This post may contain references or links to products from one or more partners of our parent company and/or subsidiaries of our parent company. For more information, visit this page.
September 29, 2021
Floating vinyl plank flooring is one of the most popular installation options these days. But are floating floors really a long-term flooring investment, or just a short-term gimmick meant to appeal to the DIY crowd?
We know you want to know, and we’re here to help.
Below we’ve compiled all there is to know about floating vinyl plank flooring. What it is, the different kinds of floating vinyl plank floors, their pros and cons, the best LVP flooring brands that sell them, and a heck of a lot more.
By the end of this article, you’ll know absolutely everything there is about floating vinyl plank flooring.
Let’s jump in!
Table of Contents
…And immediately jump back out! Because before we get into how it’s installed, we should first cover what luxury vinyl plank (LVP) actually is.
The short version: LVP is a durable, waterproof, and supremely versatile flooring option. It’s the golden standard for all PVC flooring because there’s little it can’t do.
LVP is one of the best hardwood floor substitutes available because of its uncanny ability to mimic the look and feel of real hardwood planks. In fact, the best LVP flooring is nearly indistinguishable from prefinished hardwood flooring. And many LVP brands also sell products that mimic different types of tile, too!
Just as important: waterproof vinyl flooring can obviously get wet. But it’s also super scratch-resistant. And that makes it some of the best flooring for dogs and kids you can buy!
Vinyl plank isn’t the only type of PVC flooring. There are also sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl tile (LVT), among others.
Sheet vinyl was the first to hit the market (back in the 1940s!) and it comes in rolls rather than planks. It’s mostly sold as budget flooring because of its single-layer design. There are also a few sheet-based outdoor vinyl flooring options out there, but if you’re looking at outdoor flooring options, vinyl probably isn’t your #1 answer.
Luxury vinyl tile, on the other hand, is nearly the same thing as LVP except that it’s cut into tiles instead of planks. There are a few minor problems with luxury vinyl tile, but they’re no different than the problems with LVP.
The only difference: while LVP mimics different wood flooring types, LVT mimics ceramic and stone tile.
To clear up any potential confusion, the rest of this article applies to both LVP and LVT. Any exceptions will be made obvious!
One last thing before we get to floating vinyl plank flooring—we also need to mention peel-and-stick vinyl plank flooring because a few brands seem to confuse it with loose-lay vinyl plank flooring.
Let’s be absolutely clear: peel and stick vinyl plank is not the same thing as loose-lay LVP. We’ll get into this more in a moment, but loose-lay doesn’t need any kind of adhesive while peel-and-stick vinyl is installed the same way you install peel-and-stick carpet tiles. And how do you install carpet tiles? Like stickers!
More to the point, peel-and-stick vinyl buys you some time while you think about more permanent flooring ideas, while loose-lay LVP should last decades.
Floating vinyl plank flooring is any kind of LVP that rests atop your subflooring instead of being glued down. But let’s back up a second, what is a floating floor in general?
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but floating floors don’t actually float like something out of Star Wars. They are, however, super neat!
Like we mentioned above, floating floors rest directly on top of your subflooring (if you’re wondering what subflooring is, it’s kind of like the bones of your home) without the use of glues or nails. Instead, floating floors use gravity and friction to stay in place.
Many different types of flooring can be floated—the method isn’t limited to LVP. Tile (snap-together tile flooring), laminate, and even some of the best engineered hardwood brands can be installed this way.
There are two types of floating vinyl plank flooring: click or snap-together flooring, which locks planks together using interlocking grooves, and loose-lay flooring, which relies on weight and a rubber backing to stay in place.
Click-lock flooring works the same way Legos do. Planks fit together using interlocking grooves to create a single platform. But unlike Legos, the click-lock grooves are located on the sides of each plank.
While this might sound risky, it really isn’t! By connecting each plank together, the chance of a plank coming loose is dramatically reduced. Without getting into the physics of it too much, the interlocking grooves allow individual planks to share impact forces with their neighbors. Together, they all remain largely unaffected.
If you’re still nervous about the idea, you can always turn your click-lock vinyl plank into magnetic flooring with a specialized underlayment that further reduces the possibility of lifting.
Loose-lay vinyl plank flooring is even better for DIY flooring installations. Instead of using a click-lock system, this floating LVP floor relies on rubber backings underneath each plank to increase friction—and therefore stay in place.
Think of it this way: tiny rubber door stoppers can keep heavy doors from closing. These rubber backings work the same way. It really is that simple!
For added security, loose-lay planks are usually heavier than other types of LVP to limit the chances of lifting.
As such, loose-lay vinyl is arguably the easiest flooring to install because mistakes are easily forgiven. If you place a plank down incorrectly, you don’t have to worry about unlocking all the surrounding planks to fix it. Just lift it up and try again!
Both versions of floating vinyl plank flooring offer a lot to get excited about, so we wouldn’t necessarily say one’s better than the other. It really just comes down to your specific needs and personal preference.
Like we said before, loose-lay vinyl is extremely DIY-friendly. Brands like Karndean even market it as “optional” flooring—as in, you could theoretically buy a few different batches and switch out your floors for different events!
This is a far cry from how difficult it can be to install even the best hardwood floors. One of the disadvantages of hickory flooring, for example, is that it’s nearly impossible to cut with normal tools so you A) have to buy tons of specialized blades, and B) have to spend hours upon hours cutting hickory planks to size.
Loose-lay vinyl is practically the opposite. You open the box, place the planks down, and boom! you’re done (okay, it might be slightly more complicated—but not by much!).
And since there are no locking mechanisms to get in the way, you can generally recreate all sorts of wood floor designs with minimal effort. It’s almost like floor Tetris!
One of the benefits of that half-inch-or-so of rubber: it has great sound-dampening qualities.
What does that mean exactly? Loose-lay vinyl isn’t very noisy. To be fair, click-lock floating vinyl plank flooring isn’t very noisy either, but loose-lay is the quieter of the two.
Loose-lay’s rubber backing gives it a tiny bit of bounce—not enough to be obvious, but enough to make it pretty comfortable to walk on.
The effect is similar to WPC flooring or the best cork flooring (both of which are super soft to walk on). But one of the main disadvantages of cork flooring is that it degrades over time. With floating vinyl plank, that’s never an issue.
One of the biggest (and only) disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring: it’s about the furthest thing from being eco-friendly flooring there is. After all, it’s mostly plastic! However, loose-lay floating vinyl plank flooring tends to be greener than other LVP options because it doesn’t (usually) need glue, and rubber is fully recyclable.
Is it the most environmentally-friendly flooring? Probably not, but it’s about as green as waterproof hardwood flooring (which requires special, not-very-eco-friendly sealants) or even non-toxic laminate flooring (since chemicals prevent the material from degrading naturally).
Of course, if you want the best in eco-friendly flooring, options like hemp flooring are going to be better. Alternatively, some of the best bamboo flooring options can give you the durability of vinyl with more eco-friendly cred—but it really depends on the product.
On the other hand, click-lock floating vinyl plank flooring is just a tiny bit more secure than loose-lay flooring because of its locking system. So: there’s a slightly smaller chance that it will get damaged.
Following that train of thought, it’s fair to say that click-lock LVP probably lasts longer than loose-lay (on average). But again: as with all fake wood flooring options, it entirely depends on the specific product.
Click-lock planks snugly fit together to create a watertight seal, while loose-lay vinyl still has seams.
That said, loose-lay is also waterproof, so there’s no reason you can’t use it for a wood floor bathroom or kitchen look.
Overall: both loose-lay and click-lock LVP are great choices for any rooms that frequently get wet (like mudroom flooring)—click-lock is just a little bit safer. Again, though (and we say this all the time because it’s really true), it totally depends on the product.
Rigid core luxury vinyl flooring upgrades the standard LVP formula with an enhanced core layer. The result is something called EVP, or engineered vinyl plank flooring. Most of the time, the goal is to make the floor more durable, but there are also varieties that improve comfort.
Loose-lay rigid core LVP is relatively hard to find, while click-lock rigid core LVP is virtually everywhere.
Many of the best vinyl plank flooring brands offer products that can be floated or glued down. But how do these methods compare?
Well, glue-down vinyl plank flooring is more secure than floating vinyl plank—but it’s also much harder (or at least more tedious) to install.
However, it makes it easier to mimic popular wood floor patterns (think parquet flooring styles like herringbone or chevron) because there aren’t any click-lock systems to get in the way. Obviously, this isn’t an issue for loose-lay installations.
And while there are some disadvantages of floating floors in general, using the proper underlayment for your vinyl flooring will almost always prevent them.
Materials-wise, floating vinyl plank flooring usually costs about the same as any other kind of vinyl plank; that is, between $2 and $6/sq. ft. on average.
However, the cost to install vinyl plank flooring—which usually ranges between $1.50 and $6.00/sq. ft.—does tend to be slightly cheaper in a floating style than for glue-down because the work isn’t as tedious.
For comparison, the total cost of wood flooring is easily double that, while the best laminate flooring—another great hardwood alternative—costs about the same as LVP (and the cost to install laminate flooring is about the same too).
Regardless of which variety you choose (click-lock or loose-lay), floating vinyl plank flooring offers a lot of benefits over its glue-down counterpart.
From exotic wood floor colors to a full range of soft and hardwood species, floating vinyl plank flooring offers a substitute for it all. Or, maybe you prefer stone styles? Floating LVP can do that too!
The mimicry doesn’t stop at looks either. You can find floating LVP that resembles thin-plank, mixed-plank, or even wide-plank wood flooring as well.
If you’ve spent any time reading vinyl plank flooring reviews, you’ll know LVP products are the industry leader in scratch-resistant flooring. How scratch-resistant? They easily outperform even the most durable wood flooring.
Since floating vinyl plank flooring can support any type of wear layer too, there’s really no limit to how durable it can be. And there is zero difference with product durability as far as floating setups are concerned—meaning floating vinyl plank flooring is just as durable as its glued cousin.
So why did we say “or even more so”? Because depending on the product, floating LVP floors can be even more waterproof.
See, click-together floors offer a watertight seal with zero seams (as we mentioned before). That’s why products that are made specifically to be waterproof—AquaGuard flooring, RevWood, etc.—come standard as click-together floors.
We should also mention: these examples are two of the best laminate flooring brands (not LVP), but the fact remains.
Since floating vinyl plank flooring is waterproof, you can simply mop it to keep it clean. Now, you can buy special cleaning chemicals—and some brands even recommend this—but it’s rarely a requirement.
For comparison, most other floors—including the best engineered wood flooring, which LVP is usually a stand-in for—do have special care requirements. Honestly, it’s one of the biggest engineered wood disadvantages, if you ask us.
The disadvantages of floating vinyl plank flooring vs. glue down really aren’t that bad, but it’s our duty to keep the public informed!
As we’ve mentioned before, floating vinyl plank flooring may not support super heavy foot traffic quite as well as glue-down floors do. This is a very product-dependent issue, and loose-lay vinyl plank is usually better for heavy foot traffic than click-together is.
All floating vinyl plank flooring is a little prone to lifting (though, as we mentioned before, loose-lay is a little more vulnerable). Factors like high heat, traffic, and humidity can all increase the risk. And again: we’re not saying they’re prone to lifting. At all. We’re just saying they’re more prone to lifting than glue-down.
That said, there’s no reason you can’t use either type of floating vinyl plank flooring for sunroom flooring, so the problem may be overstated. Even better, some brands are highly resistant to any kind of movement, including lifting.
To be fair, subflooring needs to be prepared well regardless of the type of flooring.
However, floating vinyl plank flooring is especially vulnerable to an uneven subfloor. Click-lock floors won’t connect right and loose-lay floors will rise and fall with any subfloor imperfections.
For this reason alone, we highly recommend hiring a contractor to (at least) prepare your subfloor.
We’ve used tons of vinyl plank flooring reviews to create this list of top brands that offer floating vinyl plank flooring. We also specify which type of floating vinyl plank flooring (click-lock or loose-lay) the brand offers.
Proximity Mills is one of two brands on this list that offers both loose-lay and click-lock floating vinyl plank. While it’s a smaller company, Proximity Mills enjoys excellent reviews and offers a wide range of high-end LVP products at an affordable price point.
Karndean is the only other brand here that makes click-lock and loose-lay floating vinyl plank flooring. Considered a premium brand, Karndean vinyl plank flooring costs a bit more than your average LVP, but the trade-off is generally worth it.
All Karndean products are certified as low-VOC vinyl flooring (learn about low-VOC flooring before making any purchases) and designed to last at least 35 years (which is longer than average).
The key takeaway from our COREtec flooring review: the brand makes excellent LVP, but you’ll really pay for it. While most high-end LVP costs between $4 and $6/sq. ft., some COREtec products cost upwards of $10/sq. ft. and more.
Bonus fact: COREtec invented WPC flooring.
LifeProof vinyl flooring is the first of two Home Depot exclusives on our quick list.
If you’re looking for a budget brand, LifeProof LVP isn’t a bad option, but don’t expect it to last for decades. The product has decent reviews but the price makes us wonder if it makes more sense to invest in a better-performing brand like Proximity Mills or Karndean.
SmartCore flooring is Lowes’ answer to Home Depot’s LifeProof.
SmartCore is probably the better of the two and it even offers some decent rigid core options, but it ultimately falls into the same trap as its rival: why not pay slightly more for a much better product?
LL Flooring’s CoreLuxe floating vinyl plank flooring is another middling product from a big box store (notice a theme yet?). The premium version of the floor is okay but LL Flooring’s sketchy reputation and a string of lawsuits regarding harmful chemicals and faulty floors is definitely concerning.
For the same price, there are much safer bets. You know, bets where you don’t have to worry whether your flooring will kill you.
Bonus tip: our Armstrong laminate flooring reviews highlight another brand with a checkered reputation. It’s definitely worth it to research your chosen brand to make sure there aren’t any recent lawsuits that could influence your decision.
TrafficMaster flooring—the other Home Depot exclusive—is probably better known for its budget laminate products, but they also sell LVP. The reviews are mediocre but that’s not too surprising for a brand that’s not exactly trying to be a premium brand.
TrafficMaster LVP isn’t bad for temperature-controlled, low-traffic spaces, but otherwise, we recommend looking for better floating vinyl plank flooring.
NuCore flooring is yet another big box store product, this time from Floor & Decor. It’s not terrible, but it also doesn’t offer anything that makes it stand out from brands like LifeProof—and it doesn’t hold a candle to Proximity Mills, Pergo, or other high-end brands.
If you know anything about Stainmaster luxury vinyl, you might be wondering why we’ve neglected to include their “loose lay vinyl flooring.” Simple: it’s not actually loose-lay vinyl flooring, but peel-and-stick vinyl instead!
Confusing—and borderline misleading—name aside, Stainmaster LVP is one you probably want to avoid.
While their LVP is geared towards the budget market, other brands like LifeProof and NuCore offer more overall value for your dollar.
Is there anything else worth knowing about floating vinyl plank flooring? We’ve collected some popular questions below!
Yes, of course! After all, LVP is essentially meant for rooms where it comes into frequent contact with water (though, in this case, hopefully that doesn’t happen!).
Maybe with the exception of a few low-end brands, you can absolutely glue your floating vinyl plank flooring down! This may even counteract some of the flaws we mentioned regarding lifting.
So long as they’re clean, level, and protected from moisture (by using an underlayment), you can install floating vinyl plank flooring over existing floors like hardwood. This is actually a common practice and one that can save you some serious dollars since you won’t have to rip up the old flooring.
Some brands of floating vinyl plank flooring can be heated the same way you might go about heating a wood floor. You will need to check a given product’s warranty and care instructions to make sure it’s compatible.
Yes, but it depends on what kind. Click-lock floors are not suited for rolling loads like wheelchairs. It should be no problem with most loose-lay products, though.
In general, floating vinyl plank flooring is fantastic! It’s versatile, durable, and relatively affordable. However, with so many mediocre brands out there, it’s easy to end up with a meh product.
And that brings us to our next point: the one thing all those budget brands we mentioned have in common is that they’re from big box stores like Home Depot and LL Flooring!
If you want quality, we can’t recommend your local top-rated flooring stores enough. Local stores tend to carry the best flooring products in addition to having qualified installers. Think that doesn’t matter? Look into Costco laminate flooring reviews and come back to us.
Either way, feel free to check out the articles below for more info on all things flooring and, as always, good luck with your floor-buying journey!
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This post may contain references or links to products from one or more partners of our parent company and/or subsidiaries of our parent company. For more information, visit this page. February 20, 2023 SPC, also known as Stone Plastic (or Polymer) Composite flooring is marketed as an upgrade to ordinary luxury vinyl plank and tile flooring, […]
