Luxury vinyl flooring is the new trend in interior design. This flooring type delivers the sought-after hardwood look at a fraction of the price and is much easier to maintain and install. Some luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) such as the Quick-Step Blos, are even likely to last more than hardwood. Factors that contribute to their durability include resistance to water, heat, and scratches. However, these aren’t the only features that determine the flooring’s durability.
When buying luxury vinyl flooring, you must also consider its class and the warranty. At Floor Land, one of the main flooring stores in Warrington, we understand how difficult it is to evaluate the durability of LVT planks if you are not an expert. To make things easy, here are the most important factors to consider.
Flooring Class
Perhaps the most crucial factor to check when evaluating vinyl plank flooring durability is the class. This is a European standard introduced in the late 1990s that indicates in which areas and under which conditions laminate floors can be used.
Classes 21 to 23 designate flooring types fit for domestic use. Classes 31 to 34 indicate flooring suitable for intensive or commercial use. Higher classes indicate flooring that can be used in industrial environments. The Quick-Step Blos LVT flooring is a class 33 product. This class is fit for heavy commercial use, meaning you can install it in all environments of your home.
This flooring type also fits commercial premises, whether it is an office with little foot traffic or a store with dozens of customers coming and going. Basically, for home use, it means you won’t have to worry about scratches, stains, or discolouration.
Floor Thickness
Thickness (or height) is another important aspect to consider. As a rule of thumb, thicker planks have a longer lifespan than thinner ones. Surprisingly, though, the thickness’ impact on durability is actually minimal — this is where the wear layer steps in. What does change based on height is the perceived comfort.
Thicker vinyl planks provide extra stability and comfort underfoot. So, if you want a better feeling when walking on the new floors, you should aim for planks with a thickness of at least 4mm. Most luxury vinyl planks have a thickness of up to 8mm, which is ideal for high-traffic areas and commercial use. A middle ground is preferred in homes, providing the right balance between comfort, durability, and costs.
Blos is a 5mm LVT and one of the most popular types of Quick Step luxury vinyl flooring. It is ideal for higher traffic areas of your home, such as the kitchen and living room, while providing cushy comfort in the bedrooms, especially when walking on it barefoot. You can also choose from different finishes, all of which you can see at our Floor Land Warrington flooring showroom.
Wear Layer Thickness
The wear layer is a thin transparent PVC film placed on top of the photographic layer of vinyl flooring. Its role is to increase the durability of your floors. The thicker the wear layer is, the more durable the floors will be.
Most luxury vinyl tiles have a wear layer thickness between 0.1 and 0.7mm. The upper threshold is fit for industrial use. A thin wear layer might be fine for light domestic use, but it will offer little to no protection against stains and scratches. The Blos lineup of Quick-Step vinyl flooring has a wear layer thickness of 0.5mm, making it perfect for high-traffic areas and heavy-duty commercial use.
You won’t have to worry about furniture scuffs or pets and footwear scratching the floor. The wear layer also protects the print layer from UV light, slowing down the discolouration process. In other words, your hardwood-lookalike floors will maintain their beautiful aspect for years.
Resistance to Scratches and Spills
The actual resistance to everyday use is one of the main concerns when buying vinyl flooring. Scratches and spills are the two main factors that affect all flooring types, but with high-quality options, such as the Quick Step LVT, you have nothing to worry about.
Quickstep uses various technologies to improve the resistance and durability of its Blos flooring, including full protection against surface moisture. Thanks to the Hydroseal coating, water won’t be able to seep through the joints, so it will not affect the subfloor. No moisture under the planks also means you won’t have to worry about mould and bacteria developing under your floors.
A proprietary scratch and stain guard applied on top of the wear layer also ensures superior protection from scratches, scuff marks, and liquid or solid stains. Dirt and dust are very easy to clean off these floors, either with a vacuum cleaner or a wet mop.
Compatibility with Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular, as it maintains more streamlined interiors. The problem is that most vinyl flooring types are incompatible with this type of heating system. High heat can warp the vinyl material, leading to aesthetic defects and a reduced lifespan.
For this reason, most people looking to install underfloor heating in their homes choose ceramic tile floors. However, even though modern models include hardwood lookalikes, ceramic will never mimic hardwood in the way luxury vinyl planks do.
If you want the sought-after hardwood look and an underfloor heating system, you should opt for LVT flooring such as the Quick-Step Blos. This particular floor is compatible with all types of low-temperature underfloor heating, including wet and dry hot water or electrical systems. The only thing to mention to your installer is that the maximum contact temperature of the vinyl cannot exceed 27°C.
Beyond heating systems, the Quick-Step Blos flooring also has a good thermal resistance between 0.035 and 0.070 m²K/W. This thermal resistance improves the floor’s durability and lifespan. To find out more about this floor’s compatibility with underfloor heating systems and its thermal resistance, you can contact the Floor Land experts or visit our Warrington flooring shop.
Underlayment
Standard vinyl flooring consists of a backing layer, a vinyl core, a print layer, and a wear layer. To install it, you must first install an underlayment, which is an additional layer of material that goes on top of the substrate (subfloor or a flat floor surface). Separate underlayment comes with some advantages, but it also has disadvantages.
One of its main downsides is the higher probability of moisture getting trapped under the floor, leading to the development of mould and mildew. A separate layer of underlayment might also offer less cushioning and poor sound absorption.
To avoid most of these issues, Quick-Step Blos is a type of floor made of vinyl with built-in underlay. LVT with underlay attached dramatically enhances the floor’s comfort, soundproofing, and insulation capabilities. It also smooths over minor substrate irregularities, improving the floor’s aesthetic.
Installation
Another factor that determines the Quick-Step Blos’ flooring resilience and durability is the type of installation. Blos is a uniclic floating flooring system. Each plank “clicks” onto the other and it doesn’t require to be glued down to the subfloor. The attached underlay eases the installation process and prevents improperly placed underlayment from damaging the floor.
These factors minimise installation mistakes, lowering the risk of damaging the floor during installation. The click system also makes it easy to replace a plank if necessary.
Warranty
When buying flooring products, a good indicator of their quality is the warranty. Flooring with only a few years of warranty isn’t very durable and typically needs replacement after a few years. Flooring with a lifetime warranty can last for decades with proper maintenance.
Quick-Step offers a lifetime residential warranty for the click system of its Blos flooring and 10 to 15 years of water resistance as long as the water doesn’t stagnate on the surface for more than 24 hours. The warranty
