Luxury Vinyl Plank
What Is Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring?
So what is LVP flooring exactly? Luxury vinyl plank — or LVP — is a type of vinyl flooring manufactured into planks 4 to 12 inches wide and 3 to 4 feet long. These planks provide the grain pattern, color and texture of wood, creating a convincing alternative. The plank style and variety of design options make LVP luxury vinyl plank a cost-effective alternative to hardwood floors. LVP is the flooring of choice for virtually all new apartment projects and LVP is becoming much more popular in single family new construction. Walking into a room, it is very difficult to determine if the product on the floor is LVP or real hardwood.
LVP flooring has several layers, including:
- Wear layer: The wear layer is on the top to protect the image layer from the wear and tear of foot traffic. It may have a texture that complements the look of the image layer. Urethane is the preferred material for the wear layer and most products have a 6mil wear layer. Thicker wear layers provide extra protection for high traffic and commercial installations.
- Image layer: The image layer is the printed image that gives the plank its appearance, including the color and grain.
- Core: The core is the plank’s structure, giving the flooring stability for a sturdy walking surface.
- Backing: The backing is the bottom layer that provides softness and sound absorption qualities.
