The Ultimate Vinyl Expert Floor Care Guide
Vinyl floors are built for busy households. Our Care & Maintenance Guide gives you everything you need to extend the life of your floors.
Our experts are ready to help with your flooring project.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) have become two of the most popular flooring choices for today's homes. They combine the look of natural wood or stone with practical, everyday durability, and many options have a waterproof core.
Crafted from durable synthetic materials, luxury vinyl is designed to withstand the demands of busy households while delivering a stylish, low-maintenance finish that's suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, and laundry rooms.
Schedule Your In-Home ConsultationThe right vinyl flooring for your home depends on which rooms you’re installing it in and how you live, i.e., who lives in your house and which rooms you use most heavily. Here’s what to think about before your Design Associate visits.
Luxury vinyl plank is a great fit for bathrooms. It's quiet, comfortable underfoot, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean, and many options have a waterproof core that also resists humidity.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) works particularly well in bathrooms because it comes in a tile format and has grout-look options, which suit many bathroom styles.
Wipe up splashes and spills promptly. Standing water can seep into the seams over time, so quick cleanup helps keep your floor looking its best.
Schedule Your Visit with a Design Associate TodayVinyl flooring is a very popular choice for kitchens, which have a lot to contend with: moisture, spills, and high traffic. Vinyl is durable and easy to clean, and spills wipe up easily when you clean them promptly.
The range of wood-look LVP options is another reason vinyl flooring is so popular in kitchens.
Find Your Local TeamLuxury vinyl is a popular choice for homes with pets. It's scratch-resistant, easy to clean, and quieter underfoot than many hard surfaces. Clean up any accidents promptly so moisture doesn't reach the seams. If scratch resistance is your top priority, for example with a large dog, ask your Design Associate whether laminate might be a better fit.
Our Mobile Flooring Showroom® brings thousands of vinyl styles to your home, designed to withstand the rigors of family life. Our vinyl floors are backed by warranties from some of the industry's most respected flooring manufacturers, so you can confidently enjoy your new floors.
LVP (luxury vinyl plank) replicates the look of natural wood and is normally long and narrow. LVT (luxury vinyl tile) replicates stone, marble, and ceramic in a tile format.
Both come in rigid versions, which typically click together and float over the subfloor, and flexible versions, which are glued down. Rigid options come in several core types, including WPC (waterproof polymer core) and SPC. The choice depends on the room and the look you want, and your Design Associate can help you decide during their visit.
Vinyl and laminate flooring are both excellent choices for durable and stylish flooring, but they aren't the same thing. For instance, vinyl feels softer underfoot and slightly warmer, whereas laminate has a more rigid feel due to its construction.
The biggest difference is how each handles water and wear. Many vinyl options have a waterproof core, which makes vinyl a strong choice when moisture is the priority, such as in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements. Laminate is known for its scratch resistance, which makes it a strong choice for busy family rooms and homes with large dogs. Many laminates are water-resistant, and some come with waterproof warranties.
Both come in realistic, textured wood-look designs. You can compare them yourself during an in-home visit with one of our Design Associates, who can answer any questions you may have.
Durable vinyl flooring is available in several patterns that mimic natural materials like wood, stone, and marble.
Luxury vinyl planks are durable, stylish synthetic planks that give the appearance of wood with easy everyday care. Many LVP options have a waterproof core, so spills wipe up easily when you clean them promptly.
If you're looking for the beauty of hardwood at a lower price point, wood-look vinyl plank flooring may be the match you need!
Luxury vinyl tile offers the same durability and easy care as LVP, with two main differences: it comes in a tile format rather than planks, and it's designed to give the appearance of high-end stone, marble, and ceramic. It's also remarkably easy to clean, so it's ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and entryways.
Our vinyl tile offering is a more budget-friendly tile option that is also well-suited to utility rooms and spaces where splashing is a constant threat, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Marble-look vinyl gives you the look of marble with a warmer feel underfoot, typically at a lower cost than natural stone.
Our marble-look vinyl flooring is ideal for bathrooms, entryways, and living spaces.
If you're looking for a new vinyl floor, you don't have to spend your whole weekend going from showroom to showroom. Our Mobile Flooring Showroom® comes directly to your home with a huge range of samples, so you can browse the selection from the comfort of your couch and compare your potential new floor with your existing fabrics in your own lighting.
On installation day, our team will handle your project from start to finish. Depending on your project, that can include moving furniture, removing your old flooring, installing your new vinyl floor, and leaving your home clean and tidy.
With more than 300 locations across the US and Canada, you can enjoy a smooth, stress-free floor installation more easily than ever.
If you've had vinyl flooring for a while and are noticing more chips or scratches than you'd like, it might be time to replace it. The same goes for floors that are lifting or curling at the edges, or that have faded or discolored from sunlight. New vinyl will help refresh your space.
Or, if you've just moved and don't like the previous owner's style choices, or want to put your own stamp on the house, that's a great time to replace the flooring.
Luxury vinyl floors are waterproof and offer 24 to 72 hours of moisture protection, but standing water left over time can seep into seams. In some cases, this can lead to the vinyl buckling or lifting, or to mold growing beneath the surface.
After a flood, have your floor and subfloor assessed before replacing anything. The subfloor is often the issue even when the vinyl itself survives.
If the vinyl is buckled or lifting, replacement is usually the best option. Your local Design Associate can help you choose a new floor that fits the space.
Vinyl floors are built for busy households. Our Care & Maintenance Guide gives you everything you need to extend the life of your floors.
Vinyl flooring costs vary depending on the type (LVP, LVT, or sheet vinyl), the quality of the product, and the square footage of your space. Your Design Associate will provide a down-to-the-penny quote during your free in-home consultation, covering materials and installation, and will review all options and costs with you.
Yes. Luxury vinyl plank is more durable and easier to replace than sheet vinyl, and it includes a coating that resists scratching and staining. Combined with its water resistance, that makes plank vinyl flooring excellent for bathrooms and almost any area of the home, including:
There are two primary vinyl flooring installation methods. Rigid vinyl typically clicks together and floats over the subfloor, while flexible vinyl is glued down. The method depends on the type of flooring you choose, and the manufacturer's instructions govern each installation.
Luxury vinyl is made in layers: a printed design that replicates wood or stone sits beneath a clear, protective wear layer, over a stable core. The wear layer is a big part of how well a floor holds up over time.
Luxury vinyl floors are waterproof and offer 24 to 72 hours of moisture protection. It's still best to wipe up spills promptly, as standing liquid can seep into seams over time, which may cause buckling or lifting. Waterproof seams vary by product, so ask your Design Associate which options have them. You should also avoid steam mops, as excessive heat and moisture can cause damage.
With proper care, quality luxury vinyl can look great for many years. Sweep, dry mop, or vacuum regularly (with the beater bar turned off), damp mop with plain water or a vinyl floor cleaner, and clean up spills promptly.
Using furniture pads and limiting direct sunlight exposure, where possible, will also help preserve the finish over time.
FCI offers a warranty of at least one (1) year on installation and workmanship, with extended warranties available at select locations. Products in the Mobile Flooring Showroom® come with the manufacturer's limited warranty covering manufacturer defects, typically for up to 10 years.*
*Warranties may vary based on project location or for commercial-grade installations.
Our expert-guided, easy-to-follow Flooring Guide was designed to help you explore your options with clarity and confidence, all while staying true to your lifestyle, budget, and design preferences.
With 300+ locations across the US and Canada, there's an FCI Design Associate near you. Select durable, affordable vinyl flooring from the comfort of your own home. Our Mobile Flooring Showroom® brings thousands of options to your home so you can compare vinyl flooring samples next to your furniture and décor.
Want to see why homeowners choose FCI for vinyl? Read our reviews.
We take pride in making the floor replacement process simple. Schedule your free in-home consultation, and we'll bring LVP and LVT samples right to your door, or enter your zip code below!
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