You may already know this stuff already, but we want to make sure you have all the information you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring below.
So: what is vinyl plank flooring, exactly?
Vinyl plank flooring is a synthetic material made up of several different layers. It comes in planks—just like hardwood—but it’s made primarily of PVC (a type of plastic).
The most basic vinyl plank flooring comes in three layers. From the bottom, they are:
- A core or base layer that provides foundation and underfoot feel. It can either be rigid or flexible, depending on the product.
- A pattern or design layer that gives the vinyl plank its look and feel. This layer can mimic natural wood, tile, stone, or pretty much anything else.
- A wear or surface layer to protect the vinyl plank from any kind of damage, including UV fading. This layer is transparent.
Many of the best plank vinyl flooring products have one or even two extra layers to help with anything from soundproofing to underfoot feel.
