25 May 2022

What guarantees can I expect from an LVT floor?

Ever since LVT hit the UK market, it has been a hit. From large home construction companies to trades and home renovators, many quickly recognised the benefits and made the switch from old-fashioned lino.

In 2022, LVT is tipped to overtake its rivals to become the best and most-preferred flooring material on the UK market. And when you break down its many benefits, it’s easy to see why.

A fantastic looking floor

Let’s be honest, this is probably the number one benefit for most homeowners. When you want a specific look, you won’t be happy until it’s achieved. And rightly so.

Whether you have a wood or stone floor finish in mind, both look incredible and can be achieved easily with LVT. Whatever design you go for, you can be sure it will resemble the real deal – so much so that many a naked eye would struggle to see the difference.

Low maintenance

Who wants to spend hours on end keeping their floor ship-shape? Our guess is nobody. So, before you lay your new flooring, you need to consider the care it needs daily, weekly, and ongoing.

Hard flooring is currently the preferred choice over soft flooring – even in bedrooms. It’s easier to keep clean, and you can avoid the allergens common with carpets.

LVT is incredibly simple to look after and doesn’t take much time to keep it looking its best. The scratch and spill-resistant material reduces the need for excess maintenance – just a regular sweep or mop will do. And there’s no need for specialist products like those required for genuine wooden or stone flooring. In other words, put the lacquer away – LVT comes good to go and pre-prepped to last decades.

LVT is Long-lasting and durable

Longevity is one of LVT’s major benefits – it’s one of the most durable flooring options on the market, so it’s a safe bet if you want a floor that lasts.

It’s made from several layers of PVC vinyl, each one mixed with a hardening compound and compressed to give extra strength.

You can expect a newly-laid LVT surface to last you many years – on average, between 25 and 30, depending on where it lives in your home, the amount of footfall and the care it receives.

An incredible sound insulator

Some hard surfaces don’t insulate sound and can even intensify it, but LVT is different.

Much of this is down to those vinyl layers and their cushioning, absorbing the sound of footsteps and making them quieter than on genuine hardwood or stone tiling. In addition, one layer is specifically designed to block out sound, so it’s not just the noise from footsteps you’re muting – LVT can also minimise chit-chat and TV sounds.

Easy to fit

If you have ever had real stone tiles, porcelain, or hardwood timber flooring installed, you’ll appreciate just how fiddly a job it is for your flooring fitter (or for you, if you’re tackling the job DIY-style). Even laying a carpet and underlay can be time-consuming, particularly in a large space.

Despite being laid one tile at a time, LVT is quicker to fit than you might think. Whether you choose glue down (dryback) or click, a specialist floor fitter can often be done in a day – much quicker than laying stone, porcelain or hardwood. And it doesn’t need any rest time, so you can put your furniture back in place immediately without any risk of movement.

The sky’s the limit with LVT

Or should we say the floor’s the limit? Because with LVT, it’s not only the range of finishes but also the variety of colours available that make this one truly versatile option for any room – or even your entire house.

LVT comes in so many designs you will genuinely struggle to find one that doesn’t suit your tastes. Whether you’re looking for something akin to wood or stone, you’ll find hundreds of styles in different sizes, all with multiple grains, colours and finishes to match your room aesthetics perfectly.

Looks like wood or stone – but without the high price tag

Unlike the materials it’s designed to resemble, LVT comes in at a fraction of the price of genuine wood or stone.

And then there’s the fitting. Laying LVT flooring is much more affordable than paying for genuine wood or stone, which is fiddly and takes longer to fit, incurring higher labour costs.

LVT is Easy to restore or replace

Accidents happen, and despite its durability, there may come a time when you need to replace a piece of LVT. Perhaps it suffered an excessive blow or burn, or an unexpected water leak means you need to replace an entire section.

Thankfully, it’s glued down installation makes light work of replacing the odd tile here and there and is much less costly than refitting a whole room. Plus, it’s way easier than lifting  or ripping out an entire carpet and its underlay.

Comfy and warm

Don’t be fooled by the common misconception hard surfaces are cold and uncomfortable. This certainly isn’t the case with LVT flooring – the layered design provides enough spring to cushion your feet without being bouncy.

And if you like it warm, LVT is perfectly suited to underfloor heating systems. The tiles are made from a conductive material that retains the heat generated by the system for longer than other hard or soft floorings, keeping your room cosier.

Together, LVT flooring and underfloor heating provide the perfect solution for those who love to roam their house barefooted.

Need a little inspiration?

LVT is a fantastic solution for renovators in search of durable, affordable, easy to maintain flooring with a fine finish that adds warmth and class to any home. Guaranteed.

But as with any product, the quality can vary dramatically, and there are hundreds of flooring manufacturers, suppliers and installers, so it can be hard to know where to turn.

At Beyond Flooring, we only use quality products, and we offer a two year warranty on all domestic projects.

If you need a little inspiration, check out our collections, or visit our showroom. Our friendly team are always happy to help you select the perfect flooring for your home.