For many, vintage and vinyl have been synonymous at Floor Land
, but vinyl flooring has evolved greatly in the past 10 years.

In reality, it is expected to continue to grow even more over the next five years, making it a top flooring contender for designers. But what has caused this exponential growth from grandma’s kitchen to one of the most popular go-to finishes in some of the most beautiful homes?

Due to high-tech design options and installation technology, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is now positioned to completely change people’s perceptions of vinyl flooring
. These better designed LVT products have excellent water resistance, are tough and durable, and cost less than many other kinds of flooring.

Architects, designers and owner occupiers can now reproduce the look of natural floors in their homes; whether that is imitating wooden floors, ceramic or marble. Traditional solid wood parquet flooring for example, is now a thing of the past for many, with parquet vinyl flooring taking its place - and it looks just like the real thing!

But the development of aesthetics is not the only reason that more people are installing the product. Manufacturers of LVT are increasingly producing more products that are easier to install and requiring less maintenance.

With newer LVT finishes, floors are stain, scuff and dirt-resistant (and overall more resilient) than ever, meaning the product performs well over time. The majority of manufacturers offered products with an adhesive backing as well, resulting in a product that’s quicker to install. Less time spent on labour means less money spent, and less down time means you can enjoy your new floors even sooner.

Thanks to these new developments, LVT is more appealing than ever. Above all other LVT products, stands Multilayer Flooring, a new type of LVT characterised by its increased performance and strength.

Structure of LVT

Understanding LVT starts with dissecting its multi-layered structure:

Wear Layer: The top layer that protects against scratches and dents.

Print Layer: This is where the image you have selected, such as a wooden or stone design, is printed and integrated into the surface.

Core: Made of PVC (plastic and vinyl chloride), WPC (Wood Plastic Composite), or SPC (Stone Plastic Composite), which adds rigidity.

Base Layer: The bottom, often cork- or foam-based, cushioning layer.

Put together, these layers combine tensile and compressive strength, beauty and comfort, making LVT suitable for both domestic and commercial environments.

The Pros of LVT Parquet Flooring

Choosing the right type of flooring for your home often depends on the advantages and disadvantages a particular flooring has to offer.

Have a look at some of the advantages of LVT Flooring:

Price

LVT Flooring tends to be less expensive than common wooden flooring. It’s low cost makes it ideally suited for those who want to add the luxurious parquet look to their homes but without the expense.

Durability

Thanks to its top wear layer, it is practically unaffected by dents, scratches and staining and is great in high-traffic, busy areas in the home such as kitchens and hallways.

Versatility

Thanks to its water-resistant qualities, LVT Parquet Flooring can go virtually anywhere, including kitchens and bathrooms.

Warmth and Sound Insulation

The floors, like their vinyl counterparts, make for great thermal and acoustic insulation too, making them an exceptionally warm and quiet floor. Some LVT floors come with pre-applied underlay to enhance the comfort.

Easy Maintenance

A major selling point of LVT flooring
is the associated maintenance regime, which suits busy family homes with pets or children. A quick sweep and a wipe over with mild bleach solution and water is generally all that is needed to keep LVT flooring looking as good as new. In contrast to natural materials that require re-finishing from time to time, LVT flooring will usually never look worse than when it was first laid.

It’s often the go-to product for those with allergies or respiratory sensitivities as well because, as we mentioned above, although not hypo-allergenic, because of its smooth surface, it does not trap dust, mites, allergens or pet dander the way that other flooring does. When you combine that with how easy it is to clean and maintain, it’s a clear choice. Especially compared to alternatives, such as carpet, which is very difficult to keep clean and very quickly collects dust and pet hair.

Easy Installation and Replacement

As is true of many luxury vinyl floor coverings, LVT comes with a multitude of installation methods, including click systems that do not even require glue. Installation and any later replacements are easy and hassle free.

Lifespan

If installed and maintained, LVT Parquet Flooring has a lifespan of at least 20 years, which also means a good investment.

While LVT Parquet Flooring offers numerous advantages, it’s essential to consider the disadvantages:

Non-Sustainable

LVT is far from a renewable resource, and while it is made mainly from wood rather than plastics, its manufacture is highly unsustainable.

Discolouration

If you expose it to direct sunlight, the mural/photographic layer is likely to fade over time. Therefore, it is probably not the best suited for conservatories or other areas in the home with large amounts of natural light.

Risk of Denting

Although sturdy, LVT can be dented with high pressure. Heavy furniture may result in permanent impression in your LVT floor.

Difficult to Remove

Once glued down, LVT can be challenging to remove without damaging the subfloor.

Synthetic Texture

LVT might look the part, but it doesn’t feel like wooden flooring underfoot.

Price Comparison

Whilst cheaper when compared to hardwood, LVT is generally pricier than other “wood-like” flooring options, such as laminate.

Summary

Manufacturing advances have led to luxury vinyl flooring that integrates aesthetic beauty with functionality. From the core up to the top layer, the product has been transformed by consumer demand and technological developments.

As we have seen, there is a case to be made that LVT is competing with, and often improving on, laminate as well as engineered wood in terms of both form and function.

In addition to being energy-efficient for homes overall, keeping heat inside houses for longer in the colder months; it is compatible with water-based underfloor heating systems.

LVT is suitable for any room in your home or workplace and has evolved over time; giving homeowners a beautiful affordable flooring option, time and time again.