Will Luxury Vinyl Floors Be The New Trend After The Coronavirus?
Luxury vinyl floors have been growing in popularity for some time.
According to the latest market report, the luxury vinyl flooring (LVT) market is expected to grow by 12.8 percent over the next few years.
That’s because LVT brings a lot of benefits to the flooring market. Luxury vinyl tile gives you the ability to have the most elegant flooring choices on the market today, while doing so in a much more user-friendly and economical way.
Many homeowners love the look of exotic wood, or hard to use products like stone or marble. Yet after reading about the horror stories of living with it, they often choose something further down on their wishlists. How could you ever install a soft exotic wood if you have pets and kids around? You can almost see the dents and scratches forming before you ever place the first plank in place.
Luxury vinyl tile can give you the look, while keeping maintenance a breeze. That’s the benefit of LVT.
The future in a pandemic world
Right now, in the world of living with the coronavirus, we’re all learning new rules. Concepts we never understood before – social distancing, toilet paper shortages, and staying in place – have all changed our lives forever.
While we still have no idea what our future will look like, how we’ll start living again, and when (and if) a cure will ever be found, we do know we face a world with new precautions.
- Hand washing is a must.
- Cleaning surfaces takes on a whole new meaning.
- And if you’re sick, stay home.
That leads to the condition of our homes. Will we demand our homes to be germ-free?
That’s impossible. But we can move to better surfaces that make it easier to clean and keep clean. At least in the foreseeable future, all trends point to easy to clean surfaces.
The future belongs to resilient flooring
What makes a surface clean? Being able to scrub it is mandatory. Being able to use a variety of cleaning products is a must.
And that’s where resilient flooring excels.
Over the past ten years, resilient flooring has skyrocketed in demand.
As a category in the flooring industry, resilient flooring has risen 185 percent over the past ten years. Resilient flooring now accounts for 21.4 percent of the total flooring marketplace, meaning one in five flooring purchases falls into this category.
Think that will change with this pandemic?
We do too.
Here’s why.
People love hardwood. But hardwood has its problems. If you want the look of hardwood with a surface area that’s easier to clean, luxury vinyl tile is your answer.
Laminate, hardwood, carpet, and more is not ideal for avoiding bacterial growth.
Luxury vinyl flooring is. The material has an antimicrobial quality built right into the finishing process. That means you can use many different types of cleaning products directly on the surface, and it won’t damage the finish.
That means your family stays safer, especially in trying times.
Are luxury vinyl floors for you?
We think luxury vinyl flooring is going to be the top flooring choice for many years to come. And with everything that’s happened so far in 2020, we think the predicted potential is going to be greater than expected.
If you’re contemplating which flooring to install in your remodel, and luxury vinyl floors are on your list, this is why it’s worth deeper consideration.
Price – Luxury vinyl tile is priced right; it’s an option for everyone, no matter what your budget dictates for your remodeling plans. Like every product, you’ll find price points all over the board. Thicker LVT will be at the higher end of the pricing scale, which also means you’ll increase quality and longevity. With care, you can expect this product to look good and wear well for years.
Durability – LVT is manufactured from some of the most robust materials in the industry. It’s built strong enough to handle some commercial applications, so you know it’s tough enough to withstand all your family can dish out. And because it’s also waterproof, you can install it in places you might not consider for other flooring options, like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.
Maintenance – While we don’t suggest getting down on your hands and knees with a scouring pad to clean LVT, you will be surprised at how well it stands up to all kinds of cleaning methods. Wipe away spills with water. You can even scrub harder for grease and grime. The protective layer stands up to scratches, stains, scuffs, chips, dents, and more.
Insulation – Have you ever experienced “echo” with some flooring choices? Not with luxury vinyl. LVT is built in layers, and comes with a backing product that helps eliminate noise. Especially with thicker products, you’ll notice it absorbs the sound rather than amplifies it. And because that backing insulates against sound, you’ll also find it works equally well for warmth. That cushion does a good job of holding in the heat, and if you want to couple it with radiant heating underneath, you’ll find a new way to keep your space warm.
Installation – If you’ve ever dealt with hardwood before, you know you can’t buy it and install it on the same day. It takes a period of time to acclimate it to your living conditions. There’s subfloor work. There’s finishing work. It’s not unheard of for it to take several weeks from purchase to finalization. LVT is available in two formats: click or stick down. Click and lock is so easy, many DIYers prefer it, and can click each tile into place and have their project finished in a weekend. What’s more, because click technology is easy to lay into place without nails or glue, it also makes it easier to replace in the event of damage, Be sure to keep extra tiles on hand for the just in case.
Longevity – The last thing any of us want to do is to replace flooring every few years. With LVT flooring, with the right care and maintenance, you can easily expect it to last 25 to 30 years. Check with the manufacturer of the product you are considering and see what their warranties entail.
Design – While we probably don’t have to say it, you’ve seen it yourself, LVT offers some of the most beautiful choices on the market today. Luxury vinyl technology can mimic almost and design trend out there. And if you’re looking for better matches, different colors or patterns, you’ll find it in the LVT market. And if you’re looking for something truly unique, we can work with you there. Why stick with one product – mix several together for highlights that add to your living space.
We know times are changing. If you’re considering a remodel this year, and want to ensure cleaning and disinfecting is easier than ever, we suggest you give the luxury vinyl flooring products another look.
We think you’ll love what you see.