When renovating a home, few people put much thought into what type of flooring to lay down, but a new range of products, luxury vinyl tile, or LVT for short, is helping to change that indifference world-wide. LVT does not look like the conventional polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring you thought you knew. For many homeowners, PVC used to be regarded as a low-quality, utilitarian product, while others have been concerned about its alleged health risks.
But modern PVC flooring has been scientifically tested and carries a safety logo in many countries nowadays. Flooring made from high-risk materials is now unlikely to be sold in reputable shops. Elastic flooring has one great advantage: it is tough and easy to clean. "That's why it's often used in office spaces, hospitals or care homes," says Hans Joachim Schilgen from Germany's Flooring Industry Association. Thanks to recent advances, PVC is also winning a place in the home.
LVT is not sold in rolls, but in rectangles known as planks, and is engineered so that it looks just like real ceramic tiles or wood. LVT is made using several layers of material, which allows its upper surface to be made precisely like the material it's imitating. By spreading a thin dusting of mineral-based cement powder over the tile and then sealing it with resin you can even get a tile that looks and feels like concrete, according to LVT maker Li & Co.
Surprisingly true-to-life PVC tiles that look like timber or flat-pile carpet are made by Nox Corporation. Architect Roberto Palomba, who works for Germany's annual floor-coverings trade fair Domotex, says the range of looks is LVT's main advantage over standard vinyl flooring in roll form. Most homeowners would love to have expensive, natural materials on floors. "But we can't all afford marble or solid wood," he says. "Besides, it would be an irresponsible waste of global resources if everyone used natural products that way." Good imitations give you the best of both worlds.
LVT is up against other plank products that come in a wood look. Laminate floors, common for many years, have a type of plastic surface where a photographic reproduction of wood is sealed under a hard resin. Additionally, engineered wood is available with a very thin veneer of real wood on it. Porcelain tile that looks amazingly like natural wood is a recent hot new trend. These ceramic tiles are also being sold in planks, instead of traditional tile shapes, so they are a direct competitor with LVT.
LVT has the advantage of being elastic underfoot, just like linoleum and natural rubber flooring. A selling argument for LVT is that it is now available in such a wide choice of different styles and patterns. "The classic way to lay synthetic flooring is to glue it down," explains Schilgen. "But LVT can be laid loose, without any adhesive, depending on what sort you choose."
LVT manufacturers have created a number of different laying systems. Some tiles can be simply pressed together with a tongue and groove join, while others have a special undercoating. Because LVT has several layers, it's very durable. LVT is water-repellent, which makes it perfect for use in the kitchen or bathroom. Some manufacturers make variations that resist fungi and bacteria. However, there is one slight disadvantage to LVT: its price. The manufacturing process makes it difficult to produce and therefore more expensive than conventional PVC sold on a roll.