In this post, we will share everything you need to know about LVT vs LVP to help you decide! While natural flooring materials are beautiful, sometimes they just aren’t in the budget or they don’t make sense for your home. Fortunately, both LVT and LVP are great options and there are some gorgeous selections from which to choose!
What is Luxury Vinyl Flooring?
Luxury vinyl flooring is a type of vinyl flooring that is made of compressed layers of synthetic material. It has at least four layers: a protective wear layer, a design layer, a strength layer, and an underlayment or backing. It mimics the look of other types of flooring: either wood planks (luxury vinyl planks or LVP) or stone or ceramic tile (luxury vinyl tile, or LVT).
LVP and LVT come in a great variety of colors and designs. It gives you the look of wood or tile and the benefits of vinyl flooring. It’s often the best of both worlds. If the idea of vinyl flooring gives you pause, be assured that today’s vinyl is much better than the vinyl flooring of years past. In fact, it so closely mimics the look and texture of real wood and tile that it can be hard to tell the difference at first glance.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Luxury vinyl flooring is water-resistant, making it a great choice for high-moisture areas like kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and mud rooms
- Its durability means it can stand up to use by kids and pets and still look as good as new
- It costs less than real wood or real tile/stone floors, making it more accessible for someone on a budget
- It’s softer underfoot than its wood and stone counterparts, making it easier on the feet for older adults and kids
- It requires very little maintenance
Cons:
- Real hardwood floors and real stone or tile floors raise the value of your home. Luxury vinyl flooring, unfortunately, does not raise the value.
- Wood floors can be refinished, extending their lifespan and changing the look of the floors, while LVP cannot be changed
- Stone and tile floors last forever, whereas LVT will eventually need to be replaced
LVP vs. LVT Flooring
If you’ve decided that luxury vinyl flooring is the right choice for your home, now you face another decision: should you use luxury vinyl planks (LVP) or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT)? While they are similar products, there are a few key differences.
The most obvious difference is in how the two products look. LVP is formed into planks and has the appearance of wood. LVT is made to look like tile (stone, ceramic, or porcelain). It comes in tile-like sizes: 16×16, 24×24, 12×24, and so on.
LVP gives a warm, homey feeling to a space. It’s great for farmhouse-style homes, traditional homes, or homes that lean more casual. LVT is more sophisticated and upscale and works well in modern homes, but it can fit into most aesthetics. Sometimes the best way to choose between the two options is to consider the room in which it will be installed. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and mud rooms are traditionally tiled, so LVT might be a better choice there while living rooms and kitchens might look better with LVP. It’s really up to you!
Another key difference between the two products is how they are installed. LVP is generally installed as a floating floor over the subfloor. This means that it is not adhered to the subfloor but just sits on top of it. Luxury vinyl planks often click together, so that one locks into its neighbor. This gives a sturdy floor that doesn’t slip out of place.
LVT, on the other hand, is meant to adhere to the subfloor or underlayment using specialized adhesives. It can also be installed with or without the use of grout joints. While adding the grout is an extra step, it makes the LVT look even more like real tile and gives it a finished look.
LVP is usually slightly thicker than LVT and so more comfortable underfoot. This can be remedied by adding an extra layer of underlayment beneath the LVT during installation.
LVP and LVT vs Laminate Flooring
A third option for your floors is laminate. While we often think of laminate flooring as outdated, the newer styles and designs are gorgeous and offer many of the same benefits as LVP and LVT. Laminate flooring is different from luxury vinyl flooring mainly in what it’s made of. Laminate flooring has layers, like LVP and LVT, but it contains a wood fiberboard core.
Laminate Flooring: Pros and Cons
Laminate flooring is usually thicker than luxury vinyl flooring because of its fiberboard core. This makes it easier to use on subfloors that aren’t perfectly smooth as it hides imperfections well. It also means it’s a little softer to walk on. It’s easier to install because less prep work on the subfloor is required. It’s usually a little less expensive than vinyl.
On the downside, laminate flooring, while very durable, can eventually delaminate and crack. It’s not as waterproof as vinyl, because vinyl is completely synthetic while laminate has wood in its core. It’s slightly noisier to walk on, which may be a factor if you have pets or kids.
Both types of flooring can be installed yourself. LVP and LVT require a saw to cut them into the right size and shape. Laminate flooring can be cut with a utility knife.
What Should You Choose?
If you’ve decided that vinyl flooring is the right choice for your home, the decision between LVT vs LVP really comes down to: What are your priorities for the space and what do you envision it looking like? If you want the look of wood, go with LVP. If you love tile and stone, LVT is best. The installation process may factor into your decision as well, especially if you’re doing it yourself–although you can learn to install either type of flooring. Laminate flooring is another option which is more inexpensive and thicker, but less waterproof and durable.
Deciding on flooring for your space can be intimidating because it’s such a big decision. But as you think through your options and your priorities, you’ll be able to make your choice with confidence.
