With hectic, busy family lifestyles and active pets, flooring gets a lot of wear and tear. As floors face everyday wear and tear from children, paws, and furniture rearranging, Luxury vinyl board (LVP) has arisen as a well-known ground surface decision for its sturdiness and scratch opposition. Yet, how impervious to scratches and gouges is this popular ground surface choice? Let’s take a closer look.
The Grueling Reality of Everyday Floor Wear and Tear
Floors endure a surprising amount of daily use. High-traffic areas can experience 2500+ daily footsteps from family members and pets traversing across floors. Shoes carry in dirt and grit that act as abrasives.
Furniture shuffling back and forth creates scratches. Pets’ paws and claws can also damage flooring surfaces, whether it’s hardwood, carpet, or vinyl flooring. This constant cycle of wear and tear demands floors that can withstand rugged everyday use.
With its layered construction and thick protective topcoat, LVP offers homeowners an attractive balance of aesthetic appeal, comfort, and scratch resistance. However, what exactly makes this flooring formulation so durable? A deep dive into its anatomy holds the answers.
What Gives LVP Its Tough, Scratch-Resistant Advantages?
Source: floorfocus
The meteoric rise of luxury vinyl tile (LVT) to a projected $8.9 billion market by 2025 confirms its popularity. LVP owes its winning combination of looks, comfort, and durability to its multi-layered construction:
- Clear Protective Urethane Topcoat: This top layer of urethane coating adds sheen while protecting against scratches and scuffs.
- Vinyl Wear Layer: Ranging from 6 to 20+ mil thick, this essential layer carries daily wear and tear. The thicker it is, the better it resists dents and abrasions.
- Vinyl Design Layer: Provides aesthetic detailing that mimics wood, stone, or other materials.
- Rigid Core: Made of stone dust composite or virgin PVC, this layer prevents warping while adding stability.
- Foam Underlayment (attached): Cushions each step for comfort.
With its thick wear layer and protective topcoat, LVP floors are built to handle the grind of daily life. But with so many brands on the market, not all LVPs deliver equal scratch resistance.
Sorting Out the Leading Brands in LVP Flooring
LVP accounts for over 50% of the resilient flooring market with its winning mix of style, comfort, and durability. But this broad category encompasses products with varying quality and performance.
According to a 2023 survey by Flooring Clarity, the top LVP brands purchased by consumers are:
- Lifeproof (18%)
- Shaw (16%)
- Nucore (14%)
- Mohawk (14%)
- Armstrong (10%)
What sets these leading LVP brands apart? They engineer premium multi-layer products featuring:
- Thicker wear layers (10 mils and up)
- Rigid stone/PVC cores preventing dents
- Top urethane coatings for added scratch protection
- Attached cushioned underlayments for comfort and sound insulation
With advanced engineering, premium LVP floors deliver exceptional scratch resistance and durability to handle real life. However, misconceptions still abound regarding LVP’s resilience.
Myth Busting: Is LVP Flooring Prone to Scratching?
Despite its durable construction, some homeowners believe LVP floors scratch easily. This myth stems from misunderstanding the factors that can damage vinyl plank floors. In truth, LVP offers superior scratch resistance thanks to its layered build. But no flooring is indestructible. Here are the facts:
- Thicker = More Scratch Resistant: With wear layers from 6 to 20+ mil thick, products with thinner wear layers are more prone to scratches.
- Furniture Legs: Dragging furniture without protective pads can scratch any floor.
- Heavy Objects: Dropping heavy items like appliances or tools can dent planks.
- Abrasive Dirt/Grit: Pine needles, dirt, sand, and grit act like sandpaper.
- Improper Cleaning: Harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbers damage protective coatings.
While the vinyl plank is highly scratch-resistant, it still requires some basic care and maintenance.
How Specialty Coatings Enhance Durability
The topcoat applied over the wear layer also boosts LVP’s resilience. Common options include:
- Ceramic Bead Coating: This exceptionally hard coating provides superior scratch protection. Brands like COREtec offer floors with ceramic bead finish.
- Aluminum Oxide: This mildly abrasive mineral further strengthens the wear layer.
- Enhanced Urethane: Urethane coats provide a protective barrier atop the vinyl layer.
- Embossed Texture: Some vinyl layers are embossed for added durability and better hiding scratches.
Combine these coatings over 10+ mil wear layers, and LVP can better withstand scratches from shoes, claws, and grit. But how well does it hold up to destructive pet paws?
Scratch Resistance and Pets: Is LVP a Match?
With high scratch resistance and 100% waterproof construction, LVP checks off two major boxes for pet owners. Its thick protective topcoat and vinyl wear layer stand up well to claws. Besides this, spills are no match for this waterproof flooring.
For homes with pets, experts recommend choosing planks with the following:
- 12+ mil wear layers to prevent scratches from claws.
- Attached is the underlayment for sound insulation.
- Waterproof joints to block spills, urine accidents, and claw digs.
- Textured finishes that better hide scuffs and scratches.
By selecting the right LVP product, pet owners can enjoy durable, scratch-resistant floors able to withstand messy paws and energetic pets.
Threats to Avoid: Protecting LVP Flooring
While vinyl plank flooring boasts impressive scratch resistance, it’s not indestructible. Specific hazards can damage its protective coating and vinyl layer over time:
- Harsh Chemicals: Avoid cleaners with ammonia, bleach, or alkaline as these degrade vinyl.
- Abrasive Pads: Scouring pads, steel wool, and abrasive brushes scratch.
- Furniture Dragging: Use furniture sliders and lift furniture to move it.
- Poor Maintenance: Vacuum grit often and mop with vinyl floor cleaner to prevent scratches.
- Sun Exposure: UV rays can fade vinyl color over time. However, to avoid this you can use window treatments.
With proper care, homeowners can safeguard their investment and extend the lifespan of LVP flooring.
Proactive Measures to Prevent Scratches
While daily mishaps are bound to happen, some simple practices preserve LVP floors:
- Doormats: Use outdoor and indoor mats to trap grit and moisture at entryways.
- Furniture Pads: Adhere felt pads to chair and table legs to prevent scratches.
- Prompt Cleanup: Don’t let spills sit; clean them promptly to avoid stains.
- Vinyl Floor Cleaner: Use cleaning products made for vinyl floors.
- Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Steer clear of cleaners with ammonia, bleach, or alkaline.
By taking proactive measures, homeowners reinforce their LVP flooring’s scratch and dent resistance in high-traffic areas.
Leading Brands Delivering Premium Scratch Resistance
All LVP floors are not equal when standing up to scratches. Homeowners seeking exceptional resistance should look for these premium flooring brands:
- COREtec Plus XL: Features a 20 mil wear layer and ceramic bead coating.
- Shaw Floorte Pro: Offers an extra-thick 20 mil wear layer with an aluminum oxide coating.
- Armstrong Floorscapes: Contains a 12 mil wear layer and aluminum oxide coating.
- Karndean LooseLay: Has a 20 mil wear layer and embossed texture.
- Mohawk RevWood: Provides a 12 mil wear layer with an enhanced urethane coat.
These leading LVP options defend against daily scuffs, scratches, and scrapes in busy homes.
Repairing and Replacing Damaged Planks
Though highly durable, planks can become damaged over time. The good news is that scratching and dents are easily repaired. For minor scratches, DIY vinyl floor repair kits allow you to buff out marks and re-coat the finish.
Severely damaged planks can be replaced without redoing the entire floor. LVP’s click-together floating installation enables quick spot repairs.
Key Takeaway
When engineered with thick wear layers and premium protective coatings, today’s luxury vinyl plank flooring withstands everyday wear remarkably well.
Proper care and maintenance will maximize the scratch-resisting performance of your LVP investment. With this, you can enjoy beautiful floors that handle the grind of real life in a stylish stride.
