Vinyl Plank is a project that is one of the most popular products in floor covering today. It’s our fastest-growing product category, and we’ve had a lot of customers who have installed it and achieved great success with it. The whole purpose of this video is to give you some things to look for as you’re making that purchase decision.
Now, most people, when they first start looking for vinyl plank, are only considering two factors: color and cost. The downside of that is there are about four or five other things that you really ought to be considering if you want to make sure that you find the right product that matches up with what you’re looking for.
I’m going to start by giving you a product overview of some of the different types of vinyl plank available in the market. Then, we can match up some of the things you may be looking for with some of the products that I will show you.
So, let me start with the first product I want to introduce you to. This is what I kind of refer to as old-school vinyl plank. This is a glue-down product that came into the market about 15 years ago and became very popular. It is one of the less expensive products, but the downside is that it requires a very flat surface to look good. Most people don’t have a very flat subfloor in their house, and it also requires a lot of prep work. In the early days, we sometimes found problems where imperfections in the slab would start to show through, making it not look as good as most customers wanted.
Along came a product called floating vinyl plank, and this is an example of one of today’s floating vinyl planks. It doesn’t glue down; it just sits on top of the surface and locks together. The advantages of this are that it’s much more forgiving, and we don’t need a perfectly flat slab for it to look good. Additionally, it’s very quick to install, and you can walk on it immediately after installation. There are two different kinds of floating vinyl planks: solid core and flexible core. The flexible core, made from limestone filler, can handle heavy loads, but it may not be suitable for very heavy objects like a grand piano, which the solid core can handle better.
Another crucial aspect to consider, which might not be immediately visible in small samples at a big box store, is the amount of texture on the floor. Texture makes it look more realistic. Old-school vinyl planks have minimal texture, while newer ones have more realistic textures, like embossed-in-register planks that match the wood grain beneath them.
The type of backing on the vinyl plank is also important. Some have cork backing to make them quieter, while others might have rubber backing or require an additional laminate pad underneath.
Beveled edges on the planks can create a more realistic look, resembling standalone planks, compared to square edges that give a sheet-like appearance.
The trend in vinyl plank flooring is moving towards larger, wider, and longer planks, which look better in larger rooms.
The number of unique screen prints in a box can affect the variety and authenticity of the floor. More screens mean each plank will look different.
Color variation is another aspect to check, as modern planks often have lighter and darker variations, similar to natural wood.
The amount of character in the floor design is a personal preference. Some prefer a clean and uniform look, while others like the floor to have more character, resembling real wood.
Finally, the type of finish on the vinyl plank is essential. The better floors use a polyurethane finish with either aluminum oxide or ceramic beads, providing durability and wear resistance.
Considering these factors will help you find the perfect vinyl plank flooring that suits your needs and preferences.
Recent Comments