How LVT Flooring Can Mimic Natural Materials: A Close Look at Realistic Wood and Stone Designs

 If you're in the market for a new floor, LVT Flooring is an excellent option to consider. Not only does it offer cutting edge style and striking visuals, but it also delivers many practical benefits over traditional stone and wood floors like being waterproof and requiring less maintenance. It's important to understand how the flooring is constructed, though, to help you make an informed decision that's right for your space.

Vinyl roll

Unlike vinyl rolls that came in the past, most of today's LVT flooring is designed to be laid as planks and tiles rather than a sheet. This is because of advancements in vinyl composite materials and innovations that allow the flooring to be laid with adhesives without needing to be glued down. It's easy to lay the products and requires minimal skill and time to do so, making it an attractive option for those looking to do their own installation.

 PVC for stability

The construction of LVT is a sandwich of layers, each performing their own function. The bottom layer is a backer board, usually made of PVC for stability. The core is made up of a series of materials that vary depending on the product and manufacturer. One of the most common is a PVC core that consists of vinyl, while others use wood, plastics, and more to provide added stability. One of the most recent advances in LVT is known as a stone-composite core (SPC) that uses denser materials like stone and PVC for even more durability.

Increase its lifespan

Most of the time, a clear wear layer is applied to the product for protection and cleaning ease. This is a critical component of the product and can help to increase its lifespan. The thickness of the wear layer will also vary by product and can be impacted by the manufacturing process used to apply it. For example, high-end LVT products often use a hot press process to embed texture into the wear layer, while cheaper products use a simple printed design that will fade over time.

 Wide selection

The top of the flooring is where most of the visual impact occurs and is what gives the floor its unique look. This is where the photo layers and clear vinyl are printed to create a range of styles to suit the needs of most interiors, including a wide selection of realistic natural stone and hardwood looks.

 LVT floors

There are a variety of options available to consumers when it comes to the way they'll install their LVT Flooring , with most manufacturers providing either a click lock or grip strip system that can be used as an adhesive or a self-sticking floor tile. For more complicated installations, most people will need the services of a professional installer.

Conclusion

It's worth noting that although LVT is a hard surface product and is suitable for most areas, it should not be installed in spaces that require the use of infection control substances such as operating rooms or intensive care units. The material is water-resistant, but not impervious to liquids so it's best to avoid direct exposure to moisture if possible.