Luxury vinyl
Luxury vinyl, for the rooms that get wet
Plank that reads as wood, tile that reads as stone, and a core that doesn’t mind the mudroom, the laundry or the dog’s water bowl.
Or call (615) 277-5678 — Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
What the core is made of
Rigid-core vinyl comes in two main builds. SPC has a stone polymer core; WPC has a thicker, softer one. Armstrong Flooring’s guide to rigid core says the thinner, denser SPC resists dents better, and is less forgiving of a subfloor that isn’t flat. COREtec offers three cores in its tile collection and says all three give “100% waterproof protection.”
The wear layer, in mil
The clear layer on top takes the scratches, and makers measure it in mil. Mohawk lists 20 mil on SolidTech R Select; MSI publishes the figure for each product, 20 or 30 mil on the ones it names. Compare that number when two samples look alike.
Waterproof, and what the warranty covers
Mohawk calls SolidTech “100% waterproof,” and on SolidTech R Select it backs that with a lifetime floodproof warranty covering the floor and the subfloor, a lifetime All Pet stain warranty and a 15-year pet scratch warranty. It also calls SolidTech R acclimation-free. Warranties differ by line, so read the one for the floor you choose.
How it goes in
The old site listed click-lock and glue-down formats. Click-lock floats over the subfloor; glue-down is glued to it. Sheet vinyl and linoleum are sold and installed too, and the old vinyl, waterproof and linoleum pages now all point here.
Questions
Luxury vinyl flooring, answered
Is luxury vinyl plank waterproof?
Most rigid-core plank is sold as waterproof. Mohawk calls SolidTech 100% waterproof and gives SolidTech R Select a lifetime floodproof warranty covering the floor and the subfloor; COREtec says all three of its cores give 100% waterproof protection. Read the warranty for the exact line you pick.
What is the difference between SPC and WPC vinyl?
The core. SPC is a thin, dense stone polymer core; WPC is thicker and softer. Armstrong Flooring’s guide says SPC resists dents better but is less forgiving of a subfloor that is not flat, which is why the floor underneath gets checked at the measure.
What wear layer should luxury vinyl flooring have?
Ask for the number in mil and compare it. Mohawk lists a 20 mil wear layer on SolidTech R Select, and MSI publishes 20 and 30 mil on the products it names. The thicker the layer, the more surface it has to give to scratches.
Does luxury vinyl flooring need to acclimate?
It depends on the line, so follow the maker. Mohawk describes SolidTech R as acclimation-free, meaning it can go down without days sitting in the room first. Other products carry their own instructions on the box, and the installer follows those for the floor you choose.
Do you install sheet vinyl and linoleum?
Yes. Sheet vinyl and linoleum were both on the old site’s list and are sold and installed alongside plank and tile, for homes and for commercial jobs. The old vinyl, waterproof and linoleum pages now all point to this page.