Luxury Vinyl Flooring 101
Luxury Vinyl Flooring 101 is your go-to buying guide for learning all about these floor options so you can keep up to date on all things maintenance and installation. Before choosing your favorite luxury vinyl flooring option, you will want to consider the following factors:
Types of Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Learn more about types of luxury vinyl floorsVinyl flooring comes in two different types for you to choose from for your home. These types include:
- Luxury Vinyl Plank: This type of luxury vinyl closely resembles natural wood while providing added protection from mildew, moisture and wear and tear. You can choose the coloring, texture and pattern of your luxury vinyl plank floors.
- Luxury Vinyl Tile: These durable tiles replicate stone and slate without burning a hole through your wallet.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is great for homeowners looking for a wide variety of styling options at an affordable price. LVP floors can replicate wood or stone to fit a wide variety of room designs. Many homeowners choose this type of flooring due to the low costs of the material, installation and maintenance compared to natural hardwood and stone.
This alternative to wood planks has a low moisture absorbency level due to the waterproof surface. Where real stone or wood would begin to grow mold or start rotting from moisture, LVP flooring can easily block all spills from infiltrating the layers of the material.
Luxury Vinyl Tile
Luxury vinyl tile flooring is a popular choice among homeowners who want to recreate the feel of real stone or marble tiles in their residential spaces. LVP and vinyl tiles are the same material but cut differently. Tiles are cut into squares, while LVPs are long strips of flooring. Many homeowners choose to install these tiles in kitchens and bathrooms, where the square cut provides a beautiful finish to areas with high moisture levels.
With similar physical and chemical properties, luxury vinyl tiles also support homeowners with children, pets and regular guests. With a solid surface and PVC core, the flooring will not absorb moisture or show any signs of physical damage from scratches and scuffs.
When deciding where to install your luxury vinyl tile flooring, keep in mind that this material requires a space with climate control. This option is subject to ambient air temperature, whether hot or cold, so try to avoid putting the flooring in rooms with heat sources such as large windows without shades, drapes or heat control films. Installing this tile in a temperature-regulated space will help your flooring maintain its ideal appearance over time.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Color Options
Learn how to choose a luxury vinyl floor colorLuxury vinyl flooring options come in various colors to match the walls or ambiance of your current living spaces. Whether you install planks or tiles, you can achieve a natural look that replicates wood or stone.
Common luxury vinyl floor colors include a classic light or dark brown, modern bluish gray, brown-gray or beige. You can easily style these colors to fit your kitchen, bedroom or other rooms.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Installation
At 50Floor, our team of talented carpenters installs luxury vinyl flooring with care and precise measurements. Before the installation day arrives, we will order the desired material in the color, pattern and size you need.
During the installation process, our team will remove old flooring material, move your furniture, cut the planks or tiles and install the new floor. Luxury vinyl takes only a few hours to install, depending on the size of the room. You can enjoy your new floors faster than most types of material.
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Luxury Vinyl Flooring Care
Proper care for your luxury vinyl ensures a longer life span for your floors. Luckily, vinyl is incredibly durable and can withstand intense UV rays, moisture and the messes that occur in everyday life. The added layers of protection allow this material to be waterproof and can grant you peace of mind since you only need to clean your floors a few times a month.
You can follow a few simple procedures to maintain your floor’s shine. Clean up spills or other messes as soon as you notice them. You only need a damp paper towel to wipe up minor wet spots since the solid surface will not absorb moisture.
You can place rugs on the floors with the highest foot traffic to extend the life span of your vinyl. Although they can withstand heavy weight for years, it is always wise to provide added protection in these areas, such as mudrooms, hallways and near the front door of your home.
To avoid grime build-up, make a habit of sweeping or vacuuming at least once every two weeks. Dust and debris can make their way onto the floors if you have pets or like to keep doors and windows open. A simple sweep can make your floors shine again. For heavier spills from baths or cooking, mop the surface to get as much moisture off the floor as possible.
Every few months, set some time aside to deep clean your vinyl floors. You can put some elbow grease into this process by cleaning the grout between each tile.
Click here to read our full page on caring for your luxury vinyl flooring.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Color Inspirations
With a wide variety of flooring colors, it can be tough to choose just one style. As you browse through luxury vinyl color selections, consider the tones that already exist in the room where you plan to install new floors. Typical living spaces will have warm or cool tones from the walls, decor and furniture.
Learn more about vinyl flooring color inspirations here.
Warm Tones
Your room has warm tones if you notice prominent orange, red, yellow or brown colors surrounding your space. Warm tones go best with light brown or beige wood and tile vinyl flooring.
Cool Tones
If you notice blue, green, gray or purple hues, your room has cool tones. These shades work great with similar hues in dark brown, gray and white vinyl flooring.
Older Homes
For older homes where you desire to restore the traditional history of the structure, dark brown wood is a perfect choice. Dark wood is bold yet familiar for houses that have existed for over a century. This color compliments rooms with fireplaces, pianos or old decor.
Newer Homes
Homes built in the last ten years have seen more gray wood and tile flooring than ever before. Due to the minimalistic styling choices of new homeowners, light and dark grays compliment the neutral white, black and beige undertones of living spaces.
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Luxury Vinyl vs. Other Floorings
Schedule an appointmentBefore making any final decisions about installing luxury vinyl in your home, consider how these flooring types differ from other common household materials. Learn more about vinyl compared to laminate, tile, carpet and hardwood.
Laminate
These floor types have similar appearances and installation processes. However, a few differences set luxury vinyl and laminate flooring apart.
- Core: The cores are made of different materials. Vinyl floors contain PVC, while laminate uses wood fibers, impacting the floor’s longevity.
- Durability: PVC is incredibly waterproof and corrosion-resistant. Without the added waterproof layer, laminate flooring options can fight off moisture. However, wood is more absorbent than PVC.
Tile
Tile and luxury vinyl are attractive floors with a few differences:
- Price: Luxury vinyl provides a lower price for realistic wood or stone finishes. Ceramic tile’s authenticness is gorgeous but more costly.
- Process: Luxury vinyl is easier to install. Tiles require mortar and glue, and vinyl pieces simply snap together.
- Maintenance: The grout in ceramic and porcelain tiles can become dingy, whereas luxury vinyl floors do not require deep cleaning.
Carpet
Carpet and luxury vinyl flooring differ significantly. Consider these factors to determine which floor is best for your home.
- Appearance: Luxury vinyl can resemble wood and stone, while carpet offers patterns, colors and soft textures.
- Cost: Carpet tends to cost more due to installation and upkeep.
- Maintenance: Luxury vinyl’s solid, waterproof surface is easier to clean, whereas carpet easily collects dust in the fibers over time.
Hardwood
Thanks to modern technology, homeowners can rarely differentiate between luxury vinyl and hardwood. However, subtle differences may influence your choice — price and durability.
- Price: Authentic materials in hardwood flooring options tend to cost more.
- Durability: Luxury vinyl flooring’s PVC core layer and the waterproof surface can prevent the floor from absorbing liquid, whereas hardwood may begin to lift over time when exposed to moisture.
Best Flooring for Your Interior Design Style
As vinyl becomes more popular among new homeowners, there is no doubt that modern-style homes pair well with luxury vinyl flooring. Both vibrant and neutral colors have become a staple in many homes nationwide.
Luxury vinyl flooring can transform living spaces to match your home’s style or architectural focal points. Consider the aesthetic you want to achieve in your home and complete the look with precise color and material selection from 50Floor.
For minimalistic styles, neutral colors are your go-to choice. Nothing compliments a subtle design for bathrooms, living rooms or bedrooms better than a bold dark gray or brown. These colors are consistent with most design elements that incorporate white, black and gray into walls and decor. Less is more with these beautiful hues.
You can also choose between marble or wood visuals for your floor. Both styles are simple yet bold, making the space stand out in subtle ways.
For retro or boho style homes, light beige and brown flooring match the simplicity of saturated colors. The faded, bright hues of these flooring options provide a layer of flair to any room with bright blues, greens and oranges. These floor colors regularly compliment rooms that receive natural light to create a peaceful ambiance. Wood typically looks best in retro and boho homes to tie a realistic look into the living spaces.
Best Flooring for Your Home Architectural Style
Learn moreThe floors you choose can complement the architectural style of your home. Consider the current visual aesthetic of your property to determine the best flooring for your living spaces.
Colonial
The rustic yet elegant aesthetic of colonial-style homes pairs perfectly with luxury vinyl flooring that resembles dark wood. This visual appeal captures the house’s history while pulling together design elements from the exterior. Colonial-style homes tend to use a blend of warm and cool tones, so dark wood will complement almost any shade of your residence.
French Country
Cottage- and French country-style homes have a similar aesthetic to colonial houses. However, you may notice more subtle architectural focal points through the slight curves in the roofs, doors and windows. The French country and cottage-styles’ soft design undertones pair well with luxury vinyl that replicates light brown wood and tile. Since most homeowners of these stylish houses reside in open fields, the natural sunlight and light wood color create a calming ambiance.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod- and Tudor-style are great for homeowners who want variety in their flooring. Luxury vinyl tiles and planks look excellent in these homes due to their ability to resemble stone and natural wood. Stone flooring complements the traditional ambiance of Tudor- and Cape Cod-style homes, while multicolor wood feeds into both houses’ historical aesthetic for homeowners and onlookers.
Victorian
Victorian-style homes have a unique visual aesthetic that can fit various types of flooring. Many homeowners choose to install luxury vinyl tiles to create a close resemblance to marble, stone and other intricate floor patterns. You can get creative with your flooring in these style homes due to their wide selection of exterior colors and architectural focal points that differ from modern houses.
Best Flooring by Room Type
Learn moreThe durability and appearance of these floors can create a unique ambiance to match the aesthetic of your living spaces. Luxury vinyl flooring is great for rooms in any home with heavy foot traffic, high moisture levels or areas where homeowners regularly entertain, including:
Mudrooms
The added six layers of luxury vinyl flooring help resist scratches and dents after several years of wear and tear. Mudrooms with heavy foot traffic from pets and children can easily find this floor option beneficial.
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Bathrooms
Due to the PVC layer and acrylic top coat, vinyl is water resistant. This factor is great for bathrooms where floors can experience excess water from baths and showers.
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Kitchens
The PVC material can easily fight off steam from cooking, which would normally cause damage to other types of floors over time.
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Living rooms
The solid surface of luxury vinyl flooring will not show the scratches from shoes and claws and will provide a sleek design for many years.
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Schedule an Appointment for 50Floor Luxury Vinyl Installation
For quality flooring options and expert installation, 50Floor has you covered. Our price match guarantee, financing options and one-year warranty can make your new investment go as smoothly as possible. With luxury vinyl flooring, you can enjoy the sleek designs of wood, stone or other decorative patterns in no time. Schedule your installation appointment today, or contact us with any questions. For the complete guide to luxury vinyl floors, click here.
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