What Is Rigid Vinyl Flooring?

What Is RVP (Rigid Vinyl Plank) Flooring?

Most people want their home's flooring to be welcoming, beautiful, and high-performance—all without breaking the bank. Vinyl planking offers a wide array of aesthetics, superior strength, and resilience, all at an affordable price point. Among the many vinyl options available to homeowners, rigid vinyl plank (RVP) provides a full suite of benefits that make it a particularly attractive choice. Read on, as we explain what RVP is, what makes it great, and why you should consider it for your next flooring project.

 

 

What Is Rigid Vinyl Flooring?

Rigid core vinyl plank flooring, is the most advanced vinyl flooring option, offering rich wood and stone looks while delivering superior quality and performance. RVP features a multi-layer construction, with a stone-polymer composite (SPC) at its core, providing enhanced strength and resistance to dents and scuffs. Not only does RVP offer beautiful, natural charm and exceptional strength, but it's also easy to maintain. In fact, it requires little more than periodic sweeping to keep it looking its best. And, all this comes at a more affordable price point than you can get with natural hardwood or stone flooring. Once it arrives at your home, it's easy to install even for novice homeowners and DIYers. Choose from a wide array of styles, colors, and textures to give your home the high-quality look of your dreams.

 

Features and Benefits of RVP

RVP offers a number of features that set it apart from other flooring options, including waterproof protection, resistance to scratches and abrasions, and a thicker, sturdier construction that can feel more substantial under your feet. This makes it an ideal choice for bustling households looking for long-lasting style but too busy to worry about maintenance and care.

 

Waterproof Protection You Can Rely On

If you've got an active home, filled with family, friends, and even pets—you've probably had to clean water or other liquids off the floor due to bath-time splashing, spilled beverages, and rainwater or snow from jackets and shoes. With other flooring options, such incidents can quickly cause damage. RVP provides strong waterproof protection, so the planks won't warp or buckle due to exposure. Just clean up as soon as you can, and relax and enjoy your floor's beauty—when it's waterproof, it's worry-proof.

 

A Sturdy Core

You need a floor that can take on whatever you throw at it while maintaining its natural charm with minimal effort. With RVP you get exactly that. At its center, each RVP board features a high-density, stone-polymer composite (SPC) core, a state-of-the-art blend that provides exceptional resistance to denting. Most of our competitors use a weaker, wood-based core—not that we're keeping track. This strong core also helps to extend the flooring's working life, making RVP not only a top-performing flooring solution but also a smart investment.

 

A Thicker Wear Layer for Stronger Protection

When you have a busy home and an on-the-go lifestyle, your hard-heeled shoes, shifting furniture, rambunctious kids, and rough pet paws can put your flooring to the test. Without proper protection, your floor can quickly show scuffing and similar damage, making it look worn out and run down. RVP features an invisible wear layer that coats the top of each plank. This protective layer guards against scratches and abrasions, so your flooring maintains its beauty and appeal, no matter how crazy your life gets. And, with RVP, you get a thicker, stronger wear layer than many other flooring options, so your floors will look great for longer. Note that the wear layer is typically measured in units known as mils—one-tenth of a millimeter is equal to 4 mils—so be sure to look for a thicker wear layer for longer, better performance. Alternatively, our designers have found that wear layers of 30 mils or more start to make the decor look hazy, so find a sweet spot that works for you.

 

 

Sturdy Planks That Feel Solid Underfoot

When you're moving around in your home, going from room to room or even from sink to stove, you want your floor to feel stable and secure underfoot. This means you want strong, thick planks that don't bend or buckle. Fortunately, RVP gives you thicker planks that feel substantial beneath your toes and are built to last. So go ahead and let the kids roughhouse—your RVP floors can handle it.

 

A Broad Array of Colors and Textures to Choose From

There are two kinds of homeowners: those who know exactly what they want their floors to look like and those who need some ideas. That's why you'll find a wide selection of colors, styles, and textures when you choose RVP flooring. You'll be able to find just the look you've got in mind.

Or, if you're not quite sure what look you're after, you can explore the array of colors, including warm blonde and honey-hued wood looks, elegant dark wood styles, and cool gray and slate stone finishes. You'll also have a variety of different and realistic textures to choose from, such as subtle saw marks or wire brushing to add interest. Our distressed and hand-scraped finishes give a rustic charm, silky smooth surfaces show a more formal appeal, and embossed-in-register textures offer a combination of looks for a more authentic character. With so many beautiful options to choose from, we're sure you'll find the flooring that's perfect for your home.

 

 

Create the Right Feel With Your Choice of Length and Width

The length and width of your planks greatly affect the feel of your home. For example, wider planks create a more open, informal appearance, perfect for casual comfort and relaxation. Narrower planks—typically, five inches wide or less—give you a formal, cleaner character and can be especially beautiful in smaller rooms and more limited spaces. Similarly, longer planks are perfect for airy, spacious rooms while shorter planks show their beauty best in smaller rooms. No matter the look you desire, you're sure to find the solution with RVP flooring.

 

Install RVP Yourself or Hire the Pros

Once you've picked out your RVP flooring, the next step is getting it installed. Luckily, installing rigid core vinyl flooring is easy enough for inexperienced homeowners as well as seasoned DIYers. And, vinyl flooring can be installed on any grade of your home, including upstairs, downstairs, and even basements. Just make sure your subfloor is clean, dry, and flat. For detailed instructions on how to install rigid core vinyl flooring, be sure to check out the Warranty, Installation & Care guidelines provided with your planking.

 

Acclimation Is Essential

Once your floors are delivered, you should first allow the planks to acclimate to your home's environment. This can be achieved simply by leaving your RVP planks alone for at least 24 hours. They should be maintained at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the planks to expand or contract in response to your home's ambient environment and prevents them from warping or buckling after installation.

 

Underlayment for Better Performance

It's usually recommended that you also install underlayment between the planks and the subfloor. This can help reduce noise and add comfort underfoot to give you a more tranquil, peaceful home. In fact, some RVP options will come with an attached pad, though an additional underlayment can provide you with superior sound and thermal properties. You can also glue down each plank using an LL Flooring-approved glue for more stable, secure flooring in a commercial environment.

 

Click Together and Go

RVP uses a click-float installation technique, in which each plank simply “clicks” onto the previously installed plank so that they “float” atop your subfloor. Once your planks are all clicked together, your new floor is ready for all the foot traffic you can give it.

Easy Maintenance

Now that your new RVP flooring is installed, all that's left is for you to enjoy and maintain it. No need to worry—keeping your new flooring looking clean and fresh usually requires little beyond periodic sweeping with a soft broom and an occasional cleaning with a wet mop. Of course, it's always a good idea to get a floor care kit so you can be sure you have everything you need to keep your planks looking their best.

And for touch stains, residential steam mops can be used as long as you select the lowest power mode, use a soft pad, and never hold the steam mop over one spot for an extended length of time as this can cause the planking to warp. Be sure also to avoid using any cleaning agents that contain wax, oil, or polish to prevent leaving a residue that leaves your floor looking old and dull. And avoid using any kind of scouring pad or abrasive such as steel wool when cleaning your floors; you're liable to scratch the surface of your flooring.

 

Explore new rigid vinyl plank to give your home the upgrade it deserves.