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From entertaining guests to preparing family meals, the kitchen plays a pivotal role in the home. When it comes to updating its flooring, you will want to ensure you are selecting a product to complement both the style and the function of the room.
Durable, practical, and stylish, LVT vinyl flooring has become a popular choice for homeowners across the UK. Here, leading flooring retailer, Stories Flooring, reveals why LVT is the perfect choice for transforming your kitchen.
What is vinyl flooring?
Vinyl flooring has come a long way since it was first introduced back in the 1930’s. Sold in sheet format, traditional vinyl was often thin, flimsy, and bad for the environment. Over the years, it developed a reputation for being cheap and tacky, leading to a significant decline in its popularity. In a bid to bring vinyl back into the hearts of homeowners, manufacturers introduced Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring.
While vinyl flooring and tiles have emerged as a new and attractive option for real estate developers and homeowners, mosaic tile continues to enjoy popularity. Many feel that you get a far more premium feel with mosaic; something that you might not experience with vinyl of an average quality. Mosaic tiles are also far sturdier and more durable and last for a very long time.
LVT flooring is made to replicate the look of real wood and stone floors. Unlike traditional sheet vinyl, it is made up of several layers of thin, flexible material. The surface features a photographic layer, providing a striking, realistic wood or stone effect.
The first vinyl plank products were introduced in the 1970’s. However, it wasn’t until the 2000’s that LVT really started to take off. Today, there are hundreds of designs to choose from, and it is considered one of the most durable types of flooring on the market.
Why is LVT a great choice for the kitchen?
Kitchen floors are exposed to a range of potential hazards including spills, heavy foot traffic, and temperature fluctuations. This makes certain types of flooring, such as hardwood, an unsuitable option. LVT on the other hand, is perfect for kitchen renovations. According to the experts at Stories Flooring, here’s some of the main reasons why…
Realistic wood and stone effects: One of the key advantages to LVT floors is their stunning real wood and stone effects. There are literally hundreds of designs to choose from, and newer floors come with a hyper realistic photographic layer. This makes them almost visually indistinguishable from the real thing.
Solid wood isn’t suitable for use in the kitchen due to the risk of spills and stains. With LVT flooring, you get to benefit from the aesthetics of solid wood without the worry it will get easily damaged.
Spill and stain resistant: LVT floors are naturally spill and stain resistant, making them a fantastic choice for the kitchen. While it is still important to clean up any spills right away, you won’t need to worry quite as much as you would with a wooden floor.
You can also invest in fully waterproof LVT flooring. This provides additional peace of mind, especially if you have accident-prone pets and children.
Great value for money: LVT floors are renowned for their affordability. Not only are they sold at a budget-friendly price, but they also last a long time, even when exposed to high levels of daily foot traffic. If you want the best value for money, choose a floor that offers a lifetime domestic warranty.
Easy installation and maintenance: Whether you choose glue down or click installation LVT flooring, you should find it easy to install. Compared to traditional vinyl, LVT is easier to handle thanks to its plank and tile formats. Maintaining the floors is also a breeze due to its tough, durable surface and included wear layer. The depth of the wear layer will vary between floors, and the thicker it is, the more durable the floor will be.
Eco-friendly: One of the reasons older vinyl flooring lost its appeal was due to its impact on the environment. LVT however, is constructed with eco-friendly processes. Many floors are created from recycled materials, and they no longer release potentially harmful VOCs. These days, LVT flooring is considered one of the eco-friendliest options.
These are some of the main benefits you can expect when investing in a quality LVT floor. However, before you rush out to purchase your new flooring, there are some things to consider.
How to choose the best kitchen LVT
While LVT flooring can be a fantastic choice for the kitchen, like anything, there are things you’ll need to consider prior to purchasing. If you want to ensure you choose the best kitchen LVT, it will help to consider the following:
- Brand reputation
- Quality
- Features
- Installation
Not all LVT floors are made equal. When choosing the best floor for your kitchen, it helps to pay attention to the reputation of the brand. Now that doesn’t mean you need to only choose expensive, well-established brands like Amtico or Karndean. The team at Stories Flooring have developed a brand new LVT range that is already being compared to top-brand products. The https://storiesflooring.co.uk/collections/bentley-portofino easily rivals the likes of Amtico, yet it is offered at a fraction of the price.
Another factor to pay attention to is the quality of the floor. What kind of warranty does it come with and what type of reviews does the floor have? Another benefit of the Lusso Bentley Portofino range is that it offers an incredible lifetime domestic warranty.
Consider the features you need your new flooring to have. If comfort is one of your main priorities, look out for cushioned LVT. Or perhaps you would prefer the added peace of mind of waterproof flooring? Compare the different features on offer to determine which floor is right for your kitchen.
Finally, pay attention to the installation method. LVT floors feature either click or glue down installation. While both can be carried out on a DIY basis, there are key differences between the two. Glue down LVT is a great choice for those looking for a stable, long-lasting fit, while click system LVT is typically faster to install.
These are some of the main factors to look out for when choosing an LVT floor for the kitchen. If you are looking to save money on quality LVT, consider the new Lusso Bentley Portofino collection available exclusively through Stories Flooring today.
