LifeProof Vinyl Flooring Evaluations – Learn Earlier than You Purchase

Welcome to a different HomeFlooring Professionals flooring evaluation, this week we deliver you our evaluation, and different client opinions, of LifeProof inflexible core luxurious vinyl flooring. There’s quite a bit to get by way of, together with easy methods to set up LifeProof and worth comparability tables, so be at liberty to make use of the short hyperlinks under to zip forwards and backwards.

What’s LifeProof Vinyl – Professionals & Cons – Set up – Cleansing – Costs – Client Experiences

What’s LifeProof Vinyl Flooring

LifeProof is a inflexible luxurious vinyl flooring made by Halstead New England Industries, offered completely at Residence Depot and competes face to face with prime rigid-core manufacturers.

Inflexible Core Building:

• Base

  An connected underlayment absorbs influence for strolling/standing consolation. It reduces noise and gives insulation too.

• Core

  This LifeProof vinyl plank flooring has a closed-cell PVC foam core it calls ISOCORE. The core makes it each lighter and stronger than sheet vinyl ground materials.

• Prime

  The damage layer is new vinyl (it’s not recycled). It’s embossed with woodgrain texture or stone texture. Ceramic beads are infused into the wear and tear layer for sturdiness and resistance to scratches. Prime and backside layers are handled with an antimicrobial to forestall mould.

• Interlocking design

  Interlocking tabs maintain the items collectively however will be broken when taking them aside.

LifeProof Product Specs

LifeProof luxurious vinyl plank flooring is available in three thicknesses, every with a number of model choices:

• 6.5mm: eight kinds, every in a wide range of colours. Multi-width Seasoned Wooden and Walton Oak, 7” Shadow Hickory, Tekoa Oak, Seaside Oak and Important Oak are all.6”. Breezy Stone and Starry Mild 16”x32”.
• 7 mm: 5 kinds in a number of colours. eight.7” Path Oak, Sterling Oak, Recent Oak and Scratch Stone all 47.6” lengthy. Biscayne Oak is four.72”x28.35” with herringbone look.
• eight mm: Three kinds in a number of colours. Ocala Oak is eight.7” x 59.four”. Alys Oak is eight.7”x72”. The Alys Oak is distinguished by its size and better price. Longer planks lower set up time.

 

LifeProof Luxurious Vinyl Flooring Professionals and Cons

There’s a lot to love about this resilient flooring, however we wish to point out a couple of disadvantages too.

LifeProof Vinyl Benefits:

• Type selections

  The color and style choices detailed above are good, if not nice. As you browse your selections at a Residence Depot retailer or on-line at homedepot.com, you’ll probably discover a number of choices for the look you need. For instance, Seasoned Wooden has a weathered look. Walton Oak is grainy and rustic. Ocala Oak is clear and modern. Then you definately’ve acquired the stone and herringbone kinds talked about above. Lights, mediums and darks are supplied in most traces.

• High quality building

  The LifeProof Inflexible Core multilayer strategy with a put on layer enhanced with ceramic beads ought to produce glorious long-term stability and put on.

• Skinny and light-weight but sturdy

  The ISOCORE foam core provides the fabric rigidity and energy usually present in thicker, heavier supplies. It’s straightforward to work with, and slight imperfections or tile grout beneath received’t present by way of the flooring.

• Simple set up for many

  Whereas professional set up is the perfect route to making sure a correct match and long-lasting outcomes, skilled DIY householders do discover this materials straightforward to put in. See the Evaluate part under for set up issues skilled by some.

• It covers “something”

  So long as the ground beneath it’s in first rate form with out rises and low spots, this luxurious vinyl materials will rework your flooring with little preparation required.

• Works with radiant heated flooring

  LifeProof is right for set up over radiant warmth flooring. There are a couple of easy pointers to comply with within the Set up Information to make sure success.

• Sturdiness

  We count on this flooring would require changing in 6-10 years in business settings and in 15-20 years in residential settings. Site visitors and upkeep will considerably have an effect on sturdiness. The Lifetime and 5-year warranties cowl materials defects

• Low-VOC

  LifeProof vinyl planks and tiles are FloorScore licensed to be low-VOC merchandise with out phthalates or formaldehyde.

• Resistance to moisture and mould

  LifeProof planks are waterproof and handled to forestall mould and mildew when put in in basements, kitchens, baths, entryways and laundry rooms.

• Residential Guarantee

  The Lifetime guarantee for residential use is considerably higher than most. It’s not prorated and doesn’t have extreme that make it straightforward for the producer to disclaim guarantee claims.

• Simple care

  That is low-maintenance flooring. Particulars are under.

LifeProof Vinyl Disadvantages:

• DIY harm

  That is simply the highest con. A big share of DIY installers report that the interlocking tabs can break throughout set up or if items should be separated after set up.

• Business guarantee size

  The 5-year business guarantee is shorter than these supplied by some competing merchandise. For instance, CoreTec Plus luxurious vinyl flooring has a 10-year business guarantee to go along with the Lifetime residential protection.

• Non-transferable

  The guarantee applies to the primary proprietor solely, whether or not residential or business. That takes among the shine off the Lifetime guarantee.

• Not so inexperienced

  This flooring just isn’t made with any recycled materials, although many constructing merchandise are. Whereas it’s recyclable, the restricted variety of vinyl recycling services can’t accommodate the amount. Most vinyl flooring is shipped to landfills.

• It’s not wooden

  Perhaps this doesn’t have to be stated. However if you would like the advantages of real wooden and don’t thoughts the TLC it requires, you may have stable hardwood or engineered hardwood flooring for about twice the price.

LifeProof Vinyl Flooring Set up

Hiring an skilled installer is important. The producer of LifeProof flooring, Halstead New England makes it clear that it, “will decline accountability for damages related to improper set up or poor website situations.” Apparently, the producer is conscious of the complaints about damaging the interlocking tabs whereas putting in or eradicating planks and tiles.

The data on this part needs to be mentioned with installers you interview when getting estimates for the work.

How LifeProof installs

LifeProof luxurious vinyl flooring has interlocking “drop and lock” finish joints for floating set up. The producer particularly prohibits gluing as a result of it might not enable the flooring to increase and contract with regular modifications in environmental situations.

An enlargement hole of ¼” is required across the perimeter of the ground to permit for regular enlargement and contraction. Don’t set up baseboard tight sufficient to the flooring to forestall this enlargement/contraction.

The place to Set up

LifeProof flooring will be put in over commonplace OSB and plywood underlayment and plenty of current ground varieties.

The literature lists stable hardwood, linoleum, terrazzo, ceramic tile and stone tile as flooring it may be put in on. Add concrete to that listing too.

It may be put in above, at and under grade in residential and business settings. The area should be indoors and/or local weather managed.

In sub-grade installations, seek the advice of your flooring installer about utilizing a moisture barrier to forestall moisture migration upwards which may have an effect on the efficiency of LifeProof luxurious vinyl plank and tile. The barrier needs to be a minimal of 6 mil thick. Overlap seams 6” and tape them.

The place to not set up

Unsuitable areas embrace open air, sunrooms, saunas, lined porches and different areas with excessive variations. If campers, RVs, boats and automobiles shall be saved within the area, use one other flooring sort.

Preparation

If there are imperfections beneath, they will typically be sanded or patched at little price to arrange the ground for LifeProof. Notice that grout traces bigger than ¼” broad should be stuffed to create a stage basis.

Whereas acclimation for humidity just isn’t obligatory, the fabric needs to be saved indoors and put in at temperatures above 50F and never higher than 100F.

Inspection

It’s acceptable to open four packing containers of fabric previous to set up to examine for shade variation and defects and determine whether or not to return the flooring. Every field needs to be inspected as it’s opened, since per the literature, “Putting in faulty planks implies acceptance.”

Prohibitions

You shouldn’t set up this flooring on stairs or over carpet, different floating flooring together with laminate, rubber, cork, foam underlayment or cushioned vinyl. These ground varieties don’t present the steadiness required and may void the guarantee.

LifeProof and Radiant ground heating

Radiant tubing should be ½” beneath the concrete floor. In new installations, run the radiant system for 2 weeks previous to set up to get rid of the prospect for the concrete to contract after set up. The producer additionally requires that the HVAC system in new building be operational to keep up constant temperature and humidity situations.

There’s extra technical data and set up ideas within the LifeProof Set up Directions your installer needs to be acquainted with.

Cleansing and Upkeep

LifeProof vinyl flooring is a simple ground to maintain clear and keep with only a few ideas:

Cleansing Unfastened dust

Use a mud mop or vacuum to take away unfastened dust and particles. In case your vacuum has a rotating brush/beater bar, flip it off. Higher but, buy a hard-floor vacuum and not using a beater bar to guard your funding.

We suggest sweeping or vacuuming one time per week for every member or your family together with pets.

Cleansing Spills and pet accidents

Sop up spills instantly, after which wash the realm with a gentle detergent. That is very important for acidic spills like wine, juice and soda. Rinse the realm to take away detergent residue which may cloud the floor.

Cleansing Sticky stuff

Spray stuck-on dust with heat water or moist a material and let it sit on the realm for Three-5 minutes. Wipe and rinse the realm.

When to Defend the ground

Use paint, dyes and harsh chemical substances some other place. If that’s not potential, cowl the ground in your work space with a plastic drop material.

Mopping schedule and ideas

Mop the ground as wanted (at the very least month-to-month) with a pH-neutral vinyl ground cleansing resolution. Change mop water and alter or rinse cleansing cloths as they grow to be visibly dirty. Going over the ground with a clear mop and water for a remaining rinse will take away residue and streaking.

Mats Do: Place shoe mats exterior/off the vinyl flooring. Filth beneath mats acts like sandpaper on any flooring when walked upon. It should scratch and mar the floor. The mats needs to be labeled “colorfast” if they are going to be positioned on the flooring.

Don’t Use Rubber Mats

Don’t use rubber-backed mats on the flooring, as a result of they may react chemically and darken the vinyl.

Different issues to keep away from

Don’t use these things in your LifeProof LVT flooring – A steam cleaner, vacuum with a rotating brush, wax, oil, polish, metal wool, scouring pad or furnishings cleaner.

LifeProof Harm Prevention

Keep away from damaging your ground with these precautions:

• Use nylon or felt protecting pads beneath furnishings legs and clear them as wanted.
• Elevate and transfer furnishings as an alternative of dragging it.
• Use hard-surface non-studded chair mats for workplace chairs. Broad-surface casters are additionally really helpful.
• Hold pet nails trimmed.
• Keep away from strolling on the flooring with golf spikes, stiletto heels and comparable footwear.

Costs and Choices

LifeProof vinyl flooring costs are competitively priced with its main opponents. The primary desk exhibits LifeProof flooring prices.

LifeProof Luxurious Vinyl Plank and Tile Value Comparability Desk

$2.79/sq.ft.	Thickness	$2.99 /sq.ft.	Thickness	$Three.49/sq.ft.	Thickness	$four.39/sq.ft.	Thickness
Seasoned Wooden	6.5mm	Breezy Stone	6.5mm	Biscayne Oak	7mm	Amherst Oak	8mm
Important Oak	6.5mm	Starry Mild	6.5mm			Brookland Oak	8mm
Walton Oak	6.5mm	Recent Oak	7mm			Alys Oak	8mm
Shadow Hickory	6.5mm	Path Oack	7mm
Seaside Oak	6.5mm	Scratch Stone	7mm
Tekoa Oak	6.5mm	Burnt Oak	7mm
Sterling Oak	7mm	Lighthouse Oak	7mm
		Woodacres Oak	7mm
		Ocala Oak	8mm

 

The damage layer for LifeProof flooring is 6 mils with these exceptions:
Ocala Oak: 12 mils
Amerst Oak: 22 mils
Brookland Oak: 22 mils
Alys Oak: 22 mils

This desk exhibits prices for different prime luxurious vinyl plank and tile that has a inflexible core.

Different Inflexible Luxurious Vinyl Flooring Choices and Costs

 

Client Evaluations

What do residence and enterprise house owners consider LifeProof flooring? Right here’s a sampling from throughout the scores spectrum. On Residence Depot, most LifeProof merchandise have scores between four and 5 Stars.

“We used 6.5mm LifeProof in our master bedroom as a result of it’s waterproof. The wood-look is spot-on, and the flooring is far hotter to the toes than the ceramic tile we changed within the tub. Our contractor put in 435 sq. toes in lower than a day.” 5 Stars –Rochelle

“Our installer laid this in our 1,250+/- basement proper over the concrete. He patched a pair cracks first, nonetheless, so that they wouldn’t present by way of. It’s been virtually a 12 months. The flooring is holding up properly. The patches are usually not displaying/carrying by way of. It’s 8mm and really comfy to stroll on in with out sneakers.” 5 Stars – Windy Metropolis Michele

“DIY set up went OK, however once I needed to pull up a couple of planks to reset them correctly, the tongue/groove connection was broken. Pleased with the look/really feel of the flooring, however don’t suggest DIY until you’re skilled and keen to take the danger of getting to make use of a couple of further planks.” four Stars – Gene77

“The Ocala Oak is beautiful, however snapping the items collectively was a significant ache. #DesignFlaw” Three Stars – Brill

“Scratches beneath our eating chairs confirmed up inside a month. We haven’t put sliders or pads on the chairs but, nevertheless it scratched too shortly, in our view.” 2 Stars – Mizzou 92

“Engaging vinyl, however dangerous design. Used 40% greater than obligatory attributable to breaking tabs off items. Then, the butts wouldn’t keep down.” 1 Star Jose T

These opinions clarify that the flooring is beautiful, heat and cozy, however there’s one potential drawback – the interlocking design.

In our opinion, the problematic set up some expertise isn’t enough cause to keep away from LifeProof. However we do suggest having the flooring professionally put in.

For an additional fashionable luxurious vinyl choice check out our Amrstrong Luxe plank evaluation.