In the flooring world, high-end vinyl is among the new kid in towns.
High-end vinyl is the cousin of sheet vinyl and the competitor of laminate.
When somebody discusses “vinyl flooring,” they’re more than likely talking about sheet vinyl. This is NOT the same a luxury vinyl. Sheet vinyl is has actually been around for a long time. It’s cheap and water-resistant, however, it likewise does not have a terrific track record because it can look and feel low-cost.
High-end vinyl took the vinyl core but included other layers to produce the planks and tiles. This makes a floor that is still fairly low-cost but is more resilient and better looking than conventional vinyl. Like laminate, a few of the high-end designs can look shockingly comparable to real wood and tiles.
So you’ve heard me state “luxury vinyl,” “planks,” and “tiles.” When I initially learned about luxury vinyl, I found all the terms puzzling. It’s really quite basic:
Luxury vinyl tile looks like ceramic and stone tile floor covering. It’s also called by the much shorter names: “LVT” and “vinyl tile.”
Luxury vinyl planks appears like wood floor covering. It’s likewise called by the much shorter names: “LVP” and “vinyl slabs.”
So now you know the fundamentals of high-end vinyl, let’s cover who might desire it, and who should stay away from it.
Pros and cons of luxury vinyl
Prior to we enter what to look for in high-end vinyl, let’s consider if it’s the right flooring for you.
Why people like high-end vinyl tile
can almost clone the appearance and texture of wood, ceramic tiles, and other exceptional types of floor covering
cheaper typically than the floors that it imitates
less maintenance than wood
considering that tiles or slabs are individual, damaged locations can easily be changed with simply a few brand-new pieces
prospective DIY job– a lot easier than sheet vinyl
water resistance much better than laminate and wood = better for basements and restrooms
overall very long lasting although it won’t last a life time like wood can
Problems and downsides with high-end vinyl tile
A Carpet Captain guide wouldn’t be total without offering you a heads up on the problems you might encounter. This isn’t to terrify you off from luxury vinyl– all kinds of flooring have their problems.
less comfy than carpet and potentially slightly colder/less comfortable than laminate
if you’re offering your home, sometimes people haven’t become aware of high-end vinyl and assume it’s old sheet vinyl
rate can vary: the best-looking high-end vinyl floors can compete with wood in price
A note on phthalates and safety of high-end vinyl
One particular question I receive on high-end vinyl is its safety.
At times, it’s had a bad track record, and maybe even a made a bad credibility. The factor?
Luxury vinyl is a plastic. Many plastics are brittle without chemicals called plasticizers, and often these chemicals are believed to perhaps be hazardous specifically to kids and pregnant females. You have actually most likely heard comparable interest in the plastic used in drinking bottles, and in Europe, some nations have prohibited particular plastics in children’s toys.
The plasticizers that are concerning in high-end vinyl are called phthalates. The guaranteed effect of phthalates are unidentified, but they are thought to potentially be a carcinogen and trigger development and reproductive damage. With this in mind, nearly everybody is already exposed to phthalates. The CDC states 90% of Americans have quantifiable levels of phthalates in their bodies.
My takeaway: I ‘d personally avoid flooring with phthalates with children. They are young and still developing, and they touch the flooring with their hands (crawling) and put their hands in their mouth. Ideally, I ‘d likewise avoid it as an adult for the very same factor I search for water bottles that are intended to be “healthy.”.
The good news is even if you wish to prevent phthalates, you can still get a luxury vinyl floor covering. Particular makers have actually committed to making phthalate-free and low VOC (indoor air contamination) luxury vinyl floor covering. I’ve called, emailed, and we searched to discover manufacturers who make this dedication, and specifics are listed below in the brand names section.