Luxury and vinyl are two words you may not expect to read together. Many homeowners think of vinyl as a budget flooring solution, not realizing all the advances in the category.
While there are multiple levels of vinyl flooring available, luxury vinyl flooring can offer many advantages for your Maryland home. We’ll take a look today at some of the pros and cons of luxury vinyl flooring.
Pros
- Affordable – The ease of installation and low material cost makes luxury vinyl flooring a reasonably priced solution. Vinyl costs a fraction of wood, stone or tile, even when choosing higher quality vinyl options.
- Appearance – Luxury vinyl comes in planks or tiles, and manufacturers continue to come up with a wide variety of patterns that mimic the look of other popular solutions, including wood and stone.
- Durable – Luxury vinyl is a great solution for moisture-prone areas like kitchens and bathrooms as it can stand up to spills and leaks. Vinyl backed with a waterproof PVC layer will better repel water. It won’t chip and resists scratches and scuffs. If it does incur damage, buying extra planks or tiles at the time of installation means the section can be replaced fairly easily.
- Low maintenance – It’s also easy to take care of. Luxury vinyl typically has a protective wear layer, meaning it doesn’t need waxing or polishing. Regular mopping and sweeping should be enough to keep most luxury vinyl floor options looking new.
- Soft on feet – Luxury vinyl flooring has “give,” a springy feel that makes it more comfortable to walk on. This can be a benefit to older homeowners or anyone with knee or back problems.
Cons
- Susceptible to marks and dents – Luxury vinyl is not impervious to damage. Heavy items, such as appliances and dining room tables, can leave their mark if they are dragged or left in the same spot for years.
- Not slip resistant – Vinyl flooring doesn’t absorb moisture, so it can be slippery when used in applications such as an entryway or kitchen. It does offer better slip resistance than many other hard surfaces, such as most tiles or stones.
- Buyers may not want it – It may have the word luxury in the name, but if you’re looking to sell your home soon, some buyers may be turned off by the material. It’s not hardwood or stone and won’t have the same resale value.
- Inconsistent quality – There’s no industry standard for using the word “luxury,” so be sure to compare options. Look at the thickness and the way it is manufactured to help determine quality. Generally speaking, thicker vinyl will offer more resistance to dents and better cushioning. Rigid-core vinyl planks have multiple layers of material for greater stability. Some less-expensive options offer limited UV resistance, which can lead to fading if the room gets a lot of natural light.
One cautionary note: Old vinyl floors – those produced in the 1980s or earlier – often used asbestos as an ingredient. If you’re removing a floor of that vintage to make room for your new one, be sure to work with an experienced professional who knows the proper remediation steps to take.
Ready to explore your flooring options? T.W. Ellis is here to help you find the best solutions for your entire home. Contact us today to discuss your remodeling needs!
Photo credit: Photos courtesy of Shaw Floors
