Vinyl plank flooring has become an increasingly popular flooring option for homeowners in recent years. Made to mimic natural materials like wood and stone, vinyl plank flooring provides a durable, attractive, and affordable flooring solution. However, like any flooring material, vinyl plank has both advantages and disadvantages to consider. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of vinyl plank flooring to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your home. We’ll also review and compare some of the best vinyl plank flooring brands on the market.
What is Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Vinyl plank flooring, also known as luxury vinyl plank (LVP), is a versatile synthetic flooring product constructed from multiple layers fused together under heat and pressure. The layers typically include:
- Clear Protective Top Layer: A transparent vinyl wear layer that protects against scratches, stains, and wear.
- Printed Decorative Layer: A patterned layer that mimics materials like wood, tile, and stone.
- Vinyl Core: A resilient and waterproof vinyl core that provides structure.
- Backing Layer: A layer made of felt, cork, or foam that provides insulation and sound absorption.
The planks click together easily with interlocking edges, often utilizing a “floating” installation method over an underlayment without use of adhesive. Many modern vinyl plank options are completely waterproof, making them suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and other damp areas.
Vinyl plank flooring comes in a wide variety of styles and can convincingly replicate wood, ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone. It provides the look and feel of more expensive flooring materials at a lower cost. Let’s look at the key benefits and drawbacks of vinyl plank flooring.
Pros of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Durability
One of the biggest advantages of vinyl plank flooring is its durability. The protective top layer resists scratches, dents, stains, and wear from heavy foot traffic. Most quality vinyl plank flooring will retain its look for years longer than carpets or even hardwood.
Vinyl plank is very unlikely to warp or buckle when exposed to moisture, as can happen with solid hardwood floors. This makes it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and other areas prone to spills and dampness. The waterproof construction prevents water damage to the floor’s substructure.
Many vinyl plank floors carry commercial warranties of 15 years or longer. With proper care and maintenance, vinyl plank can last upwards of 25 years or more.
Low Maintenance
In addition to extraordinary durability, vinyl plank flooring is also very easy to clean and maintain. The protective top layer allows the use of damp mops without damage to the flooring. Stains, dirt, and debris can be swept or mopped up easily.
Unlike carpeting, vinyl plank resists dust mites, pet dander, and allergens. The seams seal tightly, preventing crumbs or dirt from getting trapped. Keeping vinyl plank clean is as simple as an occasional damp mopping.
Most vinyl plank floors also do not require periodic sanding and refinishing like solid hardwood. The UV-coated protective layer retains its appearance for years with little upkeep required. Their resilience makes them very “forgiving” floors for busy family homes.
Affordability
Vinyl plank flooring provides a very cost-effective solution compared to natural hardwood, stone, or tile. On average, vinyl plank flooring installed runs $3-5 per square foot. In comparison, hardwood floor installation averages $6-12 per square foot. Vinyl allows achieving the look of more expensive flooring on a reasonable budget.
Budget options like self-adhesive vinyl plank tiles can be installed by homeowners themselves. Avoiding installation labor costs makes this flooring even more budget-friendly. With realistic wood and stone designs, vinyl plank provides a convincing facsimile of pricier natural flooring.
Variety of Styles
One of the greatest assets of vinyl plank flooring is the huge diversity of patterns, colors, and styles available. Vinyl allows replicating visuals from almost any flooring material.
Wood look vinyl planks realistically mimic various wood species like oak, maple, cherry, pine, hickory, and more. Tile looks embody natural stone, porcelain, slate, marble, and other tiles. Options range from light and subtle to dramatic and bold.
Vinyl plank can also mimic other uncommon flooring styles like weathered barnwood, painted concrete, and embellished mosaic patterns. No other flooring material offers such an expansive range of unique visuals.
Waterproof
Unlike wood flooring, vinyl plank flooring is inherently waterproof due to its seamless construction. This makes it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and any other area prone to moisture. Water can simply be mopped up without seeping through the flooring or warping the planks.
In wet areas like bathrooms, some homeowners install vinyl plank flooring to eliminate needing additional rugs. The waterproof structure eliminates concerns about structural damage from leaks or flooding. Vinyl plank is a great solution for homes with children or pets prone to spills.
Other Benefits
- Comfortable and warmer underfoot than tile or laminate
- Insulates against noise transmission
- DIY friendly floating click installation
- Hypoallergenic and resistant to mold/mildew
- Wide variety of padding/cushion options available
- Often emits fewer VOCs than laminate flooring
Cons of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Denting
Although vinyl plank is waterproof and scratch-resistant, it can be prone to dents from heavy furniture or objects being dropped. Thinner vinyl planks or weaker core layers are more susceptible. Use floor protectors under heavy furniture legs.
Higher quality vinyl plank made with a stone plastic composite (SPC) or rigid core holds up better to impacts without showing dents. Look for vinyl plank flooring with a thick wear layer for maximum dent resistance.
Limited Lifespan
While vinyl plank flooring can last upwards of 25+ years with proper care, it doesn’t compare to the 100+ year lifespan of some hardwood floors. The synthetic materials will gradually show signs of wear and tear over time. However, most homeowners find they get an excellent return on investment over vinyl’s shorter life cycle.
Can Show Seams
Although vinyl planks click together tightly, the seams between them may be visible in certain lighting conditions. Contrasting grout lines in tile visuals can also look obviously fake under close inspection. Select options with beveled edges and more realistic visual textures to help hide seams.
Not Environmentally Friendly
Unlike wood floors, vinyl plank flooring is a completely synthetic product generally made from non-renewable materials like PVC. While some brands are aiming for greater sustainability, vinyl flooring overall is less eco-friendly than options like bamboo or cork flooring. Look for options like recycled vinyl or cork/bamboo hybrids.
VOCs
Lower quality vinyl flooring, especially “peel-and-stick” tile, may use adhesives that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. This can produce an unpleasant lingering odor. Higher quality vinyl planks often emit negligible VOCs, but it’s worth verifying before purchase.
Difficult Repairs
While durable, vinyl plank flooring can be difficult to repair if planks become damaged. The entire damaged plank usually needs complete replacement. Installations using adhesive rather than floating click-lock systems make repairs even harder.
Best Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands
Many manufacturers now produce vinyl plank flooring. Here are some of the top brands known for high quality and innovative designs:
1. COREtec Plus
- Overview: COREtec Plus is manufactured by US Floors, one of the most trusted names in vinyl plank flooring. Their signature product features an extra layer of cork underlayment attached to each plank for warmth and comfort underfoot. COREtec Plus comes in over 50 styles including oak, hickory, bamboo, and slate visuals.
- Benefits
- Attached cork underlayment provides cushion without need for separate pad
- Over 50 stunning and realistic wood, tile, and stone designs
- Scratch and stain resistant
- Commercial grade durability and performance
- Waterproof and pet/kid friendly
2. LifeProof
- Overview: LifeProof vinyl plank from Home Depot is a budget-friendly brand with great performance. Available exclusively at Home Depot, LifeProof offers versatile vinyl plank collections for every room.
- Benefits
- Wide range of trendy wood and tile visuals
- Can install in kitchens, baths, basements
- DIY friendly VersaClick click-together system
- Affordable pricing starting under $1 per square foot
- Easy to clean scratch-resistant wear layer
3. Mannington Adura Max Prime
- Overview: Mannington is an industry-leading U.S. flooring manufacturer. Their premium Adura Max Prime vinyl plank features realistic visuals and durability for active households.
- Benefits
- Over 50 luxurious wood and stone visual options
- Rigid polymer core prevents indentations
- Planks are extra long and wide for fewer seams
- LockSolid precision click-lock install for tight seamless finish
- Antimicrobial protection inhibits bacteria growth
- Pet proof and kid friendly
4. Mohawk RevWood Plus
- Overview: Mohawk is a leading global flooring manufacturer. Their unique RevWood Plus vinyl plank uses recycled wood fibers in the core rather than synthetic materials. This makes it more environmentally sustainable.
- Benefits
- Made with recycled wood fibers for eco-friendly quality
- FloorScore certified for indoor air quality
- ScratchGuard Advanced protection and antimicrobials
- Realistic visuals imitating various domestic and exotic hardwood species
- Easy click-together FloatLock installation
- Proven Waterproof Plank technology
5. Shaw Floorte Pro
- Overview: Shaw Floorte Pro vinyl plank floors are designed for durability and authentic visuals ideal for active households. Their Valenza collection offers 40+ hardwood and tile options.
- Benefits
- Clear 20 mil wear layer and commercial grade construction
- Supreme Density polymer core resists indentation
- Beveled edge planks create realistic grout lines
- Proprietary LocNPlace installation technology for easy DIY
- Floorté planks are 100% waterproof
- Wide range of on-trend designs and colors
6. Armstrong Flooring
- Overview: Armstrong is a longstanding and trusted U.S. flooring company. Their versatile vinyl plank offerings include value collections and premium designer lines.
- Benefits
- Variety of textured and embossed-in-register looks
- Diamond 10 technology provides moisture resistance
- High clarity ceramic bead wear layer protects finish
- TruGuard seamed edge hides plank separation
- Natural wood, stone, and abstract visuals
- Hallmark brand provides affordable price points
How to Choose the Best Vinyl Plank Flooring
When selecting vinyl plank flooring, keep in mind the following criteria:
- Quality of Construction – Look for commercial or high performance grade planks with a thick 12+ mil wear layer and rigid composite core to prevent indentations. These provide better durability and lifespan.
- Realistic Visuals – Carefully inspect the texture and colors of wood and tile design elements. Seek realistic variations, graining, and embossing for a convincing natural look.
- Core Material – Rigid composite or stone plastic composite (SPC) cores resist dents better than softer foam cores. Some have cork, recycled wood fiber, or bamboo cores for added benefits.
- attached Pad – Many vinyl planks now feature a pre-attached foam pad for insulation and comfort. This may be preferable to separate underlayment.
- Seam Design – Planks with beveled edges hide seams better. Locking mechanisms like tongue-and-groove create tight seamless finishes.
- Warranty – Look for good commercial warranties against wear, stains, fades, and defects preferably 15 years or longer.
- Sustainability – Seek flooring with recycled content, natural components like cork, or eco-friendly certifications for greener options.
Doing your homework can ensure you select durable and attractive vinyl plank flooring suited to your home and lifestyle. Always buy from reputable brands and inspect materials thoroughly before purchase. With proper installation and care, quality vinyl plank flooring can provide lasting performance and satisfaction. Let us know if you have any other vinyl flooring questions!
