Over the past few years we have purchased a variety of flooring materials: carpet, laminate, vinyl, hardwood, tile, linoleum, etc. Let us tell you, they are NOT all created equal. Our favorite flooring, which we use in every project is LVP flooring because of the price point, simple installation, variety of options, and durability. LVP stands for Luxury Vinyl Plank and LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. As the name implies, Luxury Vinyl Planks look like planks of hardwood floors; and Luxury Vinyl Tile looks like Tile or natural stone. We no longer use laminate, ceramic tile, or hardwood and stick with LVP or LVT (if using tile) because of its lasting benefits. Here are a few things we wish we would have know when purchasing vinyl flooring.

1. Color: So far, we have installed cherry, maple, weathered gray, and very dark brown/black vinyl floors. To date, the weathered gray has been our favorite in maintaining a new look that is flexible with most decor and also lasts for years to come. It does not show dust, foot prints, or animal hair, while the dark brown/black shows EVERYTHING! It looks beautiful while clean, but it is a pain to keep that way. Cherry and maple moderately keep clean, but do not transition well with decor and other updates, such as cabinet color.

2. Thickness: One point most buyers ignore is the thickness of the flooring, or the base of the board to the top of the board (not including the pad). The thicker the flooring, typically the better the flooring--more impact resistant, less echoing, hides subfloor imperfections. It is also easier to lay thicker flooring and is more durable. You can find thickness in the details section of the flooring. We do not go below 4mm, but prefer 7mm and up. If you want it to feel like real hardwood, then pick 10-12mm.

3. Water and Scratch Resistant: Even more important than thickness is the ability for the floor to be scratch resistant. Once we laid a floor to realize the ladder of an employee was scratching the floor as they were touching up the paint. Needless to say that these floor were not durable, but they were 10mm "thick." You can even find flooring that is water proof, which is great to bathrooms and kitchens. Remember, typical hardwood flooring is not waterproof or scratch resistant--plus it costs more.

4. Texture: Some vinyl flooring is smooth while other styles are textured. The thicker the flooring, the more texture options there tend to be. Our preference is a more textured floor for a few reasons: 1) more slip resistant, 2) resembles real wood, and 3) hides imperfections, such as a scratch.

5. Plank width: This is really a personal preference, but we prefer the wider planked floor as it tends to make rooms feel larger and provides a more craftsmanship appeal. But, depending on the style of the home, a smaller plank may be fitting as well.

6. Price: Many people think carpet is much less expensive than vinyl flooring but, it honestly can be about the same price. When you purchase carpet, you typically purchase a pad too. Together, depending on the quality of carpet, this price comes to approximately $1.80-$2.50 per square foot. There are many locations where you can find a great vinyl floor for this price that may last much longer than carpet.

7. Moisture barrier: If you have a good subfloor and no reason to believe there will be any water issues, a click and lock waterproof vinyl should not need a moisture barrier, but consult a contractor to be sure.

We hope this list provides you with enough insight to pick the floors that are just right for you!