In today’s flooring market, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) has become a popular go-to. It’s heavily marketed as a durable, waterproof, and affordable alternative to traditional flooring options. But before you jump on the LVP bandwagon, there are some important factors to consider.

LVP might seem like the perfect choice on the surface, but dig a little deeper, and the long-term costs and consequences start to show. In this post, we’ll explore six reasons why homeowners are rethinking their decision to install LVP in their spaces.

1.⁠ ⁠LVP has a high tendency to crack along the edges. One of the big reasons we hear, for why customers don’t want ceramic tile in their home, is that if you drop something heavy on the floor, it will crack the tile. This same flaw of ceramic tile, exists with LVP. LVP will crack along the floors locking mechanism given enough time and wear. What’s more, these floors are not rated for traffic with wheels. So any wheel chairs or office chairs, even with a plastic mat down, will begin busting out corners in short order.

2.⁠ ⁠No room for movement of air. One of the benefits touted by retailers of LVP products is that it’s waterproof. They are correct but they aren’t explaining the entire picture of what that actually can do to your floor. Waterproof from the top also means waterproof from the bottom. What we are seeing, now that we have had some time to see the effects LVP is having on the home, is that mold and rot are occurring in the subfloor panels below LVP. If you have a high humidity basement or crawlspace or live near a water source such as a lake you will see these issues occurring quickly. If not, you will still see the same issues, just over a longer timespan.

3.⁠ ⁠Microbevels in the floor. Like a lot of floor coverings (including prefinished wood) it is common for LVP to have microbevels in the floor. These can many times be dust collectors, especially when exposed to a spill of a sticky drink such as wine, beer, soda, juice, etc.

4.⁠ ⁠LVP feels cheap. If you walk into a house that has LVP, the house will immediately feel cheaper than if there were a wood floor. Most people will have no idea that it is the floor that makes the home feel cheap but that’s exactly the culprit. LVP runs repeat grain patterns on the surface so it does not have the same beauty as a wood floor. It is also, generally speaking, a floating floor so the entire surface is not secured tightly to the subfloor like a 3/4” wood floor is. This leaves a hallow sound with every step across the floor.

5.⁠ ⁠It is not environmentally friendly. Every step of the way LVP is a polluter. LVP is a plastic. So while in your home, as the sun is hitting it, it is off-gassing chemicals for you and your family to breathe. When the floor has lived its (relatively speaking, short) life, it is destined for the landfill where it will live there for an eternity. Never breaking down, never biodegrading.

6.⁠ ⁠Not cost effective long term. Unlike wood flooring, LVP will move past its useable life typically around 10 years. There is no solution for LVP where you can refinish it to match design trends or to breathe new life into it like a wood floor. You are stuck with what you have until it wears out. Then it will be time for it to go to the land fill and for you to open your wallet to purchase a new floor. Think it through.

Before committing to LVP, take a step back and consider the long-term impacts on your home, your health, and your wallet. What may seem like a convenient choice now could end up costing more, in every sense, down the line.

If you’re looking for beauty, durability, and value that lasts, solid hardwood remains the gold standard.

Ready to Make a Smarter Flooring Investment?

At Jazz Custom Wood Flooring, we specialize in timeless, high-quality hardwood floors that elevate your space and stand the test of time. Don’t settle for plastic imitators, choose the floor that adds real value, warmth, and character to your home.

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Because your home deserves more than just trendy, it deserves timeless.