Luxury Vinyl Planks: Affordable, Waterproof Flooring That Looks Like Real Wood
There’s no need to invest a fortune upfront to achieve that warm, timber-look style in your home.
If you have budget constraints, like many homeowners who approach us, luxury vinyl planks have your back.
This clever flooring option lets you enjoy floors with incredibly realistic timber prints. It doesn’t come with the premium price tag of solid or engineered timber, and it stands up beautifully to everyday wear and tear with top-notch durability.
Luxury vinyl planks are also very low-maintenance and 100% waterproof, perfect for busy homes and those with pets or kids!
How are Luxury Vinyl Planks Built?
First, let’s look at the structure of luxury vinyl planks. Like most modern flooring solutions beyond carpets, these planks are made up of several crucial layers.
On the very top, we have the top coat and wear layer, which act as a transparent protective barrier against scratches and stains. Directly below that is the decorative layer, featuring a high-resolution print of your preferred timber design, complete with natural-looking colours and patterns.
Those are essentially the only layers visible once the planks are installed.
Right below the decorative print, there’s the core layer, which makes the planks stable and water-resistant.
How the core is made can vary. Some use stone plastic composite (SPC) or wood plastic composite (WPC) for a rigid structure, while others are softer and more flexible, ideal for glue-down installations.
Lastly, there’s the underlayment layer, which serves various purposes, such as adding comfort underfoot and reducing noise. This layer isn’t always built in, which is why experts sometimes need to install a flooring underlay.
But most premium vinyl planks come with a pre-attached underlayment for extra convenience.
Note: Some vinyl planks are flexible and typically glued down, while others are rigid and click together, much like hybrid or laminate flooring.
Reasons Homeowners Love Vinyl Planks
Vinyl planks are just one of many great options if you want that timber-look appeal without spending a fortune on actual timber. But it has never lost the race of being among the most popular choices out there. Here’s why.
Premium-Look That’s Budget-friendly
Luxury vinyl planks are among the most affordable flooring options you can choose to achieve a natural timber look. Not to mention, it doesn’t require annual maintenance like real timber, which may need refinishing, or carpets, which often need professional cleaning.
Of course, the exact price of vinyl planks can still vary depending on the brand and the type of vinyl planks you choose—whether that’s flexible or rigid.
Low Maintenance
Vinyl planks don’t have any wood in their core, so they’re pretty much completely safe from warping, swelling, or water damage that solid or engineered timber can be prone to.
As mentioned, there’s also no need for annual sanding or recoating. So, essentially, all you need to do to keep them in the best condition is a quick sweep or vacuum every other day or so.
Durability
Vinyl planks may be affordable, but they don’t fall short in the durability game compared to other flooring options.
In fact, they’re perfect for homes with pets and kids, as the wear layer is tough enough to handle scratches and scuffs. So best believe they’ll handle everyday foot traffic with ease.
If you’re really serious about durability, you can always choose extra features to make your vinyl planks even stronger, such as ceramic bead coatings.
How to Customise Luxury Vinyl Planks for Your Space
Vinyl planks may not be real wood, but you can personalise them just as much as real timber. Here are a few options for customising this versatile flooring.
Choosing the Timber Look You Want
Just like engineered timber and oak flooring, vinyl plank prints come in all kinds of realistic styles, such as European Oak or Australian Blackbutt.
For vinyl, the differences between these options are often purely aesthetic, so you don’t have to consider the actual hardness or durability properties of the wood, which you would if the veneer were genuine timber.
Finish
Of course, you can choose a classic matte or gloss finish. But apart from that, there’s also the option to add an embossed finish to your vinyl planks.
These embossed textures can match the printed wood grain on the planks. And their hyper-realistic appeal is so convincing that they can easily be mistaken for real wood at a glance, or even on the first step.
Laying Out the Vinyl Planks
After selecting your finish, you’ll want to choose the plank size and then decide how you’d like to lay out the planks. The straight lay is a timeless classic and features in most of the projects we’ve done.
However, if you want to add more personality to your space, you can also go for a diagonal lay, or even a more adventurous herringbone or chevron pattern.
Best Vinyl Plank Alternatives
We love vinyl planks, and they’re often the smart choice if you want to cut down costs without compromising style.
But if you need that added durability or a more premium feel, and you have a bit of leeway in your budget, there are some great alternatives worth considering.
Let us present the two flooring options that either dominate the luxury look or the durability score.
For Luxury: Engineered Timber
Engineered timber and oak flooring are not as waterproof or low-maintenance as vinyl planks, but they definitely offer a luxurious feel and timeless character. After all, its top layer is made with real wood, making it indistinguishable from solid timber to the average eye.
For Durability: Hybrid Flooring
Thanks to its denser and more rigid core components, hybrid flooring is much tougher than vinyl planks. It’s extremely stable and more resistant to issues commonly seen over time in vinyl planks, such as minor warping or cupping.
Not to mention, hybrid flooring usually comes with a thicker wear layer, which means it can handle more traffic, scratches, and furniture indentation than vinyl can.
FAQs About Luxury Vinyl Planks
1.Can I install vinyl planks in any room
Absolutely! In fact, you can even install them in kitchens or bathrooms, which are prone to moisture and spills. Just make sure they’re properly installed, and that you purchase from a trusted supplier who can verify that the product is actually waterproof.
2. What’s the typical lifespan of luxury vinyl planks?
Most vinyl planks, with proper care and upkeep, can last up to 10, or even 20 years. However, of course, factors like how much foot traffic your room gets and whether it’s exposed to direct sunlight, water, or scratch-prone activities can majorly affect this estimate.
3. Are luxury vinyl planks sustainable?
Truth be told, vinyl planks aren’t the most sustainable option on the market. You’re probably better off with engineered timber or bamboo flooring if eco-friendliness is your top priority. However, some manufacturers, like the brands we use, are now offering recyclable materials and greener production methods to reduce their environmental impact.
4. Can I install vinyl planks myself?
You can. After all, there are vinyl planks with click-lock systems that are more or less DIY-friendly. However, we generally don’t recommend installing the flooring yourself, especially for larger or high-traffic rooms. Details like subfloor preparation or alignment can be easy to miss if you’re not an expert, and if done incorrectly, these can compromise the overall quality and longevity of your floors.
Enjoy Premium Flooring That Suits Your Budget
Ready to transform your space while still keeping within budget? Give our Middleton’s Carpets team a call or drop by our Albury–Wodonga showroom to explore our wide range of luxury vinyl flooring options.
We’re more than just being the go-to carpet store in Albury Wodonga.
It doesn’t matter if you’re planning a renovation now or in the near future—or even if you’re still figuring out what type of flooring suits your home best.
We’ve helped hundreds of homeowners find their perfect floor, so believe me when I say there’s never a wrong time to explore your options.
With Middleton’s Carpets, you’ll have a flooring expert with over a decade of experience by your side when you browse the options in our store. No commitment. No rush.
Choose a floor when you’re financially (or just personally) ready, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.