LVT Flooring

[Bartlebum]

I've never bought flooring before, and have done lots of research to decide we want to use LVT in our garage conversion to an office.

We visiting multiple show rooms and got samples but to be honest I can't visualise how it looks in real life and I don't think it can possibly look so bad I would hate it.

I have shortlisted two options:

https://www.wallsandfloors.co.uk/arcadia-salt-luxury-vinyl-tiles

https://www.leaderfloors.co.uk/liberty-floors-cool-grey-lifestyle-5mm-luxury-rigid-vinyl-flooring-116789-p116789

When comparing them, the price range for 12.5qm varied massively (I think approx £215 Vs £380). I was obviously going to go with the cheaper option but then I wondered for such a variance am I missing something vital about the quality? Worried I am making and expensive mistake. Can anyone with any understanding of flooring advise at all please?

The price will also reflect how realistic looking the lvt is especially if you go for a faux wood grain. I absolutely love the stuff, installed in 3 rooms including a bathroom and kitchen. It’s practically bomb proof with kids. The wear layer is 0.3mm that’s plenty on both your sample links. Go with what you can afford at the end of the day, you won’t regret it.

My fitters do Amtico, Polyflor and Karndean. They told me Amtico was the best, closely followed by Karndean and Polyflor. Karndean was popular just because it had a wider range. I went for oak herringbone parquet in the hall, dining room and kitchen and I absolutely love it. I’m semi-rural with tractors and horses up the lane every day, so dirt comes in really easily. Mine’s been down three years and still looks brand new - like a previous poster said, it’s bomb proof.

Sorry - meant to say I chose Polyflor.

Thank you both for your advice and recommendation! Amtico is actually manufactured near me so I might have a look, although it might be slightly unaffordable right now if it's the best in class - at least I know for the next room.

To be honest that’s partly why I chose Polyflor - it’s manufactured in Manchester, so I was quite pleased to play a little part in keeping local jobs going. In case you need cost comparisons, mine came in at £2500 three years ago for materials, screeding and labour.

Pauline's Walnuts that's gorgeous

We got 35m squared from marketplace on Facebook. Different brand but cost £2k for the product and fitting.
I'd definitely have a search for left overs or someone changing their mind. You might end up with a better product

We were keen to have Amtico but we both liked a particular tile in Karndean. Our hall (laid in herringbone pattern), downstairs loo and conservatory (both laid in random planks) look exactly like Pauline’sWalnuts. We also have it in a different colour (in squares) in the bathroom. As soon as we have a new kitchen, it’ll be in there too.
Warm underfoot, a doodle to clean, it is indeed bomb proof.

Hi @Bartlebum I was wondering how you got on with the LVT floor? Our builder is recommending it for our Kitchen/diner as I wanted a herringbone look and its apparently waterproof. I am currently looking at this option: https://floorwarehouse.co.uk/unidrop-skyline-oak-herringbone-5-5mm-spc-rigid-core-click-vinyl-flooring/

I like the grey tones. Did you find the LVT to be quite water & scratch resistant?

any input would be great, thanks.

Hey! Yes we did go with LVT and it's been brilliant. Much more affordable and if for some reason it did get scratched it's easy to replace, just get a few extras in. Had since October, no obvious scratches as yet.

I would recommend comparing click flooring Vs glue down, as if there is heavy traffic glue down can be better and easier to replace tiles.

We also got a good underlay put underneath which is something to look into.