LVT
Vinyl tiles have been around for a long time. Today Vinyl Tiles continue to be the fastest growing market segment. LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) offers 3D printing technology which adds depth and realism, durability, with a high performance wear layer to a vinyl tile product. LVT offers the option of a less permanent floor than wood or ceramic tile, especially with the growing popularity of floating LVT floors. LVT offers the option of changing the room design much easier.
Products with a vinyl or binder content of 34% or higher are classified as Solid Vinyl Floor Tile and products less than 34% vinyl or binder content are VCT. ASTM F 1700, Standard Specification for Solid Vinyl Floor Tile classifies Solid Vinyl Tile in three categories:
Class I Monolithic, which means through color tile with no backing
Class II Surface Decorated, which usually means an “inlaid” type tile with a backing
Class III, Printed Film Vinyl Tile, which is a photographic print film with a clear vinyl wearlayer and a backing system. A minimum wearlayer thickness of 0.020″ (20 mils) will classify the Class III product as Commercial.
Type A – Smooth Surface
Type B – Embossed Surface
Benefits of LVT
Amongst its many benefits, Vinyl flooring satisfies Green building standards and earns LEED points in commercial applications while meeting requirements of commercial flammability codes and slip resistant requirements
Naturally water resistant
LVT floors are inherently water resistant (and fairly impervious to wet spills from above). It’s important to install over flat, dry, approved substrates so that no water seepage occurs beneath the floor.
Scratch Stain Dent Scuff Resistant
Specialized wear layers (most common are 20 mil; some offer up to a 40 mil layer). Then the floors are coated with urethane to enhance durability
More resilient than other hard surface floors
Because there are multi-layers of vinyl in luxury vinyl tile flooring as well as a resilient backing as the foundation, LVT tiles and planks have more resilience underfoot. It’s easier to stand on for long periods of time AND as an added benefit, it tends to be warmer underfoot than ceramic.
Aesthetics
There transformation in the design aesthetics of Luxury vinyl tile flooring in the last five years has been significant. The realism of the total look, INCLUDING distressed wood finishes, stone and slate tactile surface textures, and even woven textiles imbedded in the wear layers, are attention grabbing.
Cleaning
Simple damp mopping is the recommended cleaning procedure for LVT floors