How does anyone choose LVT flooring?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

When there are a million different, almost identical types and when the samples arrive they look Nothing like the pictures??

every sample I have had just looks plasticky and cheap, no colour variations at all and very unlike wood, which is categorically not how the website describes them!

Amtico quote is £3500, which is way above our price range. There must be a decent mid price option?

please help me, I’m going stir crazy!!

We used Harvey Maria - they have a lovely range.

I must be very out of touch with decorating, why would plastic be seemingly more expensive than wood? One day when I've finally saved up enough ok getting parquet to replace all the horrible laminate we have, but it'll be when I retire at this rate.

Hi @thenewaveragebear1983 did you make a decision in the end? currently drowning in LVT samples too!

Try Harvey Maria! We've got that in kitchen/diner and soooo much cheaper!

@Youremyshininglight , yes we went for Ambiance deep emboss in chateau oak. It’s got a really natural woody texture.

https://ambiancevinylflooring.co.uk/range/deep-emboss/

there is so much disparity between them and a tiny sample doesn’t really give you any idea. I went to a store in the end and brought home 5 big half metre boards and laid them all on the floor. Then went to manufacturer to purchase and paid a local fitter.

Harvey Maria

I'm not sure its more expensive than wood is it? I had a quote for around 70m2 of flooring recently for my living room - it was going to be £5/6k for a decent carpet, including fitting, £7k for Amtico or £17k for a real oak floor. But the latter would also have meant removing the skirting boards and replacing, inevitably meaning some plaster work and redecorating as well!!

@Tryingtokeepgoing was that for solid oak? Seems very expensive!!!

Yes solid oak, and laid diagonally which added about 30% to the install cost over conventionally laid. Not the cheapest around, but they’ve done floors for us before and were excellent. But, in this instance, I couldn’t really justify the expense as I’m not sure I’ll stay here forever! When we had the last ones done, that was the intention…though it didn’t work out like that :(

You can get waterproof (mostly, good enough to use in bathrooms) laminate. That’s what we have from quikfit. Personally I think the Kardeen my relative put down at the same time looks better than our waterproof laminate but it was much cheaper and it is hard wearing - still looks the same years later. We had the skirting boards lifted and refitted so don’t have any beading.

We love LVT here! Our bathroom and en-suite are both tile effect polyflor which we’ve been very happy with (also got amtico and karndean samples at the same time and much preferred style of polyflor) Looks exactly like real tiles. Open plan downstairs of our house is wood effect LVT by lifestyle floors, looks good and authentic but hasn’t worn as well as the polyflor

I've just got samples from Harvey Maria- seem very good quality but expensive.

I have recently put LVT down in my kitchen.

why "luxury vinyl" - you only have to pick up a box of tiles to figure that one out. They are really thick and heavy.

I laid it myself and it looks good. I am a bit worried about how long it will last but overall it only cost £350 to buy so no great harm done if it doesn't. I got a couple of spare boxes in case I need to remove any of the tiles, although because of the way it clicks together it is difficult to replace one in the middle (you need to start removing at the edge). Cutting the tiles to shape was really easy, just score with the knife and then snap. I did some really complex shapes in the odd corners yet they look perfect. I used beading round the edges, I see one person objected to this, I don't know why because it looks fine.

Downsides are you can't use a very thick underlay, because a thick underlay will compress under the joints and snap them. I used 2mm with a radiation shield but really wanted more for better thermal insulation, but this was the most recommended. Not quite sure why anyone would glue the tiles down - it would make them hellish to remove and difficult to replace, for me they stay in place fine just floating on the underlay.

My chief concern is that the tiles are still clicking a bit when I walk on them. I don't know whether this is due to the fact I did not quite joint them in and they are clicking into place, or it is joint failure. I guess over time I will see.

I think it is a great surface for kitchen or bathroom/maybe hall as well and looks really smart. But I probably would want something better in the living room.

Youremyshinninglight

which LVT did you go for in the end. I am struggling to choose LVT for our new family room. Want a light oak effect, modern look.

If you didn’t go with LVT May I ask which flooring you did choose and why not LVT?

I went with solid wood and it turned out to be not too different in price to engineered wood, which was the other option I considered. This was all before prices went bonkers though. Some of the LVT was really good, but some looked really fake (the textured ones and unnatural colours). If I had needed more hardwearing finishes I would have gone for LVT I think.

After a recent flood my floor is being replaced.

I have selected these two places:

www.factory-direct-flooring.co.uk/aqua-plank-5g-pale-oak-click-vinyl-flooring

floorwalldecor.com
www.floorsforpaws.com/luxury-vinyl-range/

Firstly recommendations for any other s

Secondly, is it LVT even though it’s click and can they be fitted by anyone or does the floor need specialist preparation ?

Thanks