Luxury vinyl plank is one of the most popular types of flooring on the market today, having grown rapidly in recent years and showing no signs of slowing down. Some industry projections expect the LVP market size to double over the next decade, as homeowners continue to choose it as their preferred flooring during renovations. What’s behind this modern material’s meteoric rise? In a word: versatility. 

As our homes become increasingly multipurpose spaces, the demand grows for materials and products that meet diverse needs. Your kitchen table might double as a work desk on weekdays and become your friends’ favorite social spot on weekends, while still pulling dinner duty most nights.  

Today’s homes are less likely to have separate rooms designated for formal gatherings and daily use, instead choosing to maximize the utility of all rooms. And these rooms need flooring that can keep up. Homeowners want all of the floors in their home to be both beautiful and resilient, comfortable and convenient. Luxury vinyl plank offers this high level of versatility better than any other flooring material offered today. Let’s take a look at why that is.  

Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is Extremely Durable

A major factor in luxury vinyl plank’s versatility is its focus on durability. Advancements in the core materials and protective wear layers make even basic LVP floors quite resilient, offering strong protection against typical scuffs and scratches. Many higher-end luxury vinyl plank floors even offer lifetime warranties against abrasive wear, fading, and staining. 

And when it comes to floors, high durability often equals high versatility, because it lets homeowners have the same flooring installed throughout a home, whether in a seldom-used area like the guest bathroom or high-traffic spots like the family room and kitchen.  

The peace of mind that comes from knowing floors can stand up to even the most hectic parts of life is a major factor in LVP's popularity.  

Okay, I’m Intrigued. But is LVP Waterproof as well?

It’s no question that a strong wear layer helps floors last longer in busy homes, but there’s more to durability than just resisting scratches and scuffs. One of the most common questions about LVP is how it responds to moisture exposure, because water damage is a common reason for replacing floors. And we’re always happy to inform shoppers that LVP is built to handle just about any of the spills, splashes, and other forms of moisture common in today’s hectic household.  

Every style of luxury vinyl plank carried by Empire Today® is protected by Aqua Defense®, which means all LVP we offer is fully waterproof⁂. Waterproof LVP is a perfect fit for bathrooms, kitchens, and even basements because it can withstand heavy spills and even standing water for extended periods. 

LVP is Extremely Easy to Maintain

In addition to offering impressive long-term protection, LVP’s durable construction makes it easy to maintain on a day-to-day basis. Dry messes are easy to clean up with a broom, vacuum, or typical microfiber sweeper. Stuck-on messes can be attacked with a wet mop without needing to worry about excess water damaging the floor. And for the real stubborn stains, one of the many manufacturer-approved vinyl flooring cleaners will help make short work of cleaning duties.  

Have We Mentioned How Great it Looks?

Of course, practicality is not the be-all and end-all when choosing new floors. Style is just as important, if not more, to most homeowners. Thankfully, LVP can deliver style in spades.  

A major reason homeowners seek out luxury vinyl plank is that they want the charm and character of genuine hardwood but are limited by budget or durability requirements. Luxury vinyl plank was created to fill that need, and although early vinyl flooring products were often sub-par substitutes for real wood, many of today’s styles are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. 

Our newest offering, DuraVista™ premium luxury vinyl plank, puts extra emphasis on aesthetics. Crafted with an innovative digital printing and embossing system that gives it up to 5 times the detail of typical LVP, DuraVista looks and feels more like real wood than any luxury vinyl plank we’ve ever offered. Plus, it’s covered by some of the industry’s best LVP warranties, giving it the performance to match its appearance and helping make it one of the most impressive vinyl flooring products available today. 

It’s easy to see why luxury vinyl plank flooring is so popular in today’s homes, as well as many businesses. Even the most basic LVP can deliver much of the style and character of real hardwood floors without the cost or complicated maintenance. And premium vinyl plank takes the material to new levels by offering a no-compromise flooring solution that presents an attractive alternative to hardwood, even if you’re not restricted by budget or lifestyle needs.