In the past few years, vinyl flooring has taken the commercial flooring industry by storm, and today, luxury vinyl flooring is found everywhere! It took no time in becoming everyone’s favorite. Each year, millions of square meters of vinyl flooring are made. However, there is just one type of vinyl, but here are multiple variations and new styles like EVP and LVP. Let’s take a glance at EVP vs LVP and find out which one fits best for you.
EVP Flooring (Engineered Vinyl Plank)
A very common question that the majority of the homeowners have is regarding the name of EVP flooring, basically, it is shortened for “engineered vinyl plank,” which is a hybrid among laminate, engineered hardwood, and luxury vinyl planks. Moreover, it is rigid and much thicker compared to the traditional LVP due to a few substantial differences.
The Layers of EVP
EVP features four layers which are:
- The Wear Layer
It’s a layer of protection that is found covering each EVP Plank’s top, also, it is found on every board, no matter what brand it is or what’s the price of it. This topcoat helps in the prevention of damage as well as scuffs from regular usage. This layer may vary in its thickness, the thicker the layer is; the higher would be the price.
2. The Decorative Layer
It’s the same layer that every luxury vinyl plank flooring features. It is made up of vinyl and it gives an appearance of stone or wood. There are different techniques used by the manufactures for providing the flooring a realistic look.
3. The Core Layer
The major difference between LVP vs EVP lies in the core. All EVP features a rigid core, which suggests that these are not as flexible as the LVP. Products with PVC cores with boards are highly preferred. Due to the rigidness, the imperfections of the floor are masked, it’s the reason why EVP has an edge above the thinner planks of vinyl.
4. The Backing Layer
This layer acts as a base layer, which helps in the separation of the core from the subfloor. Frequently, a thick layer of a cord or rubber is found on each board’s bottom. There isn’t any particular impact of the backing layer on the overall pricing, now it has become a standard, but during the procedure of installation, the material used can make a substantial difference.
EVP Flooring Installation
This type of flooring is easy to install. The reason why this flooring became so popular is that the homeowners can install it themselves and save a great deal of money by not opting for professional installation.
As we have already discussed above, it has a rigid nature, and EVP is sold with a click-lock edge, a chop saw or a circular saw could be used, which is usually used to cut the boards. The pieces would snap without any glue into their places. However, this is not applicable to all. There are certain brands that use a different method, but the majority of EVP flooring is extremely easy to install.
Pros & Cons of EVP
The understanding of EVP flooring is very important for making the final decision whether it is the right fit for your home or not. We have broken down things for you, below you’ll find the Pros and Cons of EVP flooring, so you can decide:
Pros of EVP Flooring:
- Easy Installation
Putting down luxury vinyl in your home is the most effortless method of installation. Due to the heavy-weight, it is a bit difficult to handle EVP. Although as long as you go along with the instructions, you won’t face any troublesome situations in putting down the engineered vinyl plank flooring at your entire place.
2. Waterproof
Most of the flooring that homeowners have installed at their place is not water-proof and it is the reason why sometimes they overflow, just like the flooring of PVC or SVC do. However, luxury vinyl flooring is 90% water-resistant. The water wouldn’t get through the cracks and EVC flooring will remain undamaged and unblemished.
3. Flexibility
EVP is the most flexible category that comes under the domain of durable vinyl tiles or planks. Choose the product of good quality and install them in the areas of high traffic and you are sure to love the results.
4. Styles
When it comes to diversity and styles, carpets were the first thing that comes to mind. But since EVP flooring had stepped into the market, it takes up all the wins. There are a variety of options when EVP shows similarity in wood or stone. From diverse options of stones and planks, you can choose any look that suits the best at your place.
Cons of LVP Flooring:
- Expensive
When it comes to installing the EVP flooring, the first thing that comes to mind is the price. This is the most fundamental factor. EVP flooring is much more costly than LVP as they are thicker. If you want to install the best EVP flooring in your home then you will have to expect a minimum of $5.00 to $7.00 per square foot.
2. Green Factor
The most harmful substance to the environment is PVC, and there is a lot of it in EVP. If the certified products are purchased then off-gasping or VOCs is not a problem. A variety of greener options are available that you could go for such as bamboo, reclaimed wood, and recent forms of linoleum.
3. Availability
Despite being so popular, LVP is still surpassing the EVP. There is more LVP flooring than EVP and it is due to the low-prices. Excluding the flooring charges, there would be the addition of other charges when ordered online. Sometimes these are not readily available and you end up making a custom order, which costs you even more.
LVP Flooring (Luxury Vinyl Plank)
LVP, also known as luxury vinyl plank has gained popularity because it incredibly mimics the wood plank flooring, it is more than plastic laminate flooring. It comes in narrow stripes rather than square tiles shapes, however, on the basis of its structure, it is a different product. If we talk about flexibility, then sheet vinyl is highly flexible featuring a top layer, protected by a wear layer, moreover, LVP features four layers which are:
- The top layer is composed of aluminum oxide, it is made for the prevention of light, scuffs, and scratches.
- Another layer is a clean film layer, which is responsible for the protection against tearing and ripping.
- For a photo-realistic appearance of a wood or a stone, a layer is featured.
- The last layer is the backing layer which is composed of rigid vinyl, almost 90% of the total thickness of LVP is due to this layer.
These planks are around 48-36 inches long. The majority of them feature a width of 6 inches, moreover, some of them might be around 7 3/4 inches wider.
The prices for LVP vary with the material and it ranges from $2.5 to $5 per square foot. If you opt for professional installation then you can add around $1 to $3 per square foot, which is highly unlikely because it is quite simple to be installed and most people prefer installing them on their own.
LVP Flooring Installation
The majority of people opt for this flooring because of its ease in installation. They were prepared with the “do it yourself” mechanism. The chances of errors are extremely low. You don’t need to be a professional to install them, these are that easy to be installed.
It’ll take three to four hours to install them in a small room. LVP features a click-lock system, which works on the mechanism of snapping the edges and the ends of the plank with one another. Also, it is installed as a floating floor, in which the underlayment is laid without the use of any glue. The procedure of installation started with laying the first rows of planks on those sides of the room that are visible. The planks can be cut with a sharp utility knife that is installed at the ends of the walls. For opening the obstructions as well as cutting the notches, snips can be utilized.
The Pros of LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank)
The core advantage of LVP is that it is resistant to water to the fullest. If means, if water gets spilled on it then the flooring would not be affected. Thus, it is best to be used in such spaces where there are chances of water-spilling, such as kitchen, bathrooms, cafes, restaurants, and basements. Apart from this, LVP is extremely durable as it features wear layers so it can easily withstand heavy traffic, so it is best to be used for commercial places.
LVP is extremely easy to be maintained and it is the reason why multiple households and businesses love to use them in their spaces. To keep them clean, all you need to do is to regularly sweep them and mob them once a week.
These can be installed on nearly all subfloors. You can opt for different installation methods as per your feasibility, glue down, click lock, or loose lay.
To conclude, due to the durability, affordability, and appearance, it is an incredible option for such spaces that are busy, and guess what? You get the appearance of real wood or tile without the actual cost!
The Cons of LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank)
The disadvantages of LVP include the following:
- No doubt, LVP is highly durable but its topcoat is different from a laminate, which is not resistant to UV either and it can fade and show discoloration over time.
- Those consumers who are conscious regarding the environment, they will not find LVP biodegradable. Also, it is not easy to be recycled.
- If the glue down procedure is selected for the installation process then it would be difficult to remove LVP. So, it is recommended that if you’re installing it temporarily, then don’t opt for the glue-down method.
EVP vs LVP – The Difference
When it comes to durability, resistance to water, and visual representation, then both of them are the same. The main difference between these two arises when it comes to fulfilling your facility’s specific requirements. When you decipher EVP vs LVP, most of the people are doing to be choosing EVP rather than LVP due to two major reasons, which are:
- Easy Installation
- Stability
Apart from that EVP features a rigid stone-based core that helps in keeping the planks stable for many years.
LVP vs EVP Flooring – Conclusion
It is all up to your requirements for what purposes you’re looking for the flooring. We have discussed EVP vs LVP above and made clear the use of them, their pros as well as cons. Moreover, if you are in search of something that would add a great amount of dimensional stability to each of the boards, then you most go for EVP flooring due to the rigidness. Also, you must note that if reselling is important to you, then the vinyl flooring will not be the right choice for you. Because it doesn’t raise the price of your home (in the majority of the cases), somehow, if still it does then the difference in price would not be major.
If you are thinking of replacing stained carpeting or any other flooring then you must go for vinyl because it is budget-friendly and a great home improvement option. The prettier your home looks, the easier it will get to attract the potential buyers. Now, the choice is yours, you have acquired the basics regarding LVP vs EVP, now go ahead and shop what meets your requirements the most and give your floor a new life by making it look extremely beautiful.
Thanks for helping me understand that vinyl plank flooring is 90% water-resistant, so the water wouldn’t get through the cracks easily. I guess I will choose this material for the house that I want to have in the future. I am saving up for the construction of the house now that I bought a piece of land this year, so I hope to get this material in the future.
It helped when you said that a vinyl plank is a much thicker flooring that could offer durability. A couple of days ago, my wife informed me that she planned to have vinyl flooring installed in our home for cost-effective flooring and easy cleanup, and she asked if I had any idea what could be the best option to do. Thank you for the tips, and I’ll be sure to consult a trusted flooring service as they can help us provide more information that will help us understand.