When choosing flooring for any home, there are a few alternatives as alluring as luxury vinyl flooring. It is vibrant, easy to clean, and you can let the pets or children play around without any worry about their health, or scratching the floor. Another bonus feature is that the flooring can look similar to wood without actually involving any wood.
However, many people remain skeptical about how long vinyl flooring lasts. If you’re one of them, then you are at the right place. So, let’s dive right in and observe the lifespan of luxury vinyl flooring. You’ll also learn what factors affect its durability and the convenient methods you can adopt to extend its usage. Mainly, we’ll focus on luxury vinyl flooring since that is one of the most premium products and the perfect choice for many homeowners and estate developers looking for durable floors.
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How Long Does Luxury Vinyl Flooring Last on Average?
Luxury vinyl flooring consists of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tiles or planks. It uses a unique adhesive to join its various layers together. Frequently, manufacturers add a structural layer for increased stability and dent resistance, and a wear layer coating to prevent scratching, scuffing and water damage.
Therefore, luxury vinyl is one of the most long-lasting materials for flooring that you can get at a reasonable price. On average, it can last from 10 to 20 years, with some manufacturers offering warranties up to 25 years. The life span of vinyl floors depends on many factors that we’ll cover later in this article.
Luxury vinyl flooring can be of the following types. While the basic product design may differ, the durability and maintenance requirements are pretty much the same.
Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP)
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
Luxury vinyl tiles are manufactured using the same materials and process as vinyl planks, but they are cut into tiles to represent stone, ceramic or porcelain tile floors. If you desire a tiled floor look without the risk of heavy furniture or appliances cracking or chipping them, LVT is the way to go.
Factors That Influence the Longevity of Vinyl Flooring
Sub-Floor Conditions/Preparation
Most LVTs and LVPs come with a thin pad underlayment that acts as an additional layer to protect the subfloor beneath. However, it is recommended not to install luxury vinyl flooring on a base that is damaged or contains cracks. LVTs are highly flexible and may mask a few minor imperfections in the concrete or tiles below it. But more significant damage or imperfections will show through vinyl, so proper leveling and repair of the subfloor will maximize the lifespan of the flooring.
Composite Core
Wear Layer
LVTs contain a wear layer to protect the PVC underneath and enhance the lifetime of the flooring. Most wear layers vary between 4 and 40 mils. The higher the number, the longer lifetime one can expect out of the flooring. While the lifetime of a product has many other factors typically, 1 mil of wear layer can last 1 year with proper installation and maintenance.
Placement of Flooring
Cleaning Schedule and Cleaning Solutions
While the cleaning schedule highly depends upon where you live and how often you receive guests, it helps to clean the floor once per week. Regardless of the quality of the vinyl, dust and dirt can ruin any finish. Sure, the flooring can resist it for a while, but leaving any spots unchecked may require you to replace the flooring much sooner.
It is best to use a damp mop dipped in a solution of hot water and dishwasher soap for light cleaning. In case you run into persistent stains, a cleaning product from CC Carpet can do wonders.
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Tips to Extend the Lifespan of Your Luxury Vinyl Floors
Don’t Drag Items Across the Floor
Add Rugs to Areas with High Foot Traffic
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Use the Right Cleaner
Make Sure It’s Installed Correctly
Many people are tempted to go for the discounted installation services, even going so far as doing the entire floor themselves over a long weekend. However, that few hundred dollars saved could turn into a bad situation and sadly end up costing more to fix issues from a bad installation. We’ve seen this happen time and time again. Thus, it pays to hire a reliable installation service.
