Pros and Con of Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors: The Best Options for Your Home

Tell all ya friends and neighbors!

LVP, or luxury vinyl plank, has come a LONG way. I mean a LOOOONG way.

We put LVP flooring in our flip house and the very first comment people said when they saw it was that they couldn’t believe the floors weren’t real hardwood floors.

Of course, once you get up close you can tell, but still.

What is LVP flooring?

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring is what you get when you want to add a high-end look and feel to your home’s floors – but without the hefty price tag. This type of flooring has become increasingly popular over the last decade, with more homeowners turning to it in place of hardwood or laminate floors. Unlike what most people think, luxury vinyl planks are not made from real wood; instead they’re made from PVC that’s been molded into an ultra-realistic wood design.

Keep on readin’ on if you’re interested in what LVPs are and how they compare to other flooring options.

Luxury Vinyl Plank Floor Pros:

Cost effective

With prices typically ranging from $2 to $5 per square foot, it’s easy to see why this type of floor is often a great option and much less expensive than hardwood or linoleum.

Easy to install

LVPs can be laid over most surfaces and don’t require the same level of expertise or special equipment as hardwood does so it’s a quick DIY project for homeowners with no experience in flooring installation. AKA ya girl.

Numerous Design Choices

There’s an LVP style that will mimic just about any type of real wood floors which means you can have about any look you want for less.

These are the engineered hardwoods we installed in our house. They’re definitely not luxury vinyl but they look almost just like the floors we put down in the flip house!

Scratch Resistant

I mean, this speaks for itself but….it….is scratch resistant.

Luxury Vinyl Plank Floor Cons:

Stigma

For whatever reason, LVP has a reputation as being seen as not as “valuable” as hardwoods, but you know me – I’ve never really cared what anybody thought. Ha!

Durability

Hear me out. They’re water resistant and can actually take a pretty good beating, but the PVC material is not as durable or long-lasting as other flooring materials like solid wood so this style may need replacing more often than what you might prefer.

Comfortability

Depending on your underlayment, the LVP can feel a bit less comfortable to walk on than hardwood floors

Lack of ability to refinish

What you see is what you get. If you decide you want a different color or look to your floors down the road, you’ll be ripping them out completely to replace them.

Or if something happens and you need to replace a part of your floors, you’ll have to make sure you get the exact same LVP planks.Whereas with hardwoods, you can sand and refinish.

Who should use luxury vinyl plank floors?

Anyone who wants to add a high-end look and feel fancy, but don’t want to pay a ton.

LVP is a good alternative for renters or those with sensitive allergies because they’re easy to clean and can be installed over any surface so they’re not as big of a hassle as what you would find with hardwood or laminate.

If you’re someone looking for a quick DIY project and don’t feel like trying your hand at a woodworking project like a knockoff Restoration Hardware dining table or a DIY barn door, try your hand at installing some LVP!

LVPs are much cheaper than what you’ll find with other types of flooring, and can be installed over the existing hard surface in most homes.

How to care for luxury vinyl plank floors

The good news is that LVPs don’t require much maintenance – just a quick sweep or vacuum every now and then will do the trick! If you’re looking for a bit more of a “deeper” cleaning, you can clean your floors with a damp mop or cloth and mild detergent, soap, and water.

What is the difference between LVP and LVT?

LVP and LVT are ultimately the same thing with just a few differences.

Luxury vinyl flooring is what’s known as a floating floor. This means that it doesn’t need to be glued or nailed into the sub-floor like traditional flooring boards. LVP is often what’s used in homes and offices because it looks better than what some people would call “plastic.” The main downside of LVP is that once you’ve put it down, there’s no way to sand or refinish it due to all the glue on the back of each plank.

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is what’s known as a stick-down floor. It can fray over time but LVT is glued onto a surface, so scratches and other damage are easier to fix. LVT is essentially the exact same thing as LVP except it’s shaped like tile.

It should also be noted that when I say “glue down vinyl” I mean that you have to put glue down on the floor and stick it down that way. It can get real messy real fast.

We actually used luxury vinyl tile in our primary bathroom remodel and it’s groutable. We LOVE it!

Conclusion

I would absolutely recommend luxury vinyl plank flooring to people who want the low cost and easy installation, but don’t mind if they need to replace it more often than real hardwoods.

Ultimately making your home look like what you want is up to YOU and what your budget suits. If you’d rather wait and spend a little more, go for it. If not, I honestly would put LVP in our own home without batting an eye.