Vinyl Plank Flooring (LVP)
Vinyl plank flooring, often called LVP or luxury vinyl plank flooring, recreates the look of real wood floorboards in planks of luxury vinyl. You get the grain, knots and colour of oak, walnut or ash in a floor that does not absorb water, is warm and quiet underfoot and stands up to children, pets and busy kitchens far better than wood.
Choose oak vinyl in shades from light and natural to grey and dark, walnut vinyl for richness, rustic looks for character, and wide planks for a spacious, modern floor. Planks come as click vinyl, often with a rigid SPC core, or as glue-down planks.
Vinyl planks work in every room, from kitchens and bathrooms to living rooms and bedrooms. Prefer a stone look? See vinyl floor tiles, or read our luxury vinyl guide.
Not sure which floor is right? Order free samples and see them in your own light, or call our team on 020 3287 6206 for honest, no-pressure advice.
Novara Highland Natural Oak Vinyl Flooring 6.5 x 228mm
Novara Natural Oak Vinyl Flooring 5 x 180mm
Novara Walnut Brown Vinyl Flooring 5 x 180mm
Verno Urban Natural Vinyl Flooring 5.2 x 181mm
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Novara Highland Natural Oak Vinyl Flooring 6.5 x 228mm
Novara Natural Oak Vinyl Flooring 5 x 180mm
Novara Walnut Brown Vinyl Flooring 5 x 180mm
Verno Urban Natural Vinyl Flooring 5.2 x 181mm
How to choose vinyl plank flooring
Click or glue-down planks?
Click planks lock together and float over the subfloor, usually on a thin underlay or with one attached. Rigid core (SPC) click planks are stable, dent-resistant and forgiving of small bumps, so they suit most homes and DIY fitting. Glue-down planks are thinner and flexible, bonded to a smooth subfloor; they are very hard-wearing, keep floor heights low, allow patterns such as herringbone and are the professional choice for large open areas.
Wear layer
The clear top layer decides how long the planks keep their looks: around 0.3mm for bedrooms and living rooms, 0.5mm or more for kitchens, hallways, pets and children.
Realism
The most convincing vinyl planks have many different plank designs (fewer repeats), bevelled edges that outline each board, embossed texture that follows the printed grain, and a matt or low-sheen finish like oiled or lacquered wood.
Plank size
Wide and long planks make a room feel bigger and calmer, with fewer joints; narrower planks look traditional and suit smaller rooms and hallways.
Vinyl planks or real wood?
Vinyl planks are water-resistant, warmer and softer than they look, very easy to clean, and suitable for kitchens and bathrooms, where real wood is not. Real wood feels like timber underfoot, ages naturally and can be sanded and refinished. Many homes use both: engineered wood in the living areas and matching wood-effect vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom. See our engineered wood guide for the real wood options.
Vinyl planks or laminate?
Both give a wood look at a sensible price. Vinyl copes with water and is quieter and warmer; laminate has a harder, more scratch-resistant surface for dry rooms. The comparison table in our luxury vinyl guide goes into detail.
Fitting vinyl plank flooring
- Let the packs acclimatise flat in the room, typically 24 to 48 hours.
- Check the subfloor is clean, dry and flat; vinyl shows dips and bumps beneath it. Overlay old floorboards with plywood or hardboard.
- For click planks, use a thin, firm LVT underlay unless one is attached; for glue-down, a vinyl floor adhesive on a primed, smooth subfloor.
- Lay the planks towards the main window or along the longest wall, stagger the end joints and mix planks from several packs.
- Leave the expansion gap the product asks for (click floors) and finish with scotia beading or skirting.
Our installation guides and measuring guide help you plan; add about 5% for cutting waste.
Looking after vinyl planks
Sweep or vacuum often, mop with a damp mop and a pH-neutral cleaner, use felt pads under furniture and door mats without a rubber backing. Avoid bleach, solvent cleaners and steam mops unless the maker allows them.
Common mistakes
- Opening one pack at a time, which makes print repeats easy to spot.
- A thick laminate underlay under click planks.
- No expansion gap with click planks in large or sunny rooms.
Very sunny rooms with large windows need extra care: strong sun can heat vinyl and make click planks move, so use blinds and leave the full expansion gap.
FAQs on Vinyl Plank Flooring (LVP)
LVP (luxury vinyl plank) is luxury vinyl in plank form, usually with a wood look. LVT (luxury vinyl tile) is the general name for luxury vinyl, and often means tile formats with a stone look.
The planks do not absorb water. Water can still get under the edges, so wipe up standing water and seal the edges in bathrooms.
Good vinyl planks do, thanks to detailed prints, embossed grain, bevelled edges and many different plank designs. Order samples to see them in your own light.
Yes, over a smooth base: floorboards are usually overlaid with plywood or hardboard first so their lines do not show through.
Yes. Vinyl planks suit every room, and running one floor through the house makes it feel bigger. Very large areas may need expansion breaks for click floors.
They resist scratches well, especially with a thicker wear layer. Grit and dragged furniture are the main causes, so use mats and felt pads.
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