By Jill
Posted on Monday, May 19, 2014 5:04 PM
Luxury vinyl tile is the fastest-growing flooring technology in today’s market. But surprisingly, when some people hear luxury vinyl tile, the image that comes to mind is of those old peel-and-stick vinyl squares found at your local big-box store. Believe me, this product is far from that.
When it comes to appearance, quality, durability, and style options, luxury vinyl tile is truly luxury underfoot. In fact, many of the products we carry do such a good job at capturing the colors, textures, and grains of the natural stones and woods they replicate, that they are practically indistinguishable from the real thing.
So What Is Luxury Vinyl Tile?
Luxury vinyl tile, or LVT, uses an advanced 3D imaging technology in which a photograph of the natural material being replicated is transferred directly to the tile. The final product, which is approximately 1/8 inch thick, is made of several layers, including a protective top layer (called the wear or mil layer) and often a urethane layer for added durability. Below are a few benefits of LVT…
Realistic Looks to Match Any Decor
A big reason LVT is so hot right now is that it does an impressive job at recreating the high-end look and textures of popular luxury flooring, including ceramic tiles, limestone, marble, slate, parquet, and hardwood. And the design options are limitless. Most tiles include beveled edges and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Wood planks can be three to four feet long, and tiles are available in very large squares. Tiles can be laid with grout, for a more authentic stone or tile look, or without grout for a sleeker, seamless look. Wood looks feature rich colors, finishes, and textures, such as handscraping, for more realism. Many manufacturers such as Karndean, one of Barry Carpet’s top LVT brands, also offer design strips and borders for more customization. You can even mix and match – a stone tile with a wood border, for example – to create a unique and stunning designer look.
Durability
Have pets or young children? Looking for flooring that will hold up in high-traffic areas? LVT is one of the most resilient flooring options available. The specialized wear layer makes these tiles exceptionally resistant to scratches, scuffs, indentations, and stains. This flooring won’t chip, warp, or yellow like many natural surfaces. LVT is also naturally water-resistant, making it a great option for kitchens and bathrooms. Another plus: LVT is much softer and warmer under foot than ceramic tile and stone flooring.
The dimensional stability and durability of LVT make it well suited for high-use rooms in the home, as well as commercial spaces. Amtico, part of the Mannington flooring family, offers many high-end LVT collections for commercial use that include a slip-resistant layer – offering the perfect balance of style and safety.
Today’s LVT is so resilient that many manufactures back their flooring with residential and commercial warranties of up to 20 years.
Easy Maintenance
Perhaps one of the biggest perks – LVT is easy to maintain. To keep it looking great, just damp mop it weekly with water and a pH neutral cleaner. Design strips generally offer the same stain resistance as the tiles and won’t discolor like grout can.
Find the Look That’s Right for You
Want to see just how well LVT captures the look of natural stones and woods? Stop in our
Barry Carpet showroom in West Los Angeles. We can show you the many beautiful design options LVT offers. And our installers are Karndean trained in LVT installation, so they can expertly recreate a custom LVT design in any home or commercial space.
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