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Are you installing new floors and want to know all about LVT flooring pros and cons?
LVT floors are an ongoing trend in the renovation industry, considering their affordability and durability compared to natural floors. But like any other type of floor, they come with drawbacks that you should consider before installing.
Luckily, that’s what we’re about to discuss in this article, so keep reading!
LVT floors are manufactured with the sole purpose of mimicking natural-material floors with more affordability and durability. They’re made from multiple layers, a stabilising underlayment, a core layer, a decorative layer, and a protective film. The layers may vary from one manufacturer to another, but the general idea remains the same.
LVT floors come in many colours and patterns, but most of them look like natural wood, stone, and marble. They’re mostly resistant to scratches and wear signs, and some types are waterproof.
Before installing LVT floors around your house, you should know what cons you’ll have to deal with and what pros you’ll enjoy. Here’s our roundup of the advantages and disadvantages of LVT floors.
Let’s begin with the bright side of installing LVT floors!
The multi-layer nature of LVT floors renders them highly durable, especially the protective film that manufacturers add. It’s often made from PVC, a synthetic type of plastic that protects against scratches and tears. This feature makes LVT floors a wise choice for high-traffic rooms and commercial places.
LVT floors are water-resistant, and some manufacturers provide completely waterproof floors, which might be the most important advantage of installing them. The resistance of these floors makes them a perfect choice for rooms susceptible to moisture issues, like basements, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Another prevalent issue that accompanies moisture is the growth of bacteria and mould. Luckily, the upper layer of LVT floors is often made using antibacterial materials that prevent their growth.
Natural floors are high-maintenance, so you shouldn’t put them in high-traffic rooms, clean them with water often, or place your furniture on top without adding furniture pads. Luxury vinyl floors, on the other hand, are easier to maintain since they’re more durable.
All you have to do is put on a rug or mat for extra protection, and you’re good to go. Even if you have kids and pets running around, LVT floors aren’t easy to wear.
Although we always recommend getting professional help installing floors, you can lay your luxury vinyl tiles without help if you have DIY experience. They’re easy to cut and have three installation methods that are all doable at home.
Some tiles come with a layer of glue that you can peel and stick to the subfloor right away, and they’re called glue-down floors. The other two methods are the locking system and loose lay, and they don’t always require adhesive.
Locking system floors come with interlocking shapes that make them easy to lock together. Meanwhile, loose-lay floors are manufactured with a grip backing on their undersides, making them easy to lay on the subfloor. They’re the easiest to install out of the three.
LVT floors are more affordable than natural-material floors—that’s one of the reasons they’re famous. But their prices don’t mean they’re low quality or will show signs of wear and tear a few months after installation. On the contrary, LVT floors provide superb value for money because they last an average of 10-20 years if maintained properly.
LVT floors are insanely easy to clean and maintain. All you need is a damp mop—not dripping—to wipe the dust off them. Even better, these floors don’t attract dust as easily as natural floors, so you’re good to go with a weekly cleaning session. You don’t have to get out your mop and bucket every other day.
You can also use your vacuum if you don’t want to bother with moisture and slippery floors till they dry.
One of the most significant contributors to the fame of LVT floors is their price. The average cost to install vinyl tiles in the United Kingdom is £20-30 per square metre. Meanwhile, wooden floors have a higher average that starts at £35 till £50. So, they’re a better option for people on a budget.
LVT floors come in all shapes and patterns. Do you want to go modern and install stone or marble-like vinyl tiles? Check. Perhaps you want a touch of classic extravagance in your house and are looking for wooden designs. Also check!
No matter what colour or design you’re looking for, you’ll find vinyl tiles that match the interior decor in your place.
LVT floors absorb shocks and have a soft underfoot feel. While they aren’t as soft as carpets, they’re softer than hardwood floors, which makes them more comfortable for your feet and knees.
If you plan on selling your house in the near future, you’ll be glad to know that luxury vinyl tiles can add to the resale value of your home, especially if they’re new.
Now, let’s get into the reasons why you should think twice before installing LVT floors.
Once installed, LVT floors are challenging to remove, so if you’re prone to changing your opinion after installing them, they might not be the best option. In most cases, you won’t be able to remove them by yourself and will have to call in professional help.
While the softness of LVT floors makes them feel comfier under your feet, it also makes them more prone to wear signs due to traffic or high heels. And if you place sharp objects on top of them, they might leave tiny holes or dents.
Similar to the point above, LVT floors are easily dented by heavy furniture because of their softness. So when choosing the room where you’ll install them, make sure to get reasonably sized furniture.
If you plan to install LVT floors on your patio or near a large window, you should know they’re susceptible to sunlight damage. The protective layer, while it keeps some damage at bay, isn’t entirely proof against UV rays. So over time, you may notice some fading or discoloured spots on your floors.
There’s an easy fix to this issue, though. Only install LVT floors in rooms that don’t get too much sunlight during the day.
Despite the easy methods of installing LVT floors, it doesn’t come without a price. Glue-down floors often leave behind a synthetic odour that doesn’t fade right away. Instead, you’ll have to live with it for a few days.
Compared to natural materials, LVT floors are much more challenging to repair, if even possible. Scratches and wear signs can be concealed to make them less visible, but they never go away entirely.
More than that, if an accident occurs and a large area of your floor is damaged, including the design layer, it’s often impossible to fix. Instead, you’ll have to remove them and install new floors.
While LVT floors can boost the resale value of your house, it isn’t comparable with natural floors’ resale value, specifically hardwood. If you want to sell your house in the long run, you’re better off installing natural floors because their value doesn’t go down too badly over time.
LVT floors can emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that are used in manufacturing paint, floors, foam, cosmetics, cleaning products, and more. While the emissions aren’t normally hazardous because they’re trace amounts, they can affect people with allergies and those who are oversensitive to chemical smells.
If your kids are allergic or have asthma, you might want to think twice before installing luxury vinyl floors.
Now that you know what pros and cons LVT floors will bring to your table, you can take an educated decision on whether to install them. However, in our opinion, the pros outweigh the cons by a mile.
If you decide to install LVT floors, get in touch with us today!