LVT (luxury vinyl tile) has become one of the most popular flooring choices for homes and rental properties, and it’s easy to see why from these photos. It gives the warm, natural look of oak planks, complete with grain and knots, but it’s far tougher and more water-resistant than real wood.
LVT vs real wood vs laminate
Real wood looks beautiful but scratches, dents and reacts badly to water. Spills and leaks can stain, cup and lift boards (see our post on water-damaged wooden floors).
Laminate is affordable, but its fibreboard core swells if water gets into the joints, and it can sound hollow underfoot.
LVT is made of layers of vinyl with a printed design and a protective wear layer:
- water-resistant, so it’s suitable for kitchens, hallways and rental properties
- hard-wearing, standing up well to pets, furniture and busy households
- warmer and quieter underfoot than laminate or tiles
- realistic wood and stone effects
- easy to clean, with a damp mop and no special treatments
- compatible with underfloor heating in many cases (check the product)
- individual planks can be replaced if one gets damaged
What a proper installation involves
LVT is only as good as the floor it’s laid on:
- Prepare the subfloor. It needs to be clean, dry, flat and sound. Bumps, dips and gaps show through vinyl, so floors are levelled or overboarded where needed.
- Check for moisture. Damp subfloors must be dealt with before laying.
- Acclimatise the flooring in the room before fitting.
- Lay the underlay suited to the floor and the room, and set out the planks loose first, mixing boards from different packs so the colour and grain are spread naturally and the joints are staggered.
5. Lay the flooring, either click-fit (floating) or glue-down depending on the product and location.
6. Finish the edges and doorways with neat cuts around frames, skirting and pipes, and threshold strips where it meets other floors, like the strip in the doorway above.
What about bathrooms and utility rooms?
LVT is a good choice in many bathrooms, but for some wet rooms, utility rooms and kitchens clients prefer porcelain tiles, which are completely waterproof and extremely hard-wearing.
See how we laid large-format porcelain tiles on a new subfloor in our bathroom floor replacement case study.
Why landlords and agents choose LVT
LVT is one of the best-value upgrades for rented property:
- it survives tenant wear and tear far better than carpet or real wood
- spills and leaks don’t ruin it, unlike laminate or wood
- it’s quick to clean between tenancies, with no carpet cleaning or replacing
- it looks fresh in marketing photos, helping properties let faster
- a damaged plank can be swapped rather than relaying a whole room
It’s an easy item to schedule alongside other work at a change of tenancy. See our void property checklist.
Book a flooring quote
We supply and install LVT, laminate and wood flooring for homeowners, landlords and commercial clients, including subfloor preparation, skirting and thresholds. See our flooring service.
We cover London and Essex, with our own engineers working every day across Chigwell, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Woodford, Ilford, Romford, Brentwood and Epping. Call 020 8227 0035 or request a quote.