Vinyl plank flooring is an easy way to get a wood look without the maintenance and wear and tear of Hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring is not an option for most people with small children and pets. In the 80’s we had laminate or “pergo” floors. Another alternative was engineered wood, but now we have Vinyl plank flooring. There are many forms of vpf; lvt, spc, wpc, evt, bpc laminate and engineered wood. But what is the difference and how will it contribute to your home project?
Vinyl plank flooring is water resistant or waterproof,there is a difference (The cheaper ones are often water resistant rather than waterproof.) You are more likely to find cheaper ones and knock-offs in the big box stores, so don’t be fooled! Cheaper ones are usually characterized by wear layer. It is a general rule of thumb to go with a 20 mil wear layer. Big box stores will sell 6 and 12 mil wear layer without hesitation. But those are few and far between at independent retailers. Independent retailers are not able to hide behind their many employees. They deal directly with the customer, and do not want to hear customer complaints.
VPF is easy to work with. Vinyl plank flooring has many color options making it easy to match whatever look you are going for. It is also easy to clean and waterproof, those two characteristics go hand and hand. laminate is water resistant rather than waterproof for instance you would not want to put laminate or wood in a kitchen or bathroom. Toilets leak, tubs overflow, and dishwashers break. This will damage the floor on a porous surface such as laminate or wood. Vinyl composition flooring will not do that. It is 100% waterproof.
Vinyl plank flooring has many different versions, such as SPC which stands for stone polymer composite.The main content of SPC core are natural stone powder, polyvinyl chloride and stabilizer which combined by a certain formula provides a very stable composite material. It is an upgrade and improvement to the regular luxury vinyl tile (LVT). So basically spc is made of stone, vinyl planks are made of layers or polyurethane and pvc composite, plastic. Stone is more sustainable than plastic. Spc can have a wood or stone look, is the most durable. The durability of spc also makes it green because of the durability it will last forever.
Wpc(Wood Polymer Composite) is also another variation of luxury vinyl flooring. It is made of wood pulp. A WPC vinyl is manufactured with a wood-plastic composite backing instead of a solid PVC backing. The engineered backing combines recycled wood pulp and plastic composites to form a bond of strength and stability. This is then topped with a standard vinyl top layer. It is also easy to clean and very durable.
Cleaning Lvf, Spc, Wpc
Once you’ve installed your luxury vinyl plank floors, you’ll want to keep them looking fresh and clean, but you might be wondering how you should go about doing this. While luxury vinyl floors are easy to maintain, it’s also important to understand how to properly clean them to preserve their durability. Whether you’re looking for advice on how to handle regular cleanings or what to do if you notice scuff marks, this guide will walk you through the important information on how to clean luxury.
While vinegar is a common ingredient in many homemade floor cleaners, it shouldn’t be used on certain household surfaces because it can cause damage. Fortunately, luxury vinyl flooring isn’t one of those surfaces. The acidity in the vinegar can remove grime and dirt without leaving behind buildup and residue like soap can. Just make sure you don’t use full-strength vinegar to clean your floors. It can dull the finish, and you have no way of polishing vinyl flooring to bring back the shine.
To make homemade floor cleaner using vinegar, simply mix a cup of apple cider vinegar with a gallon of water. You can then use a damp mop to clean your floor. Be sure to frequently rinse your mop with hot water while you’re cleaning. If you’re looking to disinfect and clean your floors at the same time, you can use white vinegar instead.
If your floors are especially grimy, add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to your mixture before you mop them. Lastly, if you’re looking to add a little shine to your floors, a few drops of baby oil in the water and vinegar cleaning solution will do the trick.