Flooring industry’s latest trend LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) continues to be the fastest growing market segment.
LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) is a type of resilient flooring that includes both luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl planks (LVP). It offers 3D printing technology, which brings depth and realism, durability, with a high performance wear layer to a vinyl tile product. Offering the option of a less permanent floor than wood or ceramic tile, LVT makes it much easier to change the room design. With its introduction in October 2006, luxury vinyl flooring became more about the reinvention of vinyl flooring and an attempt by manufacturers to position it as a viable flooring material for homeowners who are well educated about flooring.
Luxury vinyl flooring takes on either of two forms. Either it simulates stone (slate, travertine, marble, etc.) or it simulates wood (teak, maple, oak, walnut, and pine). Traditional vinyl flooring sometimes imitates natural materials and sometimes does not (solid color, patterned, etc.).
When it comes to shape and size, traditional sheet vinyl flooring comes in room-widths and -lengths to minimize or even eliminate seams. Normal vinyl tiles are usually square: 12″x12″ or 16″x16″ most often. Because LVT often imitates solid wood flooring, it comes in plank shapes. In this respect, LVT and laminate flooring are the same. Sizes vary, but the general idea is long and narrow. A typical size is 7″ wide by 48″ long.
Any wood-look LVF will be made of all vinyl. Stone-look LVF might have some stone composition. As for the layers, the thicker the better. The wearlayer is usually a heavy film ofvinyl cover with a UV Cured Urethane wearlayer for better scuff, stain and scratch resistance.
Experts suggest to think like laminate while installing LVT. First of all, it is vinyl, which means it requires acclimation and a constant living temperature. When cold, it contracts. When warm, it expands. Stabilize conditions to living conditions. If conditions fluctuate, so does the product. Another thing is that people might think Loose Lay floors can go over anything. Fact; Loose Lay floors require as much prep if not more than a glue down floor. There are also options for sound reduction under LVT. For floating applications, most suppliers have a sound reducing membrane product for use under the LVT.
