For years, sheet vinyl flooring has been considered the best choice for bathrooms, laundry rooms, basem*nts, and kitchens where moisture and stain resistance are essential. Manufacturers decided to develop thicker luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) sold in semi-rigid planks or tiles. Luxury vinyl flooring has pros and cons, just like standard vinyl. Here's what you need to know to choose between the two.
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Standard Vinyl vs. Luxury Vinyl Flooring: Major Differences
Although they are made of similar materials, there are significant differences between standard vinyl and luxury vinyl.
Standard Vinyl
Luxury vinyl is a much different type of flooring than standard vinyl, although it is made of the same PVC vinyl as standard vinyl flooring.
- Sheet or tiles: Standard vinyl flooring is sold in flexible sheets or square tiles.
- Construction: It is made from a thin backing layer of felt or fiberglass to which a thin layer of solid vinyl is bonded. The vinyl is printed with a design layer and covered with a protective coating.
- Thickness: Standard vinyl is flexible and relatively thin, with a wear layer of only 10 to 15 mil (10/1000 to 15/1000 of an inch). It is prone to gouging and tearing.
- How it feels: It can feel hard underfoot, especially if installed over concrete.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl is installed using the same click-lock interlocking edges found on laminate flooring. Many people are left debating luxury vinyl vs. laminate as second-tier choices if they don't go with higher quality (and more costly) hardwood, ceramic, or stone tiles.
- Planks or tiles: Luxury vinyl is sold in multi-ply planks or tiles.
- Construction: It is made of six to eight layers of material, including a clear top-coat layer to add shine, a clear wear layer to protect the design, a design layer with the printed image, a foam cushion layer, a fiberglass backing layer, and solid PVC backing layer to add strength and rigidity. Stone-look luxury vinyl sometimes includes ground mineral content in its composition, usually pulverized limestone.
- Thickness: Its wear layers range from 2 to 8 mm (roughly 8/100 to 3/10 of an inch thick), making luxury vinyl planks considerably thicker than standard vinyl.
- How it feels: Because it's thicker, it has a semi-rigid feel. A cushion layer of foam makes the floor more comfortable to walk on.
| Standard Vinyl Flooring | Luxury Vinyl Flooring | |
| Cost | $0.50 to $2 per square foot | $2 to $7 per square foot |
| Thickness | Very thin | Thicker, more rigid construction |
| Dimensions | 6- or 12-foot rolls; 6- to 18-inch square tiles | 4.5 by 48-inch planks; 12- to 18-inch square tiles |
| Installation Method | Usually uses full-glue-down bond | Usually uses click-lock edge joints; floating installation |
| Durability | Prone to scratches | Fairly scratch-resistant |
| Real Estate Value | Seen as "bargain" flooring | Considered more prestigious |
| Water Resistance | Good waterproofing, especially vinyl sheets | Good waterproofing |
| Seams | Sheets have fewer seams | Planks/tiles have many seams |
| Lifespan | Lasts 10 to 15 years | Can last up to 25 years |
Appearance
Standard Vinyl
Standard vinyl sheet flooring or tiles traditionally aim to resemble ceramic or stone tiles. However, many designs, patterns, and colors are available, including those that look like wood. Because the wear layer is a smooth, solid surface with few seams, the simulated cracks between "planks" are usually not very convincing with standard vinyl flooring.
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Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) are usually designed to simulate the look of wood, as is most laminate flooring. In contrast, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are generally designed to mimic stone or ceramic tiles. The newest forms of luxury vinyl are quite convincing, sometimes making the choice between luxury vinyl and laminate difficult when you want to mimic the look of wood. Hundreds of colors and styles are also available.
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Best for Appearance: Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl planks mimic the look of wood better than vinyl sheets. They also look more like simulated stone and ceramic better than standard vinyl.
Water and Heat Resistance
Luxury vinyl and standard vinyl are both waterproof flooring choices. They are good choices for bathrooms, kitchens, and other wet locations.
Standard Vinyl
Vinyl sheeting is a highly water-resistant material. Unlike planks or tiles, sheets have fewer seams that might allow water to penetrate the subfloor.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl is a completely synthetic material that is impervious to water damage. However, one of the few problems with luxury vinyl tile is that the seams between tiles (or planks) allow water to seep down to the underlayment.
Best for Water and Heat Resistance: Standard Vinyl
Standard vinyl sheets are slightly better than luxury vinyl planks regarding waterproofing.
Both types of vinyl flooring tolerate normal heat, such as direct exposure to sunlight, but they do not do well under extreme heat. This is not a good flooring material to place beneath a water heater or near a furnace, so beware of dropping hot skillets or heating appliances onto a vinyl floor.
Care and Cleaning
Both standard vinyl and luxury vinyl are cleaned using the same methods. Sweeping or vacuuming should be done daily, and spills and stains should be wiped immediately. Once a week or so, damp mop the floor with warm (not hot) water mixed with a mild soap. Unlike old resilient linoleum floors, vinyl floors do not require sealers or waxes; they can dull the shiny wear layer.
Best for Care and Cleaning: Tie
Neither type holds any advantage regarding care and cleaning when weighing standard vinyl vs. luxury vinyl.
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Durability and Maintenance
Standard Vinyl
Standard vinyl flooring has a reasonably soft surface that can be susceptible to dents, scratches, and tears. Repairs to a damaged surface are complicated and difficult to make convincing, and most people end up replacing or covering the flooring once the wear becomes pronounced.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl plank is more rigid and thicker than standard vinyl, which increases its durability. Moreover, when a plank becomes damaged, the flooring can be disassembled to replace the damaged plank.
Best for Durability and Maintenance: Luxury Vinyl
Most luxury vinyl flooring products have a thicker wear layer, giving them more durability and making them easier to repair. Both types of vinyl can fade over time if they get too much direct sunlight, so manufacturers often recommend shading windows to prevent this.
Installation
Standard Vinyl
Standard sheet vinyl is usually installed with a full glue-down bond that secures the flooring to the underlayment. Some types can be installed with a perimeter glue bond that ensures the flooring is only around the edges and along the seams. Standard vinyl tile is always secured with a glue-down bond.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl planks or tiles are generally installed with a click-lock system, in which the edges of the planks or tiles interlock. These floors float over the subfloor with no glue-down bond necessary, but some forms of luxury vinyl offer a glue-down option for certain circ*mstances.
Best for Installation: Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl is usually easier for DIYers to install. Standard vinyl sheets can be awkward to handle and are generally installed by professionals.
Cost
Standard Vinyl
Standard vinyl is quite affordable, with per-square-foot costs for materials ranging from $0.50 to $2 per square foot when purchased at big-box home improvement centers. Professional installation costs for vinyl flooring are relatively affordable because the work generally goes quickly. Plan on adding $1 to $2 per square foot for professional installation.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl purchased from the same outlets generally runs $2 to $4 per square foot. Designer styles of luxury vinyl purchased at specialty flooring stores can cost $7 per square foot or even more. Many homeowners choose to install luxury vinyl themselves, as DIY installation is relatively easy.
Best for Cost: Standard Vinyl
Standard vinyl flooring has lower raw material costs, but this advantage narrows if you choose to install luxury vinyl flooring as a DIY project.
Lifespan
Standard Vinyl
Standard vinyl flooring has an anticipated life expectancy of about 10 years, though better types can last as much as 15 years.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl is more durable, generally lasting 20 to 25 years if it is well cared for.
Best for Lifespan: Luxury Vinyl
As a thicker, heavier material, luxury vinyl flooring generally lasts considerably longer than standard sheet vinyl.
Sizes
Standard Vinyl
Standard sheet vinyl comes in 6- or 12-foot-wide rolls. Tiles are generally 9- to 18-inch squares.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl flooring usually comes in either plank or tile form. The typical plank size is 48 inches by 4 1/2 inches, and the typical tile size is 16 x 16 inches, though smaller and larger sizes are also available.
Best for Sizes: Tie
There is no notable size advantage when comparing standard vinyl vs. luxury vinyl.
Resale Value
Standard Vinyl
Standard sheet vinyl flooring is usually considered a bargain material, which does nothing to improve real estate value.
Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl planks and tiles don't usually have the cachet of solid hardwood or ceramic and stone tiles. But the latest luxury vinyl offerings are at least comparable—and perhaps better—than laminate flooring.
Best for Resale Value: Luxury Vinyl
When it comes to flooring's real estate value, luxury vinyl is preferred over standard vinyl. Luxury vinyl planks and tiles will almost always have more resale value than standard vinyl flooring.
Comfort and Sound
Standard Vinyl
Sheet vinyl is a fragile material that can be hard and cold underfoot, especially when installed over concrete subfloors.
Luxury Vinyl
Because it is a thicker product, luxury vinyl feels softer underfoot and has better sound-blocking properties than standard vinyl flooring. This is especially true of luxury vinyl with cork or foam underlayment layers built into the product. Top-quality luxury vinyl is often superior to laminate flooring for comfort.
Best for Comfort and Sound: Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl has the edge over standard vinyl flooring in terms of underfoot comfort and sound transmission.
The Verdict
If you can afford it, luxury vinyl flooring is usually a better choice than standard vinyl in most categories of comparison. But standard vinyl might be preferable if you are on a tight budget and for rooms where its minimal-seam construction makes for a more waterproof floor.
Top Brands
Most major vinyl flooring manufacturers offer standard vinyl sheets and tiles as well as luxury vinyl planks and tiles. Major players in the vinyl flooring category include familiar big names:
- Armstrong: Besides a full line of sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl planks and tiles, Armstrong offers a good line of "engineered" tiles, which combine luxury vinyl with pulverized mineral content, usually limestone.
- Shaw: This company offers a range of premium-quality standard sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl planks and tiles.
- Mohawk: Offering an impressive selection of nearly 600 styles, Mohawk produces both standard sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl planks and tiles.
- Coretec: This company specializes in only luxury vinyl, planks, and tiles. These are more expensive products, at $6 to $8 per square foot, but Coretec uses a unique construction that features a cork underlayment layer that provides softness and good thermal insulation. Its products are known for easy installation.
FAQ
Which is better: luxury vinyl or regular vinyl?
Luxury vinyl is more expensive, but for good reason; it is more durable, can last longer, and usually looks nicer.
What are the disadvantages of using luxury vinyl flooring?
Luxury vinyl has some negatives associated with it: It can't be repaired, off-gasses volatile organic compounds (VOCs), doesn't last as long as wood flooring, usually won't increase home value, its adhesives are sometimes hard to remove, and it's not an eco-friendly choice since it's not recyclable or doesn't decompose like a natural material.
Is luxury vinyl better than sheet vinyl?
Luxury vinyl is a better choice when considering home resale value, but sheet vinyl is preferred in bathrooms and kitchens because it is more water-resistant.
