Everything you need to know when choosing waterproof vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring has come a long way in the last several decades, and this durable, waterproof and easy to maintain engineered flooring option is among the most popular flooring choices today — uniting homeowners, contractors and designers alike! Not only is vinyl easy to care for, but it’s simple to install, and available in nearly any design style you can imagine.

Vinyl Flooring Options – An Overview

While you will have no problem finding a vinyl flooring style that will complement any design scheme, researching the differences between the types of waterproof vinyl flooring options can be confusing. This is in part because modern vinyl can go by a variety of names for essentially the same product.

You will find vinyl flooring referred to as:

Enhanced vinyl plank
Rigid vinyl plank
Engineered luxury vinyl flooring
But essentially, when selecting a vinyl flooring type, you will be making 2 choices:

Tiles (LVT) or Planks (LVP)
Wood Plastic Core (WPC) or Stone Plastic Composite (SPC) vinyl

Comparing The Anatomy of WPC and SPC Vinyl

All waterproof vinyl flooring is manufactured with a rigid core layer that makes the flooring waterproof – not simply water-resistant. The core layer is mounted on a base layer of cork or EVA foam and is covered by the vinyl. This vinyl layer is printed with the flooring design and is coated with a transparent “wear layer” that protects the vinyl from dents and scratches.

The materials that comprise the core layer are what categorizes this rigid core flooring as either WPC or SPC vinyl.

WPC Vinyl – Wood Plastic Composite

WPC LVT was developed to be a rigid, lightweight, floating floor platform that is completely waterproof and relatively inexpensive. The core layer is made of a natural recycled wood and plastic composite material.

Comfort: WPC tends to offer better comfort underfoot than SPC Vinyl. It runs slightly thicker, providing extra padding between your feet and the subfloor. This extra thickness also allows for better temperature regulation and more sound absorption.

Durability: While the vinyl layer is completely waterproof and scratch resistant, you can purchase vinyl flooring with a thicker wear layer if the flooring will be installed in a heavily trafficked area to improve durability.

Cost: WPC tends to be the more expensive of the two options, though selecting WPC vinyl flooring that features an additional sound absorption layer or features a thicker wear layer can add to the overall cost.

SPC Vinyl – Stone Plastic Core

SPC vinyl flooring is newer to markets, offering a core layer that is composed of natural limestone, polyvinyl chloride, and stabilizers. This design results in a thinner, denser, and heavier core than WPC vinyl floors.