Pros and Cons of Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVP and LVT)
Advantages:
Looks and feel very real – It’s incredible how real luxury vinyl looks.Many of my customers mistake it for hardwood. Also, with the thicker/more rigid planks, it feels more like a real floor.
Waterproof – Huge benefit as it holds up to moisture and water. So, engineered luxury vinyl is a great selection for areas prone to water, such as kitchens, basements and mudrooms.
Can be installed on top of virtually any surface (as long as it’s flat). Engineered luxury vinyl can go on top of concrete, plywood and tile. It can even go on top of radiant heat
Saves you money – Generally, less expensive vs hardwood or tile, And, you can often avoid tile rip up which can add a lot to your labor costs)
Gives more insulation and sound proofing vs laminate
Downsides to Vinyl Planks?
It doesn’t improve the value of your home in the same way that hardwood does. But, it’s certainly a preferable and longer lasting option vs laminate flooring or your basic cheap vinyl.
It can scratch, especially with heavy objects such as appliances. It’s more scratch resistant than hardwood and bit less resistant than laminate. Note: you can replace pieces if they get scratched, so keep the extras.
May require a lot of floor prep if your floor is uneven or wavy. If your floor is very uneven or wavy, vinyl planks (which are rigid) will not line up well, and they can bounce (just as any floating floor can). So, if your floors are wavy or uneven, you will probably want to either add self leveling mix (which can be a bit costly) or consider a glue down installation.