Vinyl Flooring

Which type of vinyl flooring do you need?

Vinyl is one material sold in four formats, and the format decides the installation more than the price does.

• Waterproof rigid core LVP — the default for most homes. A stiff SPC or WPC core clicks together over almost any existing hard surface, resists dents and hides small subfloor imperfections. This is the format most first-time DIY installers finish successfully.
• Glue down vinyl — bonds directly to the subfloor. Preferred for commercial traffic, for rooms that see standing water, and for slabs that are flat and clean enough to take adhesive properly.
• Loose lay vinyl — heavy enough to stay put without glue or clicks. Lifts and relays without damage, which makes it useful in rentals and over access flooring.
• Stone and tile look LVT — the same construction in a square or rectangular format, copying stone, concrete or ceramic instead of wood.
• Peel and stick vinyl — the lightest-duty option, and the fastest to put down in a small room.

Wear layer is the spec that decides how long it lasts

Two planks that look identical on a screen can be rated for very different lives. The number that separates them is the wear layer, measured in mils — the clear top layer that takes the abrasion before the printed layer underneath is touched.

• 6 mil — light residential. A guest room or a closet.
• 12 mil — the standard for a busy household with kids and pets.
• 20 mil and above — commercial grade. Entryways, rentals, retail.

Core type is the second spec worth reading. SPC (stone plastic composite) is denser and more dent-resistant. WPC (wood plastic composite) is slightly softer and warmer underfoot. Both are waterproof; they differ in how they feel and how much abuse they take.

Where vinyl works

Because the plank itself is waterproof, vinyl goes in rooms that rule out most other floors — basements on concrete slabs, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and mudrooms. It is also the usual choice for homes with dogs and for rental turnovers, where scratch resistance and a fast install matter more than resale prestige.

The one honest caveat: large amounts of standing water left long enough can still work through the seams and reach the subfloor. Waterproof describes the plank, not the room.

Vinyl, laminate or engineered hardwood?

Vinyl is 100% waterproof and the softest and quietest of the three underfoot. Laminate often reads more realistically at the same price because of its deeper emboss, and resists dents better, but a standard fibreboard core swells if it gets wet. Engineered hardwood is real wood, adds the most resale value and can be refinished, at a higher price and with more care needed around moisture.

Before you order

Colour and texture read differently on a screen than they do under your own lighting, and the difference is not small. Order free samples, lay them in the actual room, and look at them at night as well as in daylight. When you have a shortlist, a BuildDirect flooring expert will work out how many boxes you need including the waste factor, match the trims and quote the freight — at no cost.