September 30, 2022 4 min read

If you're looking for new flooring for your home or business, luxury vinyl tile could be the right option. A luxury vinyl tile (LVT) closely mimics the look of natural materials, such as wood or stone. It accomplishes this by a surface layer with a 3D, photo-created image combined with textures that resemble the natural materials.

 

Discover more about luxury vinyl tile, including what it's made of and why it's popular.

Luxury Vinyl Tile for Homes & Businesses

There are several reasons why consumers prefer luxury vinyl tile over other types of flooring material:

 

  • Emulates the look and texture of hardwood, ceramic tiles, and other premium types of flooring
  • More affordable than the floors that it mimics
  • Less maintenance than hardwood
  • Damaged areas can easily be replaced with just a few new pieces that match perfectly
  • Easy to install—perfect for a DIY project
  • It is 100% waterproof
  • Better flooring option for basements and bathrooms
  • Impressively durable and resilient in high-traffic areas

Qualities of Luxury Vinyl

Now that you know why many people choose LVT for their living spaces and business, it's time to dive into more details of what luxury vinyl tile looks like and its components. 

Simulates Natural Materials

Luxury vinyl flooring simulates stone (slate, travertine, marble, etc.), or it simulates wood (teak, maple, oak, walnut, and pine).

Plank-Shaped

Because LVP imitates solid wood flooring, it comes in plank shapes. A typical size is 7 inches wide by 48 inches long, but it is available in up to 9 inches wide and 72 inches long.

 

Composition

Luxury vinyl is typically either 100% vinyl or a vinyl/limestone mixture or a mixture of either of these with sawdust particles, depending on the brand.

 

Any LVT that emulates wood will be made of all vinyl. LVT that looks like stone will contain minerals. Only the base layer is limestone, while the top layer is vinyl.

LVT Layer Composition

There is no difference in the number of layers between traditional and luxury vinyl tile—only the thickness of these layers.

 

Both have four layers from the top down:

 

  • Aluminum oxide:This topmost aluminum oxide-based layer prevents light scratching and shoe scuffs. Note: Not every brand will contain this.

 

  • Clear film: This polyurethane layer protects against harder damage, such as rips and tears.

 

  • Design layer:This is the photorealistic print of stone or wood.

 

  • The core:100% vinyl or a vinyl/limestone mixture or a mixture of either of these with sawdust particles, depending on the brand.

 

  • Backing layer: The bottom layer gives the product structure and solidity. The backing layer comprises 90% of the product's thickness.

LVT Size & Thickness

LVT usually comes in either plank or tile form. The typical plank size is 48 inches by 6 inches. The typical tile size is 12 inches by 24 inches.

 

Sometimes you can find unusual shapes, such as squares sized at 16 inches by 16 inches. Thicknesses range depending on brand and core structure.

Best Place in Your Home to Use LVT

Luxury vinyl tile is highly versatile when it comes to home and business design. Because it looks like hardwood flooring or ceramic tiles, it goes with many design styles. This fact means you can decorate with a more contemporary look or keep things timeless.

 

The variety of LVT options also means you can use this flooring in almost any room of your home or business. Many people purchase luxury vinyl tile that replicates ceramic tile for their bathroom, kitchen, or entryway.

 

For the wood grain replicas, consider putting this flooring in your dining room, living room, or bedroom.

How to Clean Your Luxury Vinyl Tile

Luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent option because it's so durable. But, this doesn't mean it can never get stained or scratched. If you spill anything on your luxury vinyl tile, wipe it up immediately to avoid stains. These cleaning steps will keep any luxury vinyl flooring looking great!

 

Here are a couple more tips for cleaning your vinyl floors:

 

  • Sweep regularly.Many people don't realize that even small bits of debris can lead to scratches, so you can avoid this by sweeping or vacuuming every couple of days or more.

 

  • Clean using gentle, effective products. While it can be tempting to use the most potent products out there, they can sometimes end up staining or damaging floors. Instead, opt for cleaning staples like vinegar and dishwashing soap.

Popular Luxury Vinyl Tile Styles

From classic to modern to colorful, you'd be surprised at the different vinyl tile flooring options you can purchase.

 

Overall, there are three main categories of LVT: stone, wood, and decorative. Within these three categories, there are many options, so you'll likely find at least one that you love. 

Stone

These options look similar to classic tiles or other stonework and are popular in bathrooms and kitchens.

Wood

Various wood grain replays are ideal if you love hardwood flooring but don't want to maintain it.

Decorative

Finally, the more contemporary or unique options are under the decorative category. These are perfect if you want your flooring to stand out.

Buy Your Custom LVT From E Hardwoods & Flooring

Are you looking for a more affordable and durable alternative to hardwood and tile flooring? E Hardwoods & Flooring offers luxury vinyl tile for residential and commercial properties.

 

You can order your LVT products straight from our site and have them delivered quickly to your door. Got any questions? Feel free to send us a message on our contact page.


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