Vinyl Plank

What is Vinyl Plank?

Vinyl plank is often known as LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and or LVT (luxury vinyl tile) is a flooring material that comes in planks made to resemble a hardwood and or tile look. The majority of the material is made out of PVC, a durable waterproof plastic. The plastic composites are then pressed together in multiple layers to construct the planks. A high-resolution digital image is then laid over the core of the plank. Then a wear layer (transparent layer) is added to the top of the plank to not only keep it from fading but to also protect it from dents, scratches and stains. On the backing of the product, you will find the solid foundation that comes with a pre-attached underlayment that is made out of a foam padding and or cork.

Understanding Wear Layers

Wear layers are an important part to your vinyl plank flooring because that is what protects your flooring from getting worn out. Many LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and or LVT (luxury vinyl tile) products will be labeled with what thickness the wear layer is for that specific product. The wear layers will be identified as 6 MIL, 12 MIL, 20 MIL, 30 MIL and so on. MIL is not a short acronym for millimeters and the measurement of each are different. It simply means how many layers were applied over the product, for example, a 6 MIL wear layer means there are 6 coatings of the wear layer applied to the plank. The thicker the MIL wear layer is, the longer it will take for anything to damage the core of the plank. Also, it is known that the thicker the wear layer is, the more expensive the product will be.

SPC & WPC

SPC (stone plastic composite or stone polymer composite)

An SPC vinyl plank is one that is made out of a stone plastic or polymer composite. It is a denser and heavier product that is made for higher traffic areas and withstands rolling weight better than a WPC. The construction of an SPC makes it a great product to also use commercially because of its durability. The rigid core of the vinyl is made to be installed over an existing hard surface that may not be perfectly level. Although it is colder and less comfortable than a WPC it is still a waterproof low-maintenance, durable vinyl product.

WPC (wood plastic composite or wood polymer composite)

A WPC vinyl plank is similar to an SPC only it is made out of wood composites making it a lighter and less dense product. WPCs are known to be softer, quieter and warmer under the foot because it is enhanced with a foaming agent that makes it softer and more comfortable than an SPC. Because this is a less dense product with a softer core, it is more likely to dent when compared to an SPC. Although just like an SPC, a WPC is also completely waterproof and low maintenance.