If you’ve ever cringed watching melting snow and salt drip off your boots onto your hardwood, you already know why so many Maple Grove homeowners are making the switch to vinyl floors. It's durable for harsh Minnesota seasons, waterproof, and simple to care for. So, is luxury vinyl flooring good for your home in Maple Groves? And how do you know whether to choose luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or luxury vinyl tile (LVT)?

Here we dig into the details of LVP and LVT, compare the floors, and discuss how to care for luxury vinyl plank and vinyl tile.

If you’re ready to see and feel the options with a convenient in-home shopping experience, Floor Coverings International of Maple Grove, MN® brings vinyl samples and local expertise with our Mobile Flooring Showroom®.

Schedule An In-Home Consultation

Comparing LVT and LVP

Since both luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile are made of the same, strong PVC material, the essential difference comes down to the shape and style.

What is luxury vinyl plank? Put simply, LVP is a multi-layered synthetic flooring designed in planks to resemble natural hardwood.
What is luxury vinyl tile? LVT is waterproof, durable, and looks like natural stone or ceramic tile. The flooring comes in square or short rectangles that can be arranged in stunning patterns.

What's the Same?

Along with the same material, both LVP and LVT are layered with scratch-resistant wear layers, realistic image layers and embossed textures, and dimensionally stable cores that make the floors reliable options for any part of the house.

These are a few top benefits Maple Grove homeowners enjoy with both LVT and LVP:

Moisture protection. From the floor’s surface to its core, vinyl is synthetic and won’t warp, swell, or peel with water contact.
High durability. Luxury vinyl is resistant to dents, stains, and scratches, making it a practical choice for busy Maple Grove families.
Easy to maintain. Since the flooring is simple to clean with a regular sweep and no in-depth maintenance routines, it’s a favorite with homeowners in Maple Grove who like to keep maintenance low-key.

Is luxury vinyl flooring waterproof? Yes and no. While the vinyl material itself is waterproof, many options are only rated water-resistant because the flooring has vulnerable seams that allow moisture to seep through. For fully waterproof floors, look for waterproof-rated vinyl that’s installed with a durable seal to protect your subfloor from water damage.

LVT vs. LVP: Pros and Cons

Although the difference is primarily the shape and style, the floors have several trade-offs you can compare to decide which works better for your home in Maple Grove.

Luxury Vinyl Plank

Pros:

Get a warm, hardwood style at a much more approachable price and with simpler maintenance.
Enjoy floors that visually expand the room. Long- and wide-plank LVP reduces seams and visual breaks to make the space feel more open.
The style is extremely popular. Quality LVP can be a great selling point if you decide to list the home.

Cons:

There are style limitations. Luxury vinyl plank in Maple Grove, MN, and the nearby area, is primarily wood-look flooring. If you want stone designs or other styles, it may not be the right choice.
The floors offer less pattern variety. While you can stagger planks, you don’t have the same creative design options for intricate patterns as you do with tile.

Luxury Vinyl Tile

Pros:

Choose high-end designs. LVT comes in modern, sophisticated or vintage-inspired tile styles.
The flooring is ideal for creative layouts. Consider herringbone, checkerboard, or geometric patterns.
LVT is great for specific spaces that work well with tile, like entryways, mudrooms, and bathrooms.

Cons:

Since the floors have more visible seams with more pieces, luxury vinyl tile in Maple Grove, MN, and the surrounding area, can feel too busy in small or cluttered spaces or open floor plans.
LVT can look colder than some homeowners like.

Is Luxury Vinyl Flooring Toxic?

Depending on the materials and adhesives used, some vinyl can produce significant volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which impact your indoor air quality. So, are luxury vinyl floors toxic? No, not normally. Most modern luxury vinyls are certified to have low-VOC content, making them perfectly safe. However, there are still some cheap or imported products that can cause indoor air quality concerns.

Are the Floors Long Lasting?

How long does luxury vinyl flooring last in Maple Grove homes? The floors are incredibly sturdy and can last between ten and thirty years. This makes it an all-around practical option for homeowners who want stunning, easy-to-clean, and long-lasting flooring.

Selecting Vinyl Floors for Your Maple Grove Home

So, which should you choose for your home? In the end, whether you choose LVP or LVT will depend on the style and atmosphere you want for the specific space.

Here’s a short breakdown:

Choose LVP if you want warm, hardwood styles.
Choose LVT for areas where you want to make a design statement with a stone or tile look.
Mix and match. There's no rule to say you have to pick just one. Many Maple Grove homeowners install LVP in their living rooms and bedrooms and LVT in their bathrooms, mudrooms, and laundry areas.

Luxury Vinyl Care Routine

Both LVT and LVP in Maple Grove, MN, are durable, low-maintenance floors. The flooring doesn’t require much, but the difference between floors that look brand new for a decade and floors that look dull and worn after a few years boils down to creating a few consistent habits.

Here’s how to clean luxury vinyl floors daily, as well as more long-term:

Daily Cleaning

Simply sweep or vacuum on a regular basis. Since dust and dirt can leave micro-scratches that dull the finish, you can use a soft-bristled broom, dust mop, or vacuum to gently remove debris.

Weekly or Monthly Clean

Damp mop for a deeper clean. Use a microfiber mop and a pH-neutral cleaning solution or DIY cleaner with mild detergent. And wipe up spills immediately. Even though your floor is waterproof, it’s always best to clean up spills quickly to prevent any potential staining or damage.

Keep the Cleaning Simple

With some materials, putting in extra effort pays off, however; for vinyl it’s better to keep the routine straightforward. There are even a few common cleaning methods that can damage the material.

Here are a few tips for getting the best results with your LVP and LVT in Maple Grove, MN, and beyond:

Avoid harsh chemicals. Ammonia, bleach, or abrasive cleaners can break down the protective wear layer and damage you floor.
No need to wax or polish. Wax-based products leave a dull, sticky residue that’s hard to remove.
Skip the steam mop. The intense heat and moisture for a steam mop can actually warp the vinyl and loosen adhesives.

Ready to Find the Right Vinyl Floors for Your Maple Grove Home?

When evaluating LVT vs. LVP, the major differences are the design and shape of the floors. LVP comes in long planks that resemble natural hardwood, while LVT is styled in squares designed to look like stone or ceramic tile. Both offer the same scratch resistance, moisture protection, and easy maintenance.

Whether you choose warm wood looks or elegant stone styles, our team at Floor Coverings International of Maple Grove, MN® offers a wide collection of LVP and LVT flooring options. We can bring the samples right to your home, so you can compare the floors side-by-side. Reach out by calling us at (763) 416-5667 or set up your free in-home consultation today