We have created a free Luxury Vinyl DIY Guide PDF with step by step instructions and a combined version of the three blog posts in this series. Click here to get a copy of the 8 page PDF.
Not ready to DIY your flooring? We offer professional installation backed by a lifetime installation warranty!
Is Luxury Vinyl Right For My Home?
The first step in the DIY process is to make sure that the floor you pick makes sense for your home, lifestyle, and budget. Some things to consider when choosing your floor:
- How well it will withstand traffic and wear in your home
- The length of time that you want the floor to last
- Whether the floor is suitable for the rooms where you need new flooring
Read below for some of the best characteristics of luxury vinyl:
1. Waterproof
Spills and accidents are an unavoidable reality of life. Luxury vinyl's core is made of a material that will not be damaged by topical spills - giving you the peace of mind that your flooring investment won't be ruined by common spills and accidents. This makes luxury vinyl different from many laminates that you may be familiar with as laminate can be easily damaged by topical spills.
2. Durable
Luxury vinyl is made with an extra-protective wear layer between the printed design of the plank and the protective finish on top that makes it more resistant to scratches and denting. The wear layer is composed of PVC or vinyl and its thickness is measured by mil, or a thousandth of an inch. Common wear layers are 6 mil, 12 mil, and 20 mil. We suggest a 12 mil wear layer or higher in rooms with moderate to high traffic. A urethane based protective finish is normally placed on top of the wear layer and is commonly made out of ceramic beads, nylon beads, or aluminum oxide.
3. Suitable For All Rooms
Luxury vinyl's waterproof makeup means that it is suitable for all rooms of your house, including bathrooms and basements. Do you want your kitchen, dining room, family room, and bath to have all the same floor and achieve a consistent look? Luxury vinyl allows for that.
4. Budget Friendly
Luxury vinyl, like other hard surface floors, is priced by the square foot. Prices can vary significantly by product but a quality luxury vinyl floor can be found for as low as $2.50 per square foot. Installation can cost you as much or even more than material per square foot so installing it yourself is a significant money saver.
Interested in purchasing luxury vinyl? We carry luxury vinyl from today's top manufacturers such as Shaw, COREtec, Audacity, AquaLok, Mohawk, Casabella, and Mannington. Our locations in Clayton, Ohio and Springboro, Ohio have thousands of square feet of luxury vinyl in-stock and ready for same day pick-up. We have found that our in-stock prices are less than the prices on comparable products at big box stores!
Contact or visit us today to get started on new floors for your home.