{"id":712,"date":"2017-07-16T22:56:06","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T22:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging-2.multiple-post-thumbnails\/\/?page_id=712"},"modified":"2024-04-04T04:39:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T04:39:23","slug":"firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/","title":{"rendered":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1500245920961{margin-top: 35px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate<\/strong><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title=”1. What is LVT?” tab_id=”1502298473832-18c0a443-33e7″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tiles or Planks flooring is made using PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which gives the material a dense but elastic construction. The material is considered \u201cresilient\u201d due to its ability to compress and expand with contact instead of cracking. Unlike regular vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl can handle full liquid submersion without warping or discoloration.
\nLuxury vinyl flooring is protected by durable \u201cwear layer\u201d of urethane for maximum protection and orthopaedic comfort. The thicker the wear layer is, the more durable the flooring to high foot traffic.<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Waterproof.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Versatile.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Affordable.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Durable.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Easy-to-maintain.<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Not DIY friendly.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Unstable to sunlight and high temperature variations.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Susceptible to scratches.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Telegraphing of subfloor imperfections \u2013 not suitable to installation over lessthan-perfect subfloor.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Requires acclimation prior to installation.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 \u00a0Not suitable for large area installation.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”2. What is Laminate?” tab_id=”1502298473843-0787da0c-5935″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Laminate is multi-layer wood fibre based flooring, it is fused together with a lamination process:<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Wear resistant overlay<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Decorative paper (melamine impregnated paper)<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 HDF – high-density fibreboard core, which makes the flooring very rigid.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Balancing sheet<\/p>\n

Laminate flooring is installed using click system, also known as a \u201cfloating floor\u201d system, meaning it does not need to be nailed or glued down to the subfloor. This makes for an easy installation process for DIYers, but also means that the flooring material should NEVER get wet. Moisture and humidity can severely damage laminate floors due to the sponge-like fibreboard layer and aerated gap underneath. Installation of laminate flooring in bathroom, kitchen or other high moisture areas is not recommended for this reason.<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Durable and scratch resistant.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Rigid – no telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Impact resistant.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Affordable.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 DIY-friendly.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Easy-to-maintain.<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Not suitable for wet areas.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Requires acclimation prior to installation.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Not suitable for large area installation.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Not sound absorbent.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”3. What is WPC?” tab_id=”1502299229090-668d916f-5c1e”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

WPC stands for Wood Plastic\/Polymer Composite. However, many WPC flooring products don\u2019t contain any actual wood, but a wood flour (a finely ground wood powder) made from hardwoods. WPC flooring is technically a LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile\/Plank) because it has a vinyl surface. It can also be marketed as being an engineered\/enhanced vinyl floor.<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Waterproof.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 No telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 DIY-friendly.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Installs over a large area without transition profiles.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Requires no acclimation prior to installation.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Easy-to-maintain.<\/p>\n

Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Unstable to high temperature variations.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Not resistant to impacts and heavy static loads because of its core, which is generally half the density of LVT.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”4. What is FirmFit?” tab_id=”1502299227525-a3def6fd-348c”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

FirmFit is a rigid core luxury vinyl flooring. The floor\u2019s structure is close to LVT, however there are two main aspects that make FirmFit very different:<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 The flooring\u2019s core is mostly made of limestone, rather than PVC.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Unlike LVT or WPC products, FirmFit’s core contains 0% plasticizers, which are chemical additives used during manufacturing to make the PVC softer and easier to handle.<\/p>\n

The combination of the two makes FirmFit extra rigid and much more stable to temperature variations, as well as sunlight.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”5. How does FirmFit compare to the other glue-less flooring solutions, such as LVT, WPC and Laminate?” tab_id=”1502299230202-771f5ec3-3f84″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

FirmFit flooring combines all of the pluses of other flooring solutions, including LVT, Laminate and WPC, but none of their minuses:<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Waterproof.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Stable to high temperature variations and sunlight.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Limestone based rigid core – no telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Installs over a large area without transition profiles \u2013 up to 6400ft2 <\/span>\/ 620m2<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Suitable for every room \u2013 including bathrooms, kitchens, and even sunrooms.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Highly resistant to impacts and heavy static loads.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Requires no acclimation prior to installation.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Versatile designs with embossed surface for real wood\/stone look & feel.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 DIY-friendly \u2013 the flooring comes with an easy-to-install click system and<\/p>\n

requires minimum subfloor preparations.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Affordable.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Pet-friendly \u2013 durable and stain resistant.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Sound absorbent.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 100% plasticiser-free core.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 Low VOC emissions.<\/p>\n

\uf0b7 100% recyclable.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”desktop”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td><\/td>FIRMFIT<\/th>Glue-less
\nLuxury Vinyl<\/th>		WPC<\/th>Laminate<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>100% Waterproof<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>Stable to high
\ntemperature variations<\/td>		<\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>Stable to sunlight<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>Large area installation
\n(6400ft2 \/ 620m2)
\nwithout transitions<\/td>		<\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>Extra resistant to impacts
\n& heavy static load<\/td>		<\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>No acclimation required<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>No telegraphing of small
\nsubfloor imperfections<\/td>		<\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>Suitable for every room<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>Min subfloor preparations<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>Easy-to-install<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>Sound absorbent<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>Plasticizer-free core
\n(incl. ortho phthalates -
\nProp 65 compliant)<\/td>		<\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>Very low VOC emissions<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>100% recyclable<\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>TOTAL SCORE<\/td>14\/14<\/td>5\/14<\/td>10\/14<\/td>7\/14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”mobile”][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg”][vc_single_image image=”1150″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1500245920961{margin-top: 35px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text] FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate [\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title=”1. What is LVT?” tab_id=”1502298473832-18c0a443-33e7″][vc_column_text] LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tiles or Planks flooring is made using PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which gives the material a dense but elastic construction. The material is considered \u201cresilient\u201d due to its ability to compress and expand with contact instead of […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":454,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-712","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate - Area1<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate - Area1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Area1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-04-04T04:39:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2017\/08\/favicon.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"472\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#1\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#1\",\"name\":\"1. What is LVT?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p class=\\\"p2\\\">LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tiles or Planks flooring is made using PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which gives the material a dense but elastic construction. The material is considered \\\"resilient\\\" due to its ability to compress and expand with contact instead of cracking. Unlike regular vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl can handle full liquid submersion without warping or discoloration.\\r\\nLuxury vinyl flooring is protected by durable \\\"wear layer\\\" of urethane for maximum protection and orthopaedic comfort. The thicker the wear layer is, the more durable the flooring to high foot traffic.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\"><strong>Pros:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 \u00a0Waterproof.<\\\/p>\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Versatile.\\r\\n\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Affordable.\\r\\n\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Durable.\\r\\n\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Easy-to-maintain.\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\"><strong>Cons:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 \u00a0Not DIY friendly.<\\\/p>\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Unstable to sunlight and high temperature variations.\\r\\n\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Susceptible to scratches.\\r\\n\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Telegraphing of subfloor imperfections \u2013 not suitable to installation over lessthan-perfect subfloor.\\r\\n\\r\\n\uf0b7 Requires acclimation prior to installation.\\r\\n\\r\\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Not suitable for large area installation.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#2\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#2\",\"name\":\"2. What is Laminate?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p class=\\\"p2\\\">Laminate is multi-layer wood fibre based flooring, it is fused together with a lamination process:<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Wear resistant overlay<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Decorative paper (melamine impregnated paper)<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 HDF - high-density fibreboard core, which makes the flooring very rigid.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Balancing sheet<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">Laminate flooring is installed using click system, also known as a \\\"floating floor\\\" system, meaning it does not need to be nailed or glued down to the subfloor. This makes for an easy installation process for DIYers, but also means that the flooring material should NEVER get wet. Moisture and humidity can severely damage laminate floors due to the sponge-like fibreboard layer and aerated gap underneath. Installation of laminate flooring in bathroom, kitchen or other high moisture areas is not recommended for this reason.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\"><strong>Pros:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Durable and scratch resistant.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Rigid - no telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Impact resistant.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Affordable.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 DIY-friendly.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Easy-to-maintain.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\"><strong>Cons:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Not suitable for wet areas.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Requires acclimation prior to installation.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Not suitable for large area installation.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Not sound absorbent.<\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#3\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#3\",\"name\":\"3. What is WPC?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p class=\\\"p2\\\">WPC stands for Wood Plastic\\\/Polymer Composite. However, many WPC flooring products don't contain any actual wood, but a wood flour (a finely ground wood powder) made from hardwoods. WPC flooring is technically a LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile\\\/Plank) because it has a vinyl surface. It can also be marketed as being an engineered\\\/enhanced vinyl floor.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\"><strong>Pros:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Waterproof.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 No telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 DIY-friendly.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Installs over a large area without transition profiles.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Requires no acclimation prior to installation.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Easy-to-maintain.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\"><strong>Cons:<\\\/strong><\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Unstable to high temperature variations.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Not resistant to impacts and heavy static loads because of its core, which is generally half the density of LVT.<\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#4\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#4\",\"name\":\"4. What is FirmFit?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p class=\\\"p2\\\">FirmFit is a rigid core luxury vinyl flooring. The floor's structure is close to LVT, however there are two main aspects that make FirmFit very different:<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 The flooring's core is mostly made of limestone, rather than PVC.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Unlike LVT or WPC products, FirmFit's core contains 0% plasticizers, which are chemical additives used during manufacturing to make the PVC softer and easier to handle.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">The combination of the two makes FirmFit extra rigid and much more stable to temperature variations, as well as sunlight.<\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#5\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#5\",\"name\":\"5. How does FirmFit compare to the other glue-less flooring solutions, such as LVT, WPC and Laminate?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<p class=\\\"p2\\\">FirmFit flooring combines all of the pluses of other flooring solutions, including LVT, Laminate and WPC, but none of their minuses:<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Waterproof.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Stable to high temperature variations and sunlight.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Limestone based rigid core - no telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Installs over a large area without transition profiles \u2013 up to 6400ft2 \\\/ 620m2.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Suitable for every room \u2013 including bathrooms, kitchens, and even sunrooms.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Highly resistant to impacts and heavy static loads.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Requires no acclimation prior to installation.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Versatile designs with embossed surface for real wood\\\/stone look & feel.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 DIY-friendly \u2013 the flooring comes with an easy-to-install click system and<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">requires minimum subfloor preparations.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Affordable.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Pet-friendly \u2013 durable and stain resistant.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Sound absorbent.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 100% plasticiser-free core.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 Low VOC emissions.<\\\/p>\\r\\n<p class=\\\"p2\\\">\uf0b7 100% recyclable.<\\\/p>\"}},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\\\/\",\"name\":\"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate - Area1\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2017-07-16T22:56:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-04-04T04:39:23+00:00\",\"description\":\"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#1\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#2\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#3\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#4\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#5\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"INFORMATION CENTER\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/information-center\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/\",\"name\":\"Area1\",\"description\":\"FIRMFIT\u00ae: The Strongest Waterproof Flooring | Rigid Luxury Vinyl Resistant Wood Look Flooring\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.firmfitfloor.com\\\/area1\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate - Area1","description":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate - Area1","og_description":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate","og_url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/","og_site_name":"Area1","article_modified_time":"2024-04-04T04:39:23+00:00","og_image":[{"width":512,"height":472,"url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2017\/08\/favicon.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#1","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#1","name":"1. What is LVT?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p class=\"p2\">LVT or Luxury Vinyl Tiles or Planks flooring is made using PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which gives the material a dense but elastic construction. The material is considered \"resilient\" due to its ability to compress and expand with contact instead of cracking. Unlike regular vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl can handle full liquid submersion without warping or discoloration.\r\nLuxury vinyl flooring is protected by durable \"wear layer\" of urethane for maximum protection and orthopaedic comfort. The thicker the wear layer is, the more durable the flooring to high foot traffic.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 \u00a0Waterproof.<\/p>\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Versatile.\r\n\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Affordable.\r\n\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Durable.\r\n\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Easy-to-maintain.\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 \u00a0Not DIY friendly.<\/p>\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Unstable to sunlight and high temperature variations.\r\n\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Susceptible to scratches.\r\n\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Telegraphing of subfloor imperfections \u2013 not suitable to installation over lessthan-perfect subfloor.\r\n\r\n\uf0b7 Requires acclimation prior to installation.\r\n\r\n\uf0b7 \u00a0Not suitable for large area installation."}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#2","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#2","name":"2. What is Laminate?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p class=\"p2\">Laminate is multi-layer wood fibre based flooring, it is fused together with a lamination process:<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Wear resistant overlay<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Decorative paper (melamine impregnated paper)<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 HDF - high-density fibreboard core, which makes the flooring very rigid.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Balancing sheet<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">Laminate flooring is installed using click system, also known as a \"floating floor\" system, meaning it does not need to be nailed or glued down to the subfloor. This makes for an easy installation process for DIYers, but also means that the flooring material should NEVER get wet. Moisture and humidity can severely damage laminate floors due to the sponge-like fibreboard layer and aerated gap underneath. Installation of laminate flooring in bathroom, kitchen or other high moisture areas is not recommended for this reason.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Durable and scratch resistant.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Rigid - no telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Impact resistant.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Affordable.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 DIY-friendly.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Easy-to-maintain.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Not suitable for wet areas.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Requires acclimation prior to installation.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Not suitable for large area installation.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Not sound absorbent.<\/p>"}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#3","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#3","name":"3. What is WPC?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p class=\"p2\">WPC stands for Wood Plastic\/Polymer Composite. However, many WPC flooring products don't contain any actual wood, but a wood flour (a finely ground wood powder) made from hardwoods. WPC flooring is technically a LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile\/Plank) because it has a vinyl surface. It can also be marketed as being an engineered\/enhanced vinyl floor.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Waterproof.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 No telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 DIY-friendly.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Installs over a large area without transition profiles.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Requires no acclimation prior to installation.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Easy-to-maintain.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Unstable to high temperature variations.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Not resistant to impacts and heavy static loads because of its core, which is generally half the density of LVT.<\/p>"}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#4","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#4","name":"4. What is FirmFit?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p class=\"p2\">FirmFit is a rigid core luxury vinyl flooring. The floor's structure is close to LVT, however there are two main aspects that make FirmFit very different:<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 The flooring's core is mostly made of limestone, rather than PVC.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Unlike LVT or WPC products, FirmFit's core contains 0% plasticizers, which are chemical additives used during manufacturing to make the PVC softer and easier to handle.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">The combination of the two makes FirmFit extra rigid and much more stable to temperature variations, as well as sunlight.<\/p>"}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#5","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#5","name":"5. How does FirmFit compare to the other glue-less flooring solutions, such as LVT, WPC and Laminate?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<p class=\"p2\">FirmFit flooring combines all of the pluses of other flooring solutions, including LVT, Laminate and WPC, but none of their minuses:<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Waterproof.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Stable to high temperature variations and sunlight.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Limestone based rigid core - no telegraphing of small subfloor imperfections.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Installs over a large area without transition profiles \u2013 up to 6400ft2 \/ 620m2.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Suitable for every room \u2013 including bathrooms, kitchens, and even sunrooms.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Highly resistant to impacts and heavy static loads.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Requires no acclimation prior to installation.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Versatile designs with embossed surface for real wood\/stone look & feel.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 DIY-friendly \u2013 the flooring comes with an easy-to-install click system and<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">requires minimum subfloor preparations.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Affordable.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Pet-friendly \u2013 durable and stain resistant.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Sound absorbent.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 100% plasticiser-free core.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 Low VOC emissions.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p2\">\uf0b7 100% recyclable.<\/p>"}},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/","url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/","name":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate - Area1","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/#website"},"datePublished":"2017-07-16T22:56:06+00:00","dateModified":"2024-04-04T04:39:23+00:00","description":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#1"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#2"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#3"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#4"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate#5"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/firmfit-vs-lvt-wpc-laminate\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"INFORMATION CENTER","item":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/information-center\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"FirmFit vs LVT, WPC, Laminate"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/","name":"Area1","description":"FIRMFIT\u00ae: The Strongest Waterproof Flooring | Rigid Luxury Vinyl Resistant Wood Look Flooring","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=712"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9788,"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/712\/revisions\/9788"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.firmfitfloor.com\/area1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}