Vinyl Flooring Buying Guide
Wear layer: This layer protects your floor’s surface from the wear and tear of everyday life. The thicker the wear layer, the better that protection!
Printed vinyl layer: This layer features the gorgeous photo imagery of wood or stone that makes vinyl so popular as an alternative to natural materials.
Core: This is where the magic happens. WPC flooring contains a solid, waterproof WPC core. No matter how much water it encounters, it won’t swell, stain, or warp. SPC flooring contains a solid, waterproof core that won’t ripple or swell no matter how much liquid you subject it to. This core is ultra-dense with no foaming agents like you’ll find in traditional WPC flooring. It gives you slightly less softness underfoot, but it makes the flooring extra durable.
Backing layer: This is the bottom layer of your plank. It provides a sturdy base, and sometimes comes with an attached underlayment for added convenience.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Thickness
We think the more important spec is the wear layer, so when you’re considering the thickness of a plank, the most important thing to keep in mind is whether the height allows you to “match up” to your other floors without too much transition.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Wear Layer
The wear layer is a durable coating on the top layer of your floor that protects the flooring surface. It helps to withstand scuffs, dents, scrapes, and stains.
If you’re using vinyl planks for a low-traffic area, you might not need the thickest wear layer. However, if your vinyl flooring will be in the midst of your rough and tumble life, then thicker is better. We barely sell any 12mil vinyl options, as there are 100s on the market with a 20mil+ wear layer at a very affordable price point
Wear Layer:
6 mil (Bad): Stay away
12 mil (Good): Residential use.
20 mil+ (Best): Commercially rated. High traffic environments. “Our pick for residential use”
Types of Vinyl Plank Flooring
There are three main categories of vinyl plank flooring: luxury vinyl planks (LVP), wood-plastic composite vinyl planks (WPC), and stone-plastic composite vinyl planks (SPC). They might all look the same at first glance, but there are some important differences that you should know about.
What is SPC?
Rigid core luxury vinyl flooring, also known as SPC flooring, is the most durable waterproof vinyl flooring option on the market. It has a similar construction to WPC, but it comes with an ultra-tough core, which is where the name “rigid core” comes from.
So what does SPC stand for? stone plastic composite or stone polymer composite. It refers to the make-up of the core. The SPC core is what makes this flooring so incredibly durable, maintaining its form even over uneven subfloors. This still doesn’t mean you can neglect leveling the sub flooring before installation.Waterproof: This is what makes both rigid core and WPC vinyl so popular. It’s perfect for business owners, pets and water-prone areas.
Great for uneven subfloors: Rigid core is designed to be installed over any existing hard surface, including tile, even if it’s imperfect or not completely level.
Ultra-durable: That SPC core makes this vinyl flooring the most durable vinyl flooring option out there.
Realistic wood and stone looks: Top-end vinyl floors mimic natural materials better than ever before. SPC vinyl is the cream of the crop, so the visuals are usually incredibly convincing and beautiful.
Low-maintenance: Keeping your floor looking fabulous is so simple. Occasionally vacuum and mop, and you’re all set.
Easy installation: Rigid core luxury vinyl tiles and planks are easy to install yourself with most options interlocking and floating over your existing surface.
Cons of Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Less comfortable than WPC: Manufacturers designed rigid core vinyl to be sturdy, not comfortable. That’s why it’s so popular in commercial environments.
Colder than WPC: That stone composite core doesn’t hold a lot of heat, so you’re going to have some chilly floors when it’s cold out.
What is WPC?
WPC vinyl flooring is best known for being 100% waterproof. It is luxury vinyl flooring amped up a notch with a special waterproof core that makes it perfect for any room in the house.
WPC stands for wood-plastic composite, which makes up the waterproof core. The WPC core is enhanced with a foaming agent, making it slightly softer and more comfortable in addition to being completely waterproof.
This flooring is hugely popular amongst homeowners looking for the look of traditional hardwood without the maintenance. It is also one of the most popular flooring options for commercial spaces and businesses. It’s beautiful and low maintenance.Completely waterproof: From both the top and bottom, WPC vinyl is designed to withstand moisture and prevent water damage to your floor.
Comfort: It’s true, you could just get a wood or stone look tile or SPC plank and it would also be waterproof. But those options are hard. Standing on a hard floor all day isn’t great for your joints or feet. WPC is more resilient and much more comfortable.
Style: Vinyl is at the top of every trend right now. Luxury vinyl can come in those highly sought-after wood-look and stone-look styles that people can’t stop talking about.
DIY installation: If you like doing things on your own, you will love how easy it is to install WPC flooring. Many come with interlocking tongue-and-groove systems that can float over your existing floor.
Low-maintenance: With the occasional sweep and mop, you can easily keep your floor looking good as new.
Cons of WPC Vinyl Flooring
More likely to dent: Compared to SPC rigid core vinyl, WPC isn’t quite as durable. That slightly softer core is more comfortable, but it’s also more likely to dent if you drop something heavy.
Slightly less affordable: The cost of WPC is just a bit higher than SPC. However, as more and more companies develop their own WPC lines, we are starting to see WPC flooring prices drop and become more affordable. Also, it’s still less expensive than solid hardwood with way less maintenance