How long does vinyl plank flooring last? This is an important question to have answered if you are thinking of getting luxury vinyl plank flooring (LVP) in your home. Luckily, we’ve got all the answers you need. Keep reading to learn more about the longevity of LVP flooring.
In case you don’t know, luxury vinyl plank flooring or LVP, is a common, cheaper alternative to hardwood flooring that is easy to care for and difficult to damage. There are many varieties of LVP flooring many of which are made to mimic wood and stone. On top of these perks, LVP is also quite easy to install, and it is waterproof.
These are just the basics when it comes to LVP but if you want to learn more, click here. Or, for a comparison of different flooring types, click here.
This is a crucial question to answer when thinking about how long vinyl plank flooring lasts. First, as we already mentioned, LVP flooring is typically waterproof, although there is some nuance to this issue. This means it is great for bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that experiences a fair amount of spills or exposure to water.
LVP flooring is also quite scratch resistant, especially in comparison to even the hardest of hardwood floors. This means that luxury vinyl plank flooring is a great option for people with young children or dogs. Though kids and pets can do a number on any floor, it takes quite a lot to damage LVP.
Truthfully, not much. If you are causing damage to luxury vinyl plank flooring, you usually have to be trying. However, there are a few exceptions. As with any floor, if you are moving heavy furniture around, you need to be sure to lift it. Dragging around a couch or a desk is just asking to leave scratches on your floor (LVP or otherwise).
Similarly, certain rolling desk chairs can leave marks on your floor over time if you are constantly moving around in them and there is no protective layer between the chair wheels and the floor. Although moving the chair by itself shouldn’t cause any problems, the added weight of a person could scratch up your floor. To be clear, LVP flooring is less likely to take damage in these situations than hardwood floors, but they are not entirely immune.
The other common way for LVP to become damaged is through constant exposure to the sun. Like all floors, repeated exposure to nature light will eventually cause your floor to become dull, although this process takes a long time. If this is a concern for you, there are a number of ways to protect your floor against sun damage so that it will stay pristine for an even longer amount of time.
So, all of that said, how long does vinyl plank flooring last? On average, we know the lifespan of LVP flooring is 15-20 years. However, it can last significantly more or less time depending on how you treat it and depending on the quality of the materials.
This may seem like a relatively short lifespan in comparison to hardwood floors which can last over 100 years, but keep in mind that LVP requires much less maintenance. Furthermore, if you are someone who plans to take great care of your floor, you can get up to 30 years of use out of LVP, assuming it is made from high quality materials.
So now that you know more about how long LVP flooring lasts, are you looking to get it installed in your home? If so, give GID Flooring a call. We have over 15 years in the flooring industry, and we can help you with all of your flooring needs (LVP or otherwise).
