What is Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Vinyl flooring is a waterproof and low-maintenance floor covering constructed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They come in two main categories; vinyl plank flooring, and vinyl sheet flooring. Sheet vinyl flooring is usually reserved for commercial use, for example, in kitchens, hospitals and high-traffic areas that require slip resistance.

Whilst FloorVenue offers both, our key focus for this article is residential vinyl planks. Vinyl plank flooring is an alternative to natural timber that is waterproof and durable for both residential and commercial flooring usage. These are manufactured into planks or tiles which are glued down to the subfloor.

Looking to shop and explore vinyl plank flooring options? Feel free to explore the full range of vinyl plank colours here.

Waterproof & Maintenance

Vinyl plank floors are often used in residential splash areas and light commercial settings because they are very easy to clean and maintain. Unlike engineered timber or laminate flooring, vinyl planks are 100% waterproof, making them ideal for busy areas where spills or splashes are common.

Realistic Designs

Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP) is a type of flooring that is designed to imitate natural flooring options such as hardwood and ceramic tiles. Technological advances and enhanced design capability have allowed fashioning vinyl floors to look and feel nearly identical to the timber products they’re mimicking.

You can now choose from a variety of non-wood look colours like porcelain tile designs, and even marble or concrete wash! These are known as luxury vinyl tile designs.

Affordable (Usually)

It’s gorgeous, extremely durable and affordable, allowing customers to save with every square metre. Vinyl planks are similarly priced to laminate flooring and hybrid flooring. However, some thicker and more premium vinyl options can get more expensive. They also need to be glued down whereas other floating floors simply click-lock together without glue or nails.

As a rough idea, you can expect to pay between $60 – $100 per square metre to have good quality vinyl plank flooring supplied and installed. This includes basic floor preparation like removing and disposing of existing carpets or floating floors. However, subfloor levelling can significantly push up the total vinyl plank flooring cost if it is required.

If you wish to learn more about how much different flooring options cost, we have a full flooring price comparison that covers vinyl flooring.

Top 3 Vinyl Flooring Brand Reviews

FloorVenue offers hundreds of vinyl planks and vinyl sheet colours, however, we’ve condensed our knowledge and customer reviews on our most popular brands to make it easier for you. Whether you are looking to simply learn, or even buy today, this honest vinyl flooring review will help you make the right choice.

Marvel 3mm Vinyl Plank Flooring

Marvel 3mm Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is a highly durable and waterproof direct stick vinyl plank floor with an exceptionally modern yet natural palette of timber colours. This range is both affordable and trusty, a great choice if you want quality without breaking the bank.

Benefits of Marvel Luxury Vinyl Flooring

1. Robust Surface – It features an HD decor film, micro-bevelled edges and a 0.55mm commercial wear layer with an EverGuard anti-stain coating, making it one of the toughest floor coverings for both residential and commercial use.
2. Stain Resistant – With a completely non-porous surface wear layer and anti-stain UV coating, Marvel 3mm vinyl is super easy to maintain and doesn’t allow dirt, germs or bacteria to seep into the floor.
3. Waterproof – Although this is synonymous with all vinyl plank flooring, lets point out the waterproof nature of Marvel 3mm vinyl flooring.
4. Affordable Price – Although Marvel 3mm vinyl plank flooring is not the thinnest vinyl flooring brand, it comes at a very affordable price, positioning it in the money-for-value range.

Looking for your mid-range and value-for-money vinyl plank? Shop Marvel Vinyl flooring!

Heartridge Smoked Oak 5.0mm Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Are you looking for something bigger? Something grander? The Heartridge Smoked Oak 5.0mm LVP range is a premium vinyl floor designed to complement many interior colour schemes. The 5mm thickness offers more durability and comfort underfoot compared to thinner vinyl planks.

Whilst they offer great benefits, Heartridge Smoked Oak 5.0mm vinyl flooring is a bit more expensive per square metre.

Benefits of Heartridge Smoked Oak Vinyl Plank Flooring

1. Super Scratch Resistant – Heartridge 5.0mm LVP uses a 0.55mm wear layer, these luxury vinyl planks are highly resistant to scratches, stains and wear. It’s suitable for residential and light commercial applications with proper warranties to show.
2. Low Maintenance – Heartridge Smoked Oak is designed for easy cleaning when it comes to spills. This makes it easier to maintain in the long run.
3. Waterproof – Being impervious to moisture, vinyl planks won’t warp or peel and the surface can be mopped without any complications, making vinyl flooring cleaning easier.
4. Skirting & Scotia Free – Can be installed without needing to remove skirting boards. This is because vinyl floors do not expand and contract as much with temperature changes. This means we do not need a big expansion gap (usually 10mm) which usually requires a skirting board to hide.

Explore the Heartridge Smoked Oak colours here!

Frontier District 2.5mm Vinyl Plank Flooring

Are you looking for vinyl flooring on a budget? Look no further than Frontier District. Whilst they aren’t as thick and grand as Heartridge, they are still waterproof and suitable for heavy residential use.

Frontier District comes in a variety of Oak and Australian timber colours. They also have some tile and concrete looks in squares rather than rectangle planks.

Benefits of Frontier District Vinyl Flooring

• Durability – With a 0.55mm wear layer and heavy-duty construction, it’s advertised to withstand daily use and is suitable for high-traffic areas like kitchens and entrances. This makes it ideal for busy households with active kids and pets.
• Easy Maintenance – Being vinyl, it’s easy to clean and maintain with a damp or dry cloth. Although it isn’t recommended for commercial use, they are still tough as nails in homes and rental properties.
• Very Affordable – Alas the key feature of Frontier District is that it is more affordable than most other vinyl planks. Frontier District vinyl flooring is great for investment homes or rental properties.
• Available In Tile Designs – Frontier District vinyl flooring comes in a couple of unique concrete and tile designs which look gorgeous in commercial areas.

Want to explore the colours in Frontier District Vinyl Flooring? See the full colour range now!

Runners Up: Ultimo Glue Down Vinyl Flooring

Here’s a bonus brand that we wanted to feature: Ultimo vinyl plank flooring! This range is manufactured by one of Australia’s leading wholesalers and has been in the market for almost a decade. They offer two thicknesses with the same designer-grade colours so you can choose based on your budget.

Benefits of Ultimo Glue Down Vinyl Flooring

• 100% waterproof – Suitable for wet areas like bathrooms and laundry. The waterproof properties come from a special resin used in the manufacturing process.
• Dimensionally Stable – due to the composite core construction of the planks. This prevents warping, splitting or shrinking over time.
• Variety of Colours – Including Australian timber looks like Spotted Gum and Blackbutt, as well as oak colours. The planks have a realistic textured surface for an authentic appearance.
• Two Thicknesses – Ultimo Glue Down vinyl flooring is available in two thicknesses to accommodate your budget and requirements. The same vinyl plank flooring colours are available in both 2.5mm and 4.5mm thick.

Shop the full Ultimo Glue Down Vinyl Planks here. Note that this range comes in both 2.5mm and 4.5mm thick.

Drawbacks of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Let’s open Pandora’s box because honesty is a rare characteristic but a true virtue. Vinyl flooring seems amazing and all the brands have so many benefits to offer. However, there are drawbacks that you should be aware of before making a purchasing decision.

Here are some key drawbacks of vinyl plank flooring:

• Heat Sensitive – Vinyl plank flooring is made of PVC which is heat sensitive. This means they may expand or contract with temperature changes, requiring proper glue-down installation techniques to accommodate this.
• Expensive Floor Preparation – Glue-down vinyl planks often require more expensive floor preparation, as the subfloor must be perfectly smooth, dry and level for the adhesive to bond properly. An uneven subfloor can result in the lipping or cupping of planks.
• Not DIY Friendly – Following the previous two points, vinyl flooring is not as easily installed as other floating floors because vinyl floors require full trowel adhesives and complex subfloor preparation. We recommend letting the experts install vinyl plank flooring.
• Acclimatisation Required – Most vinyl plank flooring, including Ultimo Glue Down, requires a period of acclimatisation on site before installation, usually 48 hours, to allow the planks to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the room.
• Can Feel Plasticky – Some lower-quality vinyl plank floors can have a plasticky feel underfoot, but higher-end products like Marvel Vinyl or Heartridge vinyl planks use an embossed wear layer that provides a more natural feel and sound when walked on.
• Difficult To Repair – If you ever damage your vinyl flooring, it will be much harder to replace compared to floating floors. This is because they will be glued down to the subfloor. Most flooring installers will charge more to remove and dispose of vinyl flooring than ordinary floating floorboards.
• Reacts Negatively With Rubber – PVC-based vinyl flooring all have a common weakness against rubber. Direct contact results in a chemical reaction that causes yellowing of the surface and makes the vinyl planks brittle. Avoid using rubber mats or rubber underlay!

Conclusion – Which Brand Offers The Best Vinyl Planks?

Now you have insight into some of the popular Australian vinyl flooring brands. The “best” vinyl plank flooring depends on your circumstances. Hence, we recommend reaching out for a personalised free consultation with one of our flooring experts, ensuring you make the best decision for your home, business, office or investment property.

If you are looking to learn more, check out the frequently asked questions below or read our Complete Guide To Choosing Vinyl Flooring.

FloorVenue has been supplying and installing vinyl flooring among many other hard floors and carpets for over two decades in Sydney and NSW. We’ve gathered the best knowledge and have access to over 5000 flooring of different colours and qualities so you can be spoiled for a choice. Let us help you with your new flooring!