Do you struggle to pick the perfect flooring for yourself due to the ton of options out there? Well, you’re not alone. Several people find it hard to choose appropriate flooring for their homes and residential places as they are unaware of which type would suit their needs. However, one of the most popular types is luxury vinyl flooring. But in that, too, two popular choices make you question LVT vs LVP.
Although both LVT and LVP are exceptional flooring options, picking only one according to your flooring needs is necessary. But the question arises of how to know which one to pick in the case of LVT vs LVP.
To help you understand which flooring option is correct, we will discuss luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank in detail.Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat’s LVT Flooring?
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a type of flooring that resembles stone or ceramic tile. It is one of the finest flooring options as it is made up of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and limestone (calcium carbonate). LVP has multiple layers, starting off with a backing layer, a vinyl core layer, a photographic layer that imitates the desired material’s look, and a wear layer on top for protection.
LVT floors are a popular choice amongst people due to their high visual appearance, versatility, durability and ease of maintenance. A great thing about LVT is that it is an affordable flooring choice that imitates expensive materials like ceramic tiles. LVT is available in different shapes, sizes, patterns,colours, and textures to add the ultimate aesthetics to your residential and commercial spaces.
Moreover, Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is not only for halls or rooms but can also be installed in closed spaces like basements, bathrooms and kitchens due to its exceptional moisture-resistant nature. This flooring type is made in an environmentally friendly way.
Excessive innovation in LVT has made it simple to install. Here are some of the easiest ways to install LVT.
- Glue down
- Rigid core click
- Loose lay
- Click
LVT is perfect for anyone seeking an attractive and functional flooring solution.
![A man installing LVT floors through the DIY method.](https://flooringinsights.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/lvt-floors.png)
What’s LVP Flooring?
Luxury Vinyl Plank is a flooring type that resembles hardwood. It is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a hard plastic material. LVP comprises several compressed layers to give the flooring a strong finish.
Luxury Vinyl plank is an excellent flooring choice if you’re looking for something to add excessive aesthetic value to your space at an affordable price. Its resemblance to expensive hardwood dazzles up the entire space at a fraction of the cost.
LVP is strong, rigid, durable, waterproof, moisture resistant, easy to clean, maintain, and long-lasting, making it perfect for commercial and residential places. It is also available in several sizes, colours and textures, making it a diversified flooring option. LVP is an upgrade from vinyl sheet flooring.
Installing LVP floors is super easy. You can also DIY to lay the best LVP flooring. Here are the popular< methods to install LVP.
- Glue down
- Click-lock
- GripStrip
This tough, versatile, beautiful and easy-on-pockets flooring solution is all you need if you want something long-lasting and aesthetic on your floors.
![A person installing LVP floors through the DIY method.](https://flooringinsights.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/lvp-floors.png)
Pros And Cons Of Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Pros
- Vinyl Tile is available at an affordable price. It adds luxury to your space without spending heaps
- of money.
- Luxury vinyl tile is an excellent replication of ceramic tiles, making it easy to get the same
- luxurious look and feel without investing excessive time, effort and resources.
- LVT floors are easy to install, wash, clean, and maintain.
- Unlike other flooring types, luxury vinyl tiles do not produce irritating sounds while you walk on
- them.
- This is a popular option with many of the best LVT flooring brands. Popular companies include
- Armstrong luxury vinyl tile, Home Depot, Iowes and Mannington LVT flooring.
- LVT flooring gives your foot a warm and cushioned feeling when you walk on it.
- LVT is long-lasting, as it can easily take 25-30 years.
- LVT textures are well-finished, and they look beautiful. There are also various LVT patterns,
- including checkered and mosaic, giving you a wide choice to choose your flooring design.
- LVT floors come in simple single-tile packs. This means you can easily replace a damaged tile
- section without pulling out the entire flooring.
- LVT floors are durable as they are water, moisture and flame-resistant.
Cons
The biggest flaw of LVT is that it is made from soft material. This means that the floor can easily crack and chip if it’s misused or subjected to sharp objects or heavy traffic. While LVT floors
- light material is a plus point as it makes its transportation and installation easy, it also makes it
- susceptible to wear and tear.
- Luxury vinyl tiles cannot be recycled. Once you remove them, they cannot be re-installed or
- used again.
- Luxury vinyl tiles may increase the house’s aesthetics and impress the viewers, but it doesn’t
- add value to the property.
- LVT floors do not absorb liquid spills, unlike other floorings. This poses a huge safety risk as the
- floor becomes slippery. Moreover, constant spills and leakages can destroy the LVT flooring.
- LVT is difficult to remove once installed.
- LVT cannot be refurbished.
- Luxury vinyl tiles are not UV resistant and can fade if installed in south-west places with direct
- sun exposure.
Pros And Cons Of Luxury Vinyl Plank
Pros
- A great thing about LVP is that it depicts the appearance of hardwood, giving you a luxury
- flooring look at a low price.
- LVP floors are easy to lay as all you need is a simple LVP install kit.
- It is easy to clean and maintain.
- LVP flooring comes in several designs, colours, patterns and textures, ensuring you get what you
- want.
- LVP is not slippery, making it a great flooring choice for children and adults.
- LVP is absolutely safe for pets due to its soft and finished surface
Cons
- LVP floors are not as durable as tile and real wood flooring.
- LVP is not good for high-traffic areas as it is not prone to scratches, cracking and chipping.
- Vinyl plank flooring is not environmentally friendly as it is made from a hard plastic compound.
- LVP floors emit VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which can cause serious respiratory issues if
- inhaled for long.
- Luxury vinyl planks are not as quiet as other flooring types like carpets.
![A living room with LVP material flooring.](https://flooringinsights.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/lvp-and-lvt-flooring.png)
Difference Between Luxury Vinyl Tile And Luxury Vinyl Plank
To pick any one option between LVT vs LVP, you might need to understand how they are different from each other. Although they are made from almost the same material, there are several prominent differences between LVP and LVT flooring. Let’s have a look at them.
Appearance
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) comes in regular squares, imitating real ceramic tiles or stone. However, Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP) come in the shape of regular planks, resembling real hardwood with embossing and scrapping. Therefore, LVP and LVT flooring look non-identical as they come in different shapes, sizes, designs, patterns and textures.
Durability
LVT is considered to offer more durability than LVP as the former is made up of two materials (PVC
(polyvinyl chloride) and limestone (calcium carbonate). Whereas LVP floors are only made from PVC, making them less durable and increasing the risk of scratches and damages. As a result, in the case of LVT vs LVP, always go for LVT in high-traffic areas to get maximum durability.
Price
In the case of LVT vs LVP, go for LVP as this is slightly cheaper than LVT. There is a clear price difference between luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank. This is because LVT is made up of a more strong and long-lasting material.
Similarities Between LVP And LVT Flooring?
Here are some of the similarities between LVP and LVT flooring.
Material
LVP and LVT flooring are both made from the same basic material, PVC (polyvinyl chloride). This hard plastic material provides durability, rigidness and firmness to the flooring, making it a go-to option for several home and commercial space owners.
Realistic Appearance
LVP and LVT flooring mimic natural flooring like ceramic, stone and hardwood. An advanced embossing and printing technique is used on both flooring types, making it look realistic.
Easy Installation
Both flooring types use easy installation methods like DIY, click-lock, glue down and loose lay. All you need to do is follow the manufacturer’s instructions to lay LVT and LVP perfectly.
Easy Maintenance
LVP and LVT flooring are both super easy to maintain. Regular sweeping, vacuuming, and occasional damp mopping are usually sufficient to keep them clean. The protective wear layer also helps to repel dirt and stains.
DIY-Friendly
Both plank and tile luxury vinyl flooring are DIY-friendly. Just follow the instructions, and you can install these flooring on your own.
![A bathroom with quality vinyl tile flooring.](https://flooringinsights.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/quality-vinyl-tile.png)
Conclusion
Luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile can both be a great fit for your commercial or residential space. But the question of LVT vs LVP keeps bothering you when you have to pick any of these flooring options. To pick the right flooring option, consider your needs first. You should also consider your budget, installation preference, style, choice and required durability level to pick the right flooring option. Considering all these aspects will make it easier to choose a flooring in the case of LVT vs LVP.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions.
Which flooring should I pick in the case of LVT vs LVP?
Both LVP and LVT flooring are excellent choices, but the ultimate decision will depend on your own individual needs. An easy way of picking the right option is by considering your budget, styles, design, installation method, cleaning and maintenance choice, durability, and soundproofing.
What Is The Difference Between Luxury Vinyl Tile And Luxury Vinyl Plank?
The major difference between LVP and LVT flooring is that the former comes in plank shape and size, imitating the look of natural hardwood. While LVT usually comes in square tiles resembling stone, ceramic and porcelain tiles.
What are the types of vinyl planks?
There are three types of vinyl planks: rigid core vinyl plank flooring, waterproof vinyl plank flooring, and luxury vinyl plank flooring. Although all three are similar, they are designed to fulfil different needs.
Is LVP cheaper than LVT?
Yes, LVP is cheaper than LVT. This is because LVT is made from two materials and several layers, making it durable and strong. LVP is made from a single material and is not so rigid, making it go easy on the pockets.
Where can you use LVP and LVT flooring?
LVP and LVT flooring can be used in both commercial and residential places. Its high aesthetic appeal, rigidness, real-material kind look, simple installation, easy cleaning and maintenance, and affordability make it a popular choice among purchasers.