LUXURY Vinyl Plank
Authored by Meredith Gernigin
The last two months have been non-stop LVP installation.
At first, I thought it was crazy.
After a decade of restoring historic properties, I’ve only had eyes for traditional flooring material: restoring or replacing hardwood floors. Timeless tile choices like penny tile, marble, or slate. Mosaic cut-ins. And, when all else fails? Engineered hardwood or luxury low pile carpet.
I remember how my parent’s friends would show off their modern 1990s Pergo floors. To me they looked flat and one-dimensional.
Fast forward and after a field visit to one of our client projects last week? I’m shopping for LVP for my own home’s new attic guest bedroom.
What changed? Technology. Production Quality. Design.
Laminate is not what I thought it was. 10+ years and high consumer demand can make a big difference in manufacturing.
Have champagne flooring tastes and also love saving money?
Never thought you’d give vinyl flooring a shot in your home?
Want to know how to use it and make it look incredible within your design?
Read on.
What Is LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank)?
Before we dive in, what is LVP- and what is it good for?
The vinyl flooring of 2023 is a world away from the laminate floors of the late 1990s and practically a different species from the sheet “tile printed” pattern floor we had in our kitchen growing up. Which, considering what we have today has been 100 years in the making…makes sense.
The invention of modern vinyl flooring was introduced in 1933 at the “Century of Progress'' exhibition in Chicago. It was praised as an ultra durable, low cost alternative to other flooring materials commonly used in commercial and residential construction. However, it wasn’t until the post-WW2 suburban housing boom that the material became commonplace.
Many of the LVP floors we install at ASA Construction are considered ‘losselay’, meaning they are cut and snapped together to fit snugly over your existing floor without any adhesive. This style has skyrocketed in popularity for a few reasons:
First, the plank style has depth and more closely resembles engineered hardwood.
Second, it’s easy to install. LVP is forgiving of less favorable flooring conditions. A looselay floor can easily accommodate the settling we’ve seen in many of Alton’s historic homes while still looking gorgeous.
Third- cost. You can get a high-quality waterproof LVP for <$8 sq ft…including installation. Tile, hardwood, and engineered hardwood can’t even come close.
Fun fact: looselay or ‘floating’ flooring isn’t just popular here in the US. In Europe, people love it so much, they’ll invest in a high quality LVP and actually take it with them when they move to reinstall in their new location!
Hands down the best part of LVP is its durability. Any mid-grade or higher vinyl plank flooring will be scratch and dent resistant, as well as waterproof. That’s great news for anyone with pets, kids, or large indoor plants. Puddles happen. There’s nothing worse than spending money on a substantial home upgrade and having it scratched the first time you drag your aloes in for the winter.
To recap:
LVP or any of its modern sister products like WPC Vinyl, SPC Vinyl, Luxury Vinyl Tile, etc are great for durability.
LVP works wonders in remodels with unlevel or settled floors.
And yes, you can make it look classy! (….more on that in a moment)
The Do’s and Don’ts of Vinyl
I’m going to let you in on a few pro secrets to making your LVP look like a million bucks.
But first- soapbox time:
Your top priority as a homeowner is to create a space you love.
No design tips or ‘rules’ should ever stand in the way of you ultimately choosing what you want.
Whether it’s paint color, built-ins, or fixtures…our philosophy is: if this is your house? Don’t worry about what someone else might think when it comes to your style.
I’ve seen far too many homeowners ‘play it safe’ because a style might affect the resale value of their home. Unless you’re actively selling, you do you. The amount of happiness you’ll experience waking up to a color or a finish you love is more important than what your neighbors, your family, or some person who someday buys your house may think.
These design tips for LVP are here to act as a map in an open world of choice, something to ease the burden on homeowners faced with countless style and color options. Choices can be stressful!
Don’t want to follow these tips? No problem. I guarantee we’ll professionally install exactly what you want without friction.
Now that we've had that heart to heart, here’s how to take your vinyl flooring to the next level.
#1. Don’t Match- Contrast
“The biggest mistake is when homeowners try to find a wood vinyl plank that matches and sits right up next to a hardwood floor. It never works. You’re better off with something completely contrasting.”
That’s Nate Musket, our crew and site supervisor at ASA Construction.
I couldn’t agree more.
When you set vinyl next to hardwood- with its years of beautiful wear and history- there is nothing you can do to make it match. So…don’t. Trying to match the two materials will give even expensive LVP a cheap and half-hearted look sitting next to its historic counterpart.
Contrast doesn’t need to mean “crazy”.
Take a look at this:
One of our repeat clients has beautiful 2” light oak hardwood throughout their main floor. At some point the open kitchen must have experienced water damage. Whoever fixed it had a great eye for design.
Instead of trying to ‘match’ the hardwood, they chose a dark variegated slate-style plank flooring that not only looks beautiful next to the light hardwood, but defines the kitchen in the open concept space. It’s a great example of a fix that both perfectly enhances and modernizes the original installation.
That being said, if you want to lean into contrast? Go for it. LVP is inexpensive enough to experiment with something fun- which brings me to my next secret….
#2. Don’t Hide Your LVP
From ceramic tiles that look like wood planks to painted-like-marble countertops…I’ve never embraced the illusion game. When I install LVP in our attic room? I’m letting the material be exactly what it is: Vinyl.
I think more homeowners would lean into this if they knew where to get and how to design with options outside of what’s in stock at Lowe’s or Home Depot.
We’ve already mentioned that vinyl’s secret weapon is its affordability.
Traditionally, flooring, countertops, and fixtures are so expensive, it can be hard to justify ‘playing’ with something off the beaten path. The wide selection of budget-friendly and quality vinyl available today is a gamechanger. Vinyl flooring, whether it’s plank, snap, or adhesive backed, is inexpensive enough to ‘play’ with.
You Can Let Vinyl Be Vinyl.
Here are a few products and applications I love (no affiliate links here- just rounding up good products for your next project):
Lucida Monocore Luxury Vinyl Planks
These vinyl planks are averaging around $3.50/sq ft, which may seem high compared to your home improvement store vinyl. Here’s what’s amazing: they’re 7mm thick.
Most residential LVP ranges in 2-6mm in thickness, with anything over 6mm rated for commercial installation/traffic.
What does that mean for this product? Its superior cushioning will make it a dream for “challenging” flooring installations (think: that unlevel basement playroom), warmer than tile or concrete in the winter, and commercial grade.
At under $4 per sq ft, you’d be hard pressed to find another material that your golden retriever can run laps on without ever scratching the surface.
This material comes in bold colors you can mix, allowing your contractor to create a pattern that is unique to your own home. Tailoring patterns is one the best kept secrets to making a “cheap” install look like a five-figure investment. See more of this LVP here.
Lucida Fabcore 12”x24” Linen Texture Vinyl
Another commercial product that could easily be used to beautify a laundry room, three season room, or finished basement. This product is glued down rather than floating, but at $2.69/sq ft your additional install materials still land under the $3.50 mark.
Plus, this product is waterproof and can hold standing water up to 72 hrs.
Have a small or awkward-shaped space? Consider a vinyl floor mat. These mats can be used as mats (i.e. laid down in front of your tub) or cut to fit and installed just like the old-style sheet vinyl.
These floor “cloths” are not as durable as traditional vinyl (read: clean with a wet swiffer, not a scrub brush). However, the availability of style is incredible.
FloorPops Peel and Stick Vinyl
Search “reviews” and you’ll find some definite hang-ups to any peel and stick. Overall, they have less durability and, generally, are lower in quality than floating or traditional vinyl flooring. So…why would they even make this list?
Because sometimes you need a nice temporary fix.
Think:
…The kid’s bathroom that you plan on totally remodeling in five years when they leave for college.
…The laundry room that you want to be cheerful, but don’t want to break the bank on.
…The renovation you’re undertaking in phases so your wallet can breathe.
These semi-permanent vinyl tiles are also great for rentals. Not only do they come in a variety of great patterns but you can buy most of their designs for under $2 sq ft. Handy with a utility knife? These tiles don’t require any special tools to install and you can DIY them.
However, there are some definite issues you should be aware of before going this route. I recommend reading this FloorPops review from a homeowner and viewing their close-up photos to see if this is something for you before you fall in love with the designs.
#3. Choose LVP Styles That Look Like Real Wood
I know- this is a direct contrast to what we just went over. Design is never straightforward!
Have your heart set on hardwood, but your home isn’t a good candidate? With a little insight into what type of LVP to install, you can get a truly beautiful result with LVP.
Most homeowners either go to a big box store- or have their contractor- pick out their flooring off the shelf. This is the biggest reason most Luxury Vinyl Plank floors lack that ‘luxury’ look.
Think about it: Big box stores keep the fastest moving product with the highest profit margins (for them) in stock. Your options are limited to:
Mid to low-grade quality flooring
Trending colors
And mass market styles
But here’s the secret: If you’re planning ahead, you can order in flooring that will look luxurious and be higher in quality than what’s on the shelf.
I have three big tips to finding great LVP flooring that gives a real, classic hardwood look:
#1. Go with 5mm+ thickness— and look for a product with a beveled edge.
Purchasing materials with a beveled edge will more closely imitate traditional flooring. Light commercial or commercial grade products are going to wear less and look better than off-the-shelf residential flooring.
Check out these Vesdura planks. They’re a waterproof, light commercial flooring with a beveled edge and cost around $2.5/sq ft. The Boscawen color is gorgeous:
#2. Rethink trending materials:
By the time a product hits the box store shelf in mass quantity? That trend is dying out. It’s better to go with a product that matches your personal style or lifestyle than to choose something because it feels ‘safe’.
#3. Compliment Your Home’s Architecture:
You say you don’t have a personal style?
Then take the lead from your home’s era and architecture. Choose a product that gives a nod to the period your home was built in. LVP will never ‘look’ exactly like hardwood, but that’s an advantage here. When you choose a high-quality LVP that blends with your home’s architecture, the modernity of the material will naturally bring a fresh look without jarring the eye.
Karndean offers flooring with high-variable printing designed from historic castles and estates world-over. If your historic home needs vinyl? This is the place to look. Check out these beautiful designs:
Let’s Make Your Next Floor Gorgeous
Why don’t more homeowners look to off-the-shelf for materials for their flooring projects?
Some people think ‘custom ordering’ automatically means $$$$.
Others have a hard time committing to a material without seeing it in person…and don’t have the mental space to order and evaluate samples.
Good news: we can help.
At ASA Construction, we offer in-house design consultation free on all major remodel projects. Even better? We offer these services after you confirm your bid budget so you never feel pressured by options outside of what you wanted to spend.
How Our Design Services Work:
#1. Meet with ASA- and Get Your Itemized Bid
After talking with you and getting project measurements, we give you an invoice tailored to what we discussed together. This includes options for upgrades that you can mix and match privately at your own pace before you commit to a bid.
#2. Confirm Your Bid And Schedule
No one wants to live in a remodel mess! Once we understand your lifestyle and scheduling needs, we work with you to create a project schedule with the lowest impact possible.
#3. Meet With An ASA Designer
Let us help you create a beautiful space perfect for you! Your designer will work with you to get a feel for your style and the demands of the space to find the best materials for your project.
Already know what you want but need a second opinion…or have an idea that you can’t find the materials for yourself? An ASA Designer will answer your questions and help you find options within your budget!
#4. Love Your Home.
At Asa Construction, our goal is to build spaces people love. Whether you’re doing a quick $1k update or building a $50k addition, we put the same care into every project we touch.
Give us a call at 618-417-7130 or click here to book your free project estimate!
