LVP questions
Luxury vinyl plank, answered without the sales angle.
These are the questions Treasure Valley homeowners actually ask us during a measure. Service-specific questions live on the individual service pages.
Choosing luxury vinyl plank
- What is the difference between LVP, vinyl plank, and luxury vinyl?
- They largely describe the same category. Luxury vinyl plank is a plank-format vinyl floor, usually with a rigid SPC or WPC core, a printed design layer, and a clear wear layer on top. Luxury vinyl tile is the same construction in a tile format. Older flexible vinyl plank without a rigid core is a different and much less forgiving product.
- Is LVP really waterproof?
- The plank is. The core will not swell if water sits on the surface, which is why it works in kitchens and baths. The floor assembly is not waterproof — water can travel through the seams to the subfloor beneath, so a sustained leak still needs dealing with promptly.
- How thick should the plank be?
- Most rigid-core residential products fall between 4 mm and 8 mm. Thickness affects rigidity and underfoot feel. It does not affect durability, which is governed by the wear layer thickness measured in mils.
- Does LVP scratch?
- It can. The wear layer resists abrasion well, but grit dragged under furniture or heavy pet claws can mark it. Felt pads under furniture legs and a doormat at every exterior door make a measurable difference, and a heavier wear layer helps in traffic lanes.
- Can LVP be refinished if it wears through?
- No. Unlike wood, there is nothing to sand back to — the design layer is printed. Once the wear layer is breached the plank has to be replaced, which is why wear layer selection matters at the point of purchase.
Installation and subfloors
- How flat does my subfloor need to be?
- Most rigid-core LVP specifies roughly 3/16 inch of deviation over a 10-foot span, though your product's instructions are the authority. That is measured with a straightedge on the bare subfloor, not judged by eye.
- Can LVP be installed over tile?
- Often yes, if the tile is well bonded, sound, and the grout lines are narrow enough or filled. Wide or deep grout joints need filling so the planks are supported continuously. Loose or cracked tile should come out.
- Can LVP be installed over carpet?
- No. Carpet and pad compress underfoot, which leaves the locking edges unsupported and causes seam failure. Carpet, pad, tack strip, and staples all have to come out first.
- Do I need underlayment?
- It depends on the product. Many rigid-core planks come with an attached pad, and adding a second layer under them can void the warranty. Where underlayment is used, it handles sound and minor texture — not flatness or moisture.
- How long does LVP need to acclimate?
- Manufacturers publish a period, commonly in the range of 24 to 48 hours in the conditioned space where it will be installed. Rigid core is far more stable than wood but still benefits from reaching room temperature before it is locked together.
Living with an LVP floor
- How should I clean LVP?
- Sweep or vacuum regularly with the beater bar off — grit is the main enemy. Damp mop with a cleaner the manufacturer approves. Avoid steam mops, wax, oil soaps, and abrasive pads, all of which can damage the wear layer or the finish.
- Will direct sunlight fade my floor?
- Prolonged direct UV can cause fading and, on dark planks, meaningful surface heat gain. In a heavily glazed south- or west-facing Treasure Valley room, window film or shades protect both the colour and the floor's dimensional stability.
- Can a single damaged plank be replaced?
- Usually. A floating floor can be disassembled from the nearest wall back to the damaged plank and rebuilt. A glue-down plank can be cut out and replaced. The hard part is matching — keep a few spare planks from the original order.
- Is LVP good with dogs?
- It is one of the better hard-surface choices. It tolerates accidents, it does not swell, and it gives reasonable traction if you choose a textured finish. Claws will eventually mark any surface, so a heavier wear layer is worth the difference.
- Does LVP feel cold in winter?
- It is warmer underfoot than tile and cooler than carpet. WPC-core products feel noticeably warmer than SPC. Some rigid-core products are approved over radiant heat, which resolves the question entirely — but the product has to be rated for it.
Working with Treasure Valley LVP
- What areas does Treasure Valley LVP serve?
- We are based in Star, Idaho, and our primary markets are Boise, Star, Meridian, and Eagle. We also work in Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Garden City, Middleton, and Emmett. If you are just outside that list, call and ask; we will tell you honestly whether we can schedule it.
- Is Treasure Valley LVP licensed, bonded, and insured?
- Yes. We hold Idaho contractor registration RCE-57919 and carry bonding and insurance. Idaho registers rather than licenses most residential contractors, and we are happy to provide current certificates before work begins.
- Is the estimate or consultation free, and what happens at it?
- The on-site measure and estimate carry no charge and no obligation. We walk the rooms, lay a straightedge across the subfloor to record flatness, moisture test any slab, check door clearances and transitions, and talk through product options. You get a written scope afterward.
- What services do you actually provide?
- LVP installation and replacement first, plus the subfloor preparation underneath it, LVP stairs, and trim and transition work. Alongside that we install laminate, engineered wood, and solid hardwood when one of those is the better fit for the room.
- Do you give written estimates, and what is excluded?
- Every estimate is written, with the field installation and the subfloor prep quoted as separate lines. Commonly excluded items are named on the document rather than assumed: appliance disconnection, asbestos or lead abatement, structural repair, painting beyond base touch-up, and any moisture source that needs another trade to resolve.
- How long does a typical project take?
- A single room is usually one day. A typical 800 to 1,200 square foot main level runs two to four working days including demo and prep. Stairs add roughly a day per flight. Significant levelling adds cure time that we schedule around, so the honest answer for your home comes with the measure.
- Do I need a permit for a flooring project?
- Residential floor covering replacement does not require a building permit in Treasure Valley jurisdictions. Permits become relevant only if the work extends into structural repair, plumbing, or electrical, and in those cases we tell you which trade needs to be involved before we start.
- Can I see examples of your work?
- Ask during the measure and we will talk through comparable projects in your area and the substrate conditions we found. We do not publish stock or generic room photography as if it were our own completed work.
- Do you take on commercial projects as well as homes?
- Our work is primarily residential. Light commercial spaces such as small offices, salons, and suites are within scope where a commercial-rated product and a realistic schedule are in place. Large-scale or fast-track commercial build-outs are not something we take on.
- What does your warranty cover?
- We carry a 1-year craftsmanship warranty on our installation work. That covers our workmanship — seams, layout, fastening, and finish detailing. The plank itself is covered by the manufacturer's own warranty, and we give you the product documentation so you can register it.
- How do selections work — do you supply the flooring or do I buy it?
- Either works. We can source product for you, or install material you have already bought. If you are supplying it, share the product name and installation instructions early so we can plan prep and underlayment against the actual specification rather than a guess.
- What happens if something changes mid-project?
- Any change to scope or price goes in writing before the work happens. The most common trigger is a subfloor condition that only becomes visible after demo. We stop, show you what we found, price the correction, and wait for your approval.
- Who actually does the work — your crew or subcontractors?
- Installation is carried out by our own installers, working to one standard. Where a project needs a trade outside flooring — plumbing, electrical, structural repair — we tell you and you engage that trade directly rather than having it buried in our invoice.
- How should I prepare my home before install day?
- Clear small furniture, breakables, and closet floors, and plan where pets will be. We handle heavy furniture moving where it is in scope, agreed at the measure. Keep the space at normal living temperature during acclimation, and expect noise and dust during demo even with containment in place.
- Will you tell me if LVP is the wrong choice for my room?
- Yes. There are rooms where laminate is better value and rooms where engineered wood is worth the premium. We would rather say so at the measure than install a floor that is wrong for the space.
Still have a question?
Call or send it through the estimate form. If LVP is the wrong answer for your room, we will say so.