Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are waterproof, which makes them the standard for basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms where humidity and water are concerns. The product is a printed vinyl wear layer over a rigid core—either WPC (wood-plastic composite) or SPC (stone-plastic composite). SPC is denser and more dent-resistant; WPC is slightly softer underfoot. Installation method depends on the application. Residential jobs typically use click-lock floating floors—planks snap together, float over the subfloor with an underlayment pad. No glue, no nails. The floor needs to be flat within 3/16 inch over 10 feet. We'll go over existing vinyl, tile, or concrete as long as it's bonded and level. High spots get ground down; low spots get filled with floor patch. Floating floors need a 1/4-inch expansion gap at walls because vinyl expands and contracts with temperature. Glue-down LVT is the commercial standard and works in high-traffic residential areas. Each plank gets troweled adhesive. It's more labor-intensive but eliminates the hollow sound you sometimes get with floating floors, and it's more stable in large open areas. Glue-down requires a cleaner subfloor—any dust or debris telegraphs through the thin vinyl. LVP and LVT can go in basements over concrete without moisture barriers, unlike hardwood. The product itself is 100% waterproof, though water can still seep through seams if you flood the floor. For bathrooms, we caulk the perimeter seam to keep water from getting underneath. Installation is fast—an average room takes half a day. You can walk on it immediately, move furniture back the same day. Monroe Hardwood Flooring stocks WPC and SPC core options and can source wood-look planks, stone-look tiles, and custom patterns.

“LVP is 100% waterproof and handles basement conditions—laminate has a fiberboard core that swells and falls apart if it gets wet.”