Different Types of Luxury Vinyl Tiles and Installation Methods
Luxury vinyl floor tiles (LVTs) are becoming increasingly popular and it’s easy to see why! They come in many designs (wood / stone / abstract), they are cost effective, they are durable and require low maintenance, they are pet and child friendly, they are waterproof, the list goes on… However, there are different types of luxury vinyl tile and each requires a different installation method, so let’s get clued up on these.
Different Types of Luxury Vinyl Tiles and Installation Methods
Some LVTs are called click or lock. These tiles use a tongue and groove mechanism to join together a bit like on large jigsaw puzzle. Click and lock LVTs are easy to install and therefore DIY-friendly.
Some LVTs are glue down. These tiles are often thinner than click and lock tiles and require the purchase of a special LVT adhesive to be used when installing. They also require a perfectly prepared subfloor. Therefore, it is recommended to leave installing this kind of luxury vinyl tile to a professional floor fitter.
Some LVTs are loose lay. These tiles do not have any mechanism or glue to hold them in place. They simply stay in place by gravity, the borders of your room, and a high friction coefficient bottom layer which grips the subfloor. This type of luxury vinyl tile can be self-installed if required.
There is also the Valinge 5G Click system, which is basically a more advanced click and lock mechanism. These LVTs will provide the best stability thanks to the clever interlocking system. Thankfully, these are also DIY-friendly, as they do not require any glue.
Ease of Removal
After you’ve just laid down your new flooring or had it professionally installed, the last thing on your mind is probably removing it. But let’s say in the future you want to change your flooring or even if you damage a tile and need to replace it, then we need to consider the ease of removal.
- Click and Lock: Is easy to remove the whole floor. However, if you just want to replace one tile, you will need to remove the whole row at access it.
- Glue Down: Difficult to remove the whole floor. Difficult to remove and replace one tile.
- Loose Lay: Easy to remove the whole floor. Easy to remove and replace individual tiles.
- Valinge 5G System: Ease to remove the whole floor. Difficult to remove and replace an individual tile.
Which Type of LVT Should I Go For?
Any of the above types of luxury vinyl tile is recommended. If you have particularly heavy traffic areas, such as hallways, you may prefer glue down LVTS, as these are more stable and less likely to move. If you enjoy changing your home décor as per the latest fashion trends, then loose lay LVTs will offer you ease of installation and removal to design and re-design until your heart’s content. For normal use around the home click and lock LVTs will serve you perfectly well, as will Valinge 5g LVTs.
Conclusion
If you want hard flooring in your home, then you can’t go wrong with luxury vinyl tiles. When choosing your perfect LVT, obviously the visual aesthetic is at the forefront of your mind, but do also bear in mind the type of LVT, the installation method required and the ease of removal. Hopefully, this post will help you successfully navigate the wonderful world of luxury vinyl tiles!
