Luxury vinyl plank flooring

Vinyl plank flooring is currently one of the most popular flooring options.

There are several reasons for this: it is low-maintenance, water-resistant, durable and relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of other types of flooring. It is nothing like the vinyl flooring of the past, which might have been the sheet/roll flooring in the family kitchen or the stick down tiles from college days.

Today's luxury vinyl plank flooring or LVP is a highly engineered, robust product giving the look of wood, tile or stone floors with all the features and benefits of vinyl. LVP is a cost-effective way to make a big impact in your space. It is much cheaper than hardwood and can offer a similar look and incredible durability for your budget. LVP is available in a wide range of colors, wood species, plank thickness and more.

LVT includes all vinyl products designed to look like wood, tile or stone. It is a composite product made up of several layers which all blend together to create a resilient, low-maintenance flooring. The bottom layer is a "backer board," which is a flexible base made of PVC for stability. The central core is what makes most LVP "water-resistant" rather than "waterproof" and the method of manufacture makes LVP even more water-resistant than laminate flooring.

Even though the central core layer is often not fully waterproof it provides the strength for the flooring. On the top of the core is the "vinyl layer." This layer is printed with the pattern and color, which typically looks like wood, stone or tile. The most critical layer, on top of it all, is the wear layer.

The wear layer is a thin, clear protective coating which makes the flooring scratch and stain-resistant providing the durability for high traffic households or commercial areas. The wear layer thickness usually determines whether the planks are used for residential or commercial flooring. Thinner wear layers are typically for residential use and thicker wear layers for commercial floors.

Wear layer thickness varies from 6 mil on the thin end and 30 mil on the high end. 12 mil up to 20 mil thickness are standard commercial wear layers; under 12 are rated for light commercial and residential use.

LVP is a more flexible product than some of the other vinyl products on the market, but its strength is aided by the fact that it is a glue-down flooring, permanently affixed to the subfloor with adhesive. These planks do not interlock or float like their rigid core counterparts. Because these planks are not interlocking, if some planks need to be replaced they can easily be removed and replaced. Interlocking vinyl flooring products have to have the floor backed out to the damaged spot, the one damaged plank replaced and the remainder of the floor refitted.

To view the design options of luxury vinyl plank flooring, visit Stockdale Tile's website at http://www.stockdaletile.com or visit one of Stockdale Tile's three stores located in Bakersfield, Visalia and Tehachapi. The knowledgeable sales representatives will be happy to discuss the best options for your budget and your home.