LVP VS. LVT- What You Need to Know

Everywhere you go- from offices to salons, homes and apartments- you’re bound to see some luxury vinyl planking (LVP for short). Easy to install, affordable, stylish, and most importantly durable, LVP has quickly become the standard for flooring upgrades. With the increase in popularity, manufacturers have begun developing other vinyl products that provide similar qualities of LVP but also give a different look to the space. The most common product is luxury vinyl tile or LVT, which is made to look like stone or marble depending on the finish.

Both LVP and LVT have great characteristics but also have some drawbacks. This post covers the key points you need to know when deciding what type of vinyl is best for you.

Durability:

Not every type of LVP is made the same and the brand you choose makes a world of difference. We did a post on our Instagram that gives insight into our top recommendations for brands and why. The biggest thing to know is that some brands make planks with super thin wear layers, which is what leads to easy scratches and degradation of the floor over time. Ideally, you want to find LVP that has a hefty wear layer, and the design options you desire.

The wear layer is the biggest indicator of how durable a floor is when it comes to LVP. If you want to understand more about that is and how to determine what is a good amount, we also did a post on it.

When it comes to LVT, there are limited manufacturers of it. This is actually a great thing because the best of the best are the largest producers of it, reducing your need to worry about wear layers and durability.

Design:

When it comes to the actual style of LVP and LVP, the brand you pick makes a difference in how the product looks. LVT comes in high-gloss or matte finishes, while LVP is always a matte finish.

High-gloss LVT is meant to replicate a marble look while the matte is identical to stone. Both come in a wide variety of colors that will fit range of space. It is extremely important to note however, that high-gloss LVT can be slippery especially when in contact with water. We always recommend a bathmat or rug if you are planning to use it in a space that has water exposure like a bathroom.

Even though LVP is always matte, there are still thousands of options for colors and styles. Some brands now even feature things like “extra-matte” surfaces and hand-scraped wood grains, all to give the most realistic appearances.

If extra-matte or hand-scraped is something you are interested in, make sure to ask and read about maintenance on them. Extra-matte is prone to dust collection and can be hard to clean compared to traditional LVP.

Size:

Standard vinyl planks are 4 ft long. Coretec's Pro Series is the best of its kind and comes in a variety of sizes within the 6 ft long range. Some versions of 6ft planks come in boxes with precut planks. This is meant to add a randomized effect and reduce the obvious staggered/stepped pattern in the floor, which is a desirable trait as of late.

Vinyl tiles on the other hand, come in a standard 1ft x 2ft size. There are still pattern options when it comes to installation, but for the most part it will give you a set, uniform look.

Final Note:

There’re so many options for LVP and LVT that it can be frustrating to know what will work for you and your personal lifestyle, but we hope that with the help of this post you are a step closer to figuring out what will or won’t work for you.