Although vinyl has been around since the 1930s, Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring is a newer invention and since the 1970s has steadily increased in popularity. Today, it offers homeowners and businesses a versatile and flexible flooring solution that is easy to install, effectively mimics traditional wood or stone floors, and has many desirable qualities.
If you are looking to change or upgrade the floor in your property, I give you the low down on LVT flooring below as a viable and attractive option. This includes how it works, the rooms it is suitable in, and examples of some of the top colours. So, what is LVT flooring? Read on to find out!
What is Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) Flooring?
LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile and it is a type of durable, low-maintenance flooring that emulates the appearance of real wood, tile, or stone floors. When you order LVT flooring, you get a series of individual tiles that must then be fitted together to create a smooth flooring finish in your chosen room.
Benefits of LVT flooring include:
- Easy to install.
- Low maintenance.
- Easy to clean.
- Durable and comfortable.
- Available in a huge range of colours and patterns
- Can be used in virtually any room.
- Easy to replace damaged tiles.
Sub-categories of LVT flooring include:
- Click LVT flooring.
- Glue Down LVT.
- Self-Adhesive.
- Rigid Core.
- Looselay LVT.
These are essentially different installation methods for example, click LVT requires no glue and slots together like a jigsaw.
What is LVT Made From?
When looking at what is LVT flooring, it’s important to understand what it’s made from, and the different layers. This is because the tiles are not made from a single piece of material. Instead, each tile is composed of multiple layers including:
- Protective top layer.
- Performance wear layers.
- Aesthetic layer.
- Backing layers.
The top layer is a transparent one and is the protective layer that prevents wear and tear from general daily use. Underneath this, depending on the manufacturer you typically get several performance wear layers which are meant to protect from dents and give other qualities like slip resistance.
Beneath the performance layers is the main aesthetic layer. This is made from PVC vinyl and is what gives LVT flooring its colour and style. Lastly, the bottom layer is usually a backing to give extra foundation and padding for installation. Some LVT flooring options also include an underlay layer.
What Rooms Are Suited for LVT Flooring?
Another huge benefit of LVT flooring is its versatility in terms of where you can use it. Essentially, it can be used in ANY room in your house! It’s also brilliant for offices and stores. Particularly, LVT flooring is great in the following areas:
- Kitchen
- Hallway
- Living rooms
- Dining rooms
- Bathrooms
- Conservatories
- Basements
In rooms where you are more likely to make a mess, or the floor needs cleaning more often, LVT works great. This is because the tiles can be mopped and hoovered quickly and stains can be removed in the blink of an eye.
For example, kitchens where you are prone to food and drink spills, or bathrooms where you may need to clean water spillages.
Really, there isn’t any room where LVT flooring couldn’t be used – it’s just that flexible. The main consideration is the TYPE of LVT flooring and how much foot traffic each room gets. For example, durable rigid core luxury vinyl flooring is better suited in hallways where you get a high volume of foot traffic.
LVT Flooring Installation
We now know what LVT flooring is made of, and where you can use it, but how is it installed? The installation actually depends on the type of LVT flooring and this can be split into two categories – click LVT and glue-down LVT.
Click LVT Flooring Installation
Think of Luxury Vinyl Click Flooring as like a jigsaw. It is made from a series of individual tiles that fit together with a satisfying click – just like the pieces of a jigsaw. This makes installation incredibly simple as you just have to lay the tile directly onto the subfloor and fit them together – no prep or no adhesive is required.
Glue-Down LVT Flooring Installation
In contrast, glue-down LVT flooring is secured to the subfloor with adhesive without a layer of underlay. This makes the tiles more stable, and there is no room for movement which is why it is better suited for rooms with high foot traffic.
Popular Colous for Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring
Like carpet, the great thing about luxury vinyl tile flooring is that it comes in a wide variety of colours. Whether you want tiles to emulate traditional wood, or something a little bolder to mimic ceramic or stone floors, you can find a suitable LVT colour and style.
Some of the most popular colours for this type of quality flooring include:
- Beige
- Light grey
- Dark grey
- Brown
- Golden
- Light brown
- Coffee
If you want your room to enhance the natural light and maintain a brighter colour scheme, LVT flooring is available in many lighter shades including beige, light grey, coffee, and golden. Most of these colours look like natural wood and offer a nice bit of contrast to your walls and furniture.
Alternatively, to make a statement and to give a dash of colour and contrast to lighter walls and furniture, you can opt for darker colours like brown, charcoal, dark grey, and even black.
LVT – The Versatile, Stylish Flooring Solution for Any Home
As you can see Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring has incredible potential and it can add a dash of style, sophistication, and colour to virtually any room in your home. Depending on the type, it is easy to install too, is highly durable, and comfortable to walk on.
With few downsides, to add a little contemporary style to your home, LVT flooring is one of the best options available so why not check out our range of glue down and click VLT flooring today to see what we have to offer?
