WPC Flooring stands for Wood Plastic Composite. These 100% waterproof engineered luxury vinyl planks and tiles are DIY-friendly, featuring an effortless interlocking system that can be installed over most existing subfloors.
WPC vinyl flooring is extraordinarily durable and known for its gorgeous, realistic aesthetic. Using advanced technologies, manufacturers are able to beautifully mimic the look of natural wood and stone at a lower price point.
There's a reason WPC vinyl is taking the flooring world by storm! This bad boy is changing the way people buy flooring and it will only continue to grow and increase popularity over the next several years.
There's a lot to learn, but first, let's take a look at what other industry experts have to say about WPC vinyl flooring.
“Luxury vinyl tile was already one of the fastest growing floor covering categories. When you add to its benefits waterproof features and ease of installation, WPC products are a homerun for the consumer. We’ve already seen a new generation of products out in the marketplace with enhanced stability, durability and stain and indent resistance. And, there is a laser focus on bringing out realistic visuals. This is just the beginning. I expect suppliers to continue to innovate in the coming years to help fuel the growth of this category.” - Amy Rush-Imber, Editor in Chief, Floor Covering Weekly
Before we get into the details on WPC vinyl flooring, I want to show you just how legit these floors are. We wanted to put WPC vinyl's ability to hold up to water damage and stains to the test and soaked that bad boy in red wine for 24 hours. We compared it to laminate and engineered hardwood to see how each floor would hold up.
WPC vinyl plank flooring and WPC vinyl tile flooring are best known for being 100% waterproof. It is luxury vinyl flooring amped up a notch with a special waterproof core that makes it perfect for just about any room in the house.
WPC is the best of the best in the vinyl flooring world and hugely popular amongst homeowners looking for the look of traditional hardwood without the maintenance. It is also one of the most popular flooring options for commercial spaces and businesses.
It's beautiful and low maintenance.
Related Content >> Vinyl Flooring TrendsWPC waterproof flooring is typically comprised of 4 layers.*
*Can vary between manufacturers.
This is the backbone of your plank.
This is the main attraction! WPC flooring contains a solid, waterproof WPC core. It won't ripple, swell or peel no matter much liquid you subject it to.
This is where you get your gorgeous photo imagery that makes the vinyl look (nearly) identical to natural materials like stone and wood. Often, WPC vinyl flooring is the highest quality vinyl on the market. This means you get the most realistic looks that people will swear are real wood/stone!
Just like with traditional vinyl, the wear layer is like your bodyguard; it helps protect your floor from dents, scratches, etc. The thicker the wear layer, the buffer your bodybuilder, you feel me?
WPC indoor flooring is known for having buff, beefy wear layers offering more protection. When you look at vinyl flooring, it's just as (if not more) important to look at wear layer thickness as plank thickness.
Related Content >> Vinyl Plank Flooring Buying GuideWPC vs LVT / LVP. So.much.lingo.
LVT stands for luxury vinyl tiles and LVP stands for luxury vinyl planks. Sometimes you will find LVT/LVP that are also waterproof/WPC, but not always. They mean two different things.
Typically, all WPC products will be considered luxury vinyl tiles or luxury vinyl planks, but not all luxury vinyl is WPC. Kind of like how all golden retrievers are dogs, but not all dogs are golden retrievers. It's a specialty in the luxury vinyl market.
It's worth noting, the term "luxury" is kind of like "organic". There isn't an industry standard or definition so you have to be a little wary when you see it. Usually (and, for us, always), a luxury vinyl product includes a thick, durable floor, multiple layers, realistic 3D printing, a tough wear layer, and sometimes, a textured surface. If not, it's probably more like that junk food that sticks an organic label on the cover to make you think it's healthy.
Related Content >> Waterproof Vinyl Flooring Buying GuideWhy does this matter?
Simple: a thicker plank is denser. It's going to feel sturdier, and more substantial beneath your feet, as well as covering up for a less-than-stellar subfloor. It will also provide more resiliency and durability, making it more comfortable to stand on for extended periods of time, and also more likely to withstand the test of time.
All of our WPC vinyl flooring is relatively thick and definitely dense and durable enough for entire home use. If you're trying to determine the best quality, you'll want to look more at the wear layer than plank thickness.
That being said, here are the available WPC vinyl thickness options:
The wear layer is the top surface of your WPC vinyl flooring. The wear layer is like the bodyguard for your floor. If your options were a scrawny little thing, or a big, bulky, tough and ready-for-battle bodyguard, obviously you’d want the latter.
While no bodyguard (wear layer) is perfect, there is a wide range and great options for every use and price point. Pretty simply put, thicker = better. The thicker the wear layer (or, the higher the MIL number), the more resistant your floor will be to scratching and scarring. Which wear layer do you need? Well, let’s take a look at our options.
A better question would be where shouldn't you use WPC vinyl flooring. Honestly, you can use WPC for any indoor application. So you wouldn't want to use it to floor your entire backyard, but it's great for any room in the house or business.
Because it's waterproof and super durable, there are a few locations that are especially popular.
Okay, cool. But is WPC right for you?
While anyone can benefit from WPC vinyl, there are a few types of people we'd really recommend it to.
The answer is pretty simple. WPC vinyl is 100% waterproof. Traditional vinyl and laminate floors are not.
Additionally, the thicker planks lend themselves to uneven subfloors, giving you less prep work before your wpc flooring installation. These thick planks also tend to be more durable and provide thicker wear layers which prevent your floor from dents and scratches.
WPC is like the best of the best in the vinyl world. Of course, many people are fine with traditional, water-resistant vinyl. But if you need that extra protection, nothing will do it quite like WPC.
Related Content >> Laminate vs. Vinyl FlooringOkay, so how do you find this magical flooring? There are a few brands known for their WPC vinyl flooring lines.
Shaw's Floorte line is perfect for anyone looking for WPC vinyl on more of a budget. It is the only WPC vinyl flooring on the market (that we're aware of) that you can get at the same price as traditional vinyl and laminate.
These planks still offer a realistic wood look while maintaining the 100% waterproof capabilities that WPC vinyl is known for. They are, however, a little thinner and more limited in their warranty.
Related Content >> Viny Flooring MythsMohawk offers an in-between option. Their prices are typically somewhere around Floorte. Additionally, their warranty also falls in the in-between with a 35 year home warranty, which, if you ask me, is pretty darn good.
You can find some really unique looks in Mohawk's WPC vinyl line that will make you forget all about solid hardwood. Seriously, they're gorgeous!
Now, this could change any day as technology advances, but as of right now, all of our WPC vinyl floors come as interlocking floating floors. What does that mean for you? Well, those are the easiest kind to install!
So think about it - you don't have to worry about unevenness in your subfloor* and you can easily install the flooring yourself. All the sudden the higher price point of WPC vinyl flooring is starting to seem more reasonable when you realize how much money you're saving!
*Note: WPC vinyl can make up for a slightly uneven subfloor with normal cracks and wavering. However, if your floor is totally unlevel, not even magical WPC vinyl can fix that for you. In that case, you need to get someone out to moderately level your subfloor.
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