Luxury Vinyl Flooring
If you’ve looked at floors recently, you likely have heard the term LVP, luxury vinyl plank or LVT, luxury vinyl tile. LVT is a luxury vinyl product that looks like stone or ceramic tile, complete with natural colors and surface texture that feels like real stone or tile. Some styles are even made to be installed with grout. LVP is luxury vinyl flooring that looks like wood planks in many colors and wood species. Surface textures often include the look of scraping or embossing, which dramatically heighten the realism in this material. Also, like wood, planks may be installed in unique patterns-herringbone, brick, diagonally.
There are many manufacturers that make this type of floor and many are 100% waterproof, and can be installed in wet areas without swelling or warping when exposed to water. Most of these floors do not require acclimation and many can be floated over most existing hard floor surfaces or substrate without unwanted telegraphing. Most of these products are inert and dimensionally stable, meaning it will not expand or contract under normal conditions. And they never need expansion strips in large rooms. Many planks or tiles have an attached cork underlayment for a quieter, warmer vinyl floor that is naturally resistant to odor causing mold and mildew.
Luxury vinyl plank material is waterproof, kidproof and petproof which makes it a great solution for many spaces at an excellent price. It can be installed in any room of the home. It is an interior product and must be installed in a temperature-controlled interior environment with a temperature maintained between 55 and 85 degrees F. It could be installed outside but that would void the warranty.
How do you clean this material? Simply sweep or run a dry dust mop over it to get up the dirt, dust and grit. Avoid treated dust mops as they may leave a residue behind which can dull your floor over time. For a more thorough clean, you'll want a ph neutral cleaner, so nothing with a floor polish or detergent in it. Always pre-vacuum or dust mop before any type of wet cleaning. Do not use vacuums with rotating beater bars on hard surfaces. Stay away from steam mops, as the heat can cause the vinyl layer to curl up and peel off. Avoid using mop and shine products.
As always, talk with a reputable company about the options available for your space and they can also provide details on exactly what the different manufacturers recommend for care and use. Do you have experience with this floor? I’d love to hear. Questions? Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com