resist the extra damages it may face.
Maintenance. The great thing about luxury vinyl flooring is that it is the easiest flooring for maintenance. When you experience a routine spill on your vinyl floor, just mop or grab a moist towel and wipe over the liquid before there is a stain. It is also easy to sweep on too, making cleanup very easy.
Design. This flooring has a very recognizable and favorable no wax design. It usually has many different patterns and colors to choose from, so you can get creative. Most commonly, people who have luxury vinyl flooring tend to replicate the look of hardwood or stone with it.
Repairs. If you have low quality vinyl or have put up many years of damage into your floor without regular maintenance, it is difficult to repair. Especially when using sheet vinyl because the entire floor will then have to be taken out and replaced. Therefore, be sure to undergo regular maintenance on your flooring as to avoid this situation.
Sunlight. All flooring, vinyl flooring included, are susceptible to sun damage in extended exposure. It will eventually fade if it is often in direct light. To avoid this, you should close the curtains during the day while you are not home and close the doors shut when you are not using them.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 401-241-3966 or email us at info (at) acewoodfloors.wpengine.com. As always, our motto is, “We answer the phone.” Give us a call!