What is luxury vinyl tile (LVT)?

Luxury vinyl tile flooring (LVT) is vinyl (LVF) cut into square tile-sized pieces. It's a true-to-life echo of tile, stone, and wood. Vinyl plank (LVP), another version, consists of vinyl strips mounted on boards, is a terrific mimic of hardwood flooring. LVT and LVP both have high-end style and are available in an almost unlimited number of colors and patterns. They're also affordable, durable, and 100% waterproof. Whether you're looking for LVP or luxury vinyl tile in Amarillo, TX, be sure to come into Gowdy Flooring. 

What is LVF?

LVF is a newer, more advanced version of standard sheet vinyl. Images are taken with 3D photography, so they're clear, vibrant, and show brilliant colors and patterns, veining variations, knots, swirls, grains, and wormholes. Embossing adds depth, dimension, and texture features such as wire-brushed, hand scraped, weathered, and distressed.

All LVF, whether LVT flooring or LVP, follow current industry trends, including modernized marble, granite, terrazzo geometrics, industrial chic, and more. With wood looks, trends such as gray, whitewashed, weathered barn door, and high variation, with textures such as hand scraping, are available.

Many feel the extra seams of the tile-sized pieces add to the realism. The tiles are groutable, so some take it one step further by using grout, which is now considered a primary design tool. Like all LVF, luxury vinyl tile floors are low maintenance, only needing a regular (daily, if possible) sweeping and a periodic mopping with a manufacturer-approved cleaner. Avoid waxy, shine-promoting cleaners as they can dull the floor.

When it's luxury, the vinyl is thicker than standard and should be 8-mm or 9-mm, or higher. There is a top clear thick melamine wear layer that protects the floor from scratches and scuffs. Installation is perhaps the most significant benefit; it can be installed with the floating floor technique. The pieces click together and then hover over the subfloor with no nails or glue.

At Gowdy Flooring, we're proud of our strong ties to the community. That also means for you that we're aware of regional as well as national trends. If you'd like to learn more about luxury vinyl tile or any other version of LVF, come into our showroom in Amarillo, TX, especially if you live in or near Amarillo, Canyon, Dumas, Borger, and Hereford. You'll walk out with knowledge, a free luxury vinyl tile quote.