Choosing the right flooring for your home doesn’t have to be an insurmountable challenge. In fact, you might already be leaning towards vinyl flooring since it’s life-proof, cost-effective, and easier to install yourself if you’re a DIYer. But did you know that there are different types of vinyl flooring? And how will you know which one to pick?
Hardwood Bargains is here to dive into the details of EVP flooring and how to tell if it is right for your dream home.
What Is EVP?
Engineered vinyl plank flooring, also known as EVP, is actually a subset of luxury vinyl flooring, known in the industry as LVF. Don’t count EVP out just because it’s a vinyl flooring, though. Gone are the old days of vinyl flooring referring to something cheap, ugly, and likely to curl up over time. Luxury vinyl flooring like EVP is a whole other ball game.
EVP is styled to evoke the sense of walking on genuine hardwood floors without all of the issues and expenses that real hardwood entails. EVP is created to be durable, so it can stand up to everything your life has to offer without degrading or losing its finish as other flooring materials do.
EVP is quite a thick plank because it’s made of so many layers. These layers add to its overall durability and aesthetics. The surface layer is vinyl, as the name implies, which lays over a core. That core is then backed by an attached underlayment such as cork which cushions the plank and makes it a little bit easier to walk on.
Pros of EVP
There are plenty of reasons why people choose EVP for their dream homes. It is an extremely versatile flooring material that works in plenty of houses in terms of aesthetics, practicality, and expense.
Let’s look at some of the best features of EVP flooring in the sections below:
It’s Waterproof
One of the best parts of engineered vinyl plank flooring is that it is waterproof. There are plenty of reasons why your floor might encounter dampness or the occasional spill, especially if it’s located in the bathroom or kitchen, and EVP has got you covered.
No more worrying about rushing to clean up every drop of water! And if you’re looking for continuity throughout the house, you can easily install the same floors in every room, even the basement or mudroom.
It Looks Beautiful
Engineered vinyl plank flooring looks and feels real when you walk on it. Even the sharpest eyes and most sensitive bare feet would have difficulty determining that they weren’t walking on real hardwood floors.
Vinyl has a lot of options for looks, and EVP is no different. You can choose between a wide range of different colors, textures, and wood grain patterns to be printed on, even colors that don’t occur naturally.
Great for DIYers
Besides being more durable, EVP is also perfect for all those aspiring DIY folks out there. Like laminate flooring, engineered vinyl planks click and lock into place, meaning that they are simple to install, even without much experience.
EVP can go over almost any existing flooring, no matter if you have tile or concrete in the space. It can even be laid over existing vinyl flooring. That means you save even more money by avoiding ripping up your pre-existing floors since you can simply lay the EVP down on top.
As a note, you may need to prep your existing flooring if it is uneven in some way or warped. Engineered vinyl planks are completely straight and can’t bend, so they can’t be laid over wavy floors. You can fix that by performing a glue-down installation, instead of a floating one, or by evening out your current flooring.
You can save plenty of money by installing the flooring yourself, and you don’t need to worry about accidentally stepping on an errant nail either. It's also easier to change out floating floors if you ever decide in the future to go for a different look. You don’t have to feel locked down with a certain style, so your floors retain their fluidity if you want to try a different look.
Easy To Clean
Remember the part where we said EVP is waterproof? Besides meaning that it can stand up to accidents and spills, that also means you can use water to keep your floors sparkling like the first day you installed them. These floors have a simple cleaning request: with just a bit of soap and water. You can also use a high-quality cleaner to really help them shine.
You can even take out planks that have been irreparably damaged by some accident and switch them out for new ones, which is infinitely more affordable than refinishing your entire floors or something equally drastic.
Won’t Break the Bank
On top of everything else, it’s much less expensive to go with EVP than engineered hardwood or genuine hardwood flooring. Luxury vinyl has made a name for itself by being an affordable option in the flooring market that still looks and feels like you’ve invested in a pricy wood variety. Plus, you can save even more money by installing the planks yourself, making EVP a very affordable option for your dream home.
Cons of EVP
Despite all of the wonderful benefits of EVP, there are still times and places where engineered vinyl plank flooring isn’t your best option. It’s always good to keep in mind the pros and cons of flooring materials so that you can make the best decision possible for your home.
Won’t Improve Your Home’s Value
This is more of a concern for people planning to sell their house soon or who flip houses on a regular basis, but it is a valid one. Unlike genuine hardwood flooring or tile, EVP won’t improve your home’s overall value. It may look nice and match your decor, but realtors and other professionals will be able to tell the difference, and it may not raise the price as much as you were looking for like other design options would.
Durable…to a Point
While it’s true that engineered vinyl plank flooring is very durable compared to many similar flooring options, there is one glaring weakness: scratches. EVP doesn’t stand up quite as well to deeper scratches and nicks from moving furniture or from rambunctious children or pets as laminate. It’s all about what you’re comparing it to, though. EVP is more scratch-resistant than genuine hardwood flooring, but laminate takes the cake when it comes to being nearly scratch-proof.
However, as we mentioned above, it isn’t hard or expensive to remove one or two scratched planks and replace them with new ones, so it isn’t the end of the world if something does accidentally happen to your beautiful floors.
EVP Is a Homerun
Now that you know more about how well EVP, and luxury vinyl flooring in general, can stand up to life’s wear and tear, it’s time to start perusing your options for aesthetics. Will you choose something bold and grey for a farmhouse look? Or something more natural with rustic charm?
Contact us to learn more about our amazing flooring options like EVP to turn your house into a dream home!
Sources:
Floating Floors Pros and Cons | The Spruce
