Q: I’m looking to remodel several rooms, 包括我的厨房, 浴室, 门厅, 楼梯, 还有客厅. Is there one flooring product that can handle all these heavily trafficked, potentially wet spaces?

A: 在过去, flooring options were limited to carpet, 乙烯基, 硬木, 瓷砖, 或层压, each with their distinct pros and cons. But there’s a new product that can serve all these rooms: luxury 乙烯基 plank (LVP) or luxury 乙烯基 瓷砖 (LVT).

LVP doesn’t have a very provocative name, and many homeowners remain unaware of it even after seeing it many times at the home store. But LVP is superior to laminate flooring products of the past.

原因如下:

• LVP是负担得起的. You can buy LVP for $3–7 per square foot. Spending more will get you a thicker protective topcoat, but you can get a great floor in a wide variety of styles for under $5 per square foot. A word of warning: don’t be seduced by $.96 per foot “blowout” prices—if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• It comes in a wide variety. LVP offers seemingly endless options, from wood plank to large-format 瓷砖. It has a wide variety of textures, including stone and different types of wood. Up close, the look and feel of wood or stone varieties is uncannily realistic.
• 它是持久的. LVP is well-suited for wet areas such as kitchens, 浴室s, and basements. In homes with pets and small children, LVP resists scratching, foot traffic, and spills. It won’t chip or crack like 瓷砖 if you drop a dish on it. Most LVP products come with at least a 10-year topcoat wear layer.
• 它是通用的. There are a few different installation options. LVP clicks together easily and can be glued down or float over the existing subfloor. Some products can even be glued down and grouted to mimic traditional 瓷砖!
• 它是舒适的. LVP is soft underfoot, absorbs pressure, and has sound-deadening properties. This makes it a great solution for stairs, multi-floored homes, or the kid’s playroom. Some products are even designed to overlay radiant heat mats—the ultimate in 浴室 luxury.
• 很容易. LVP is relatively easy to install, doesn’t retain dust like carpet, and usually cleans up nicely with just soap and water.

There are some minor drawbacks you’ll want to know about before jumping into LVP:

• LVP寿命短. LVP is a one-trick pony and can’t be refinished. Within 10–20 years you’ll need to replace it.
• It requires substrate prep. The subfloor under LVP needs to be smooth and level. 与地毯, which can be installed over uneven basement concrete, LVP will shift and buckle if the floors are uneven.
• 保证各不相同. You get what you pay for, so research the manufacturer’s warranty and specifications. Low-end products will feature topcoat protection layers with warranties under 10 years. And again, beware of blowout prices.
• Installation isn’t always easy. As mentioned above, LVP is generally easy to install. But in a home with nooks and crannies, installation can get complicated. Tying it into uneven floor transitions requires some skill and patience. Tricky floorplans will require that you order extra to cover the cut waste. In short, some projects are best left to the professionals.

The wonderful thing about the 重构 industry is the constant improvement in materials. LVP outperforms its predecessors without sacrificing style. To learn more about this wonderful product, Google search “LVP” or “LVT flooring” or contact a local 重构 contractor. Let the design fun begin!

Joe Reed is director of sales and marketing at 本垒打解决方案, a member of the Master 建筑商 Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, 重构, or residential home建筑 question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’ more than 2,700个成员, 写信给 homework@livingatepperson.com.