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c/diy-home-projects•simonl86simonl86•1mo ago

TIL cheap vinyl flooring and mid-range stuff are totally different beasts

Put down $1.49/sq ft vinyl plank in my Denver basement last year. Looks terrible now, chips and gaps everywhere. My buddy used the $3.50 stuff from Lumber Liquidators and his floor is still perfect after 18 months. The thick wear layer makes all the difference. Anyone else regret going too cheap on flooring?
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4 Comments
margaret_flores17
Stick with at least 12 mil wear layer" is the only way I'm shopping for flooring now too.
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faithg26
faithg261mo ago
the thick wear layer makes all the difference" is overblown. I put in $1.30 stuff three years ago and it still looks fine because I actually maintain it and don't drag furniture across the floor.
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henry_webb68
Bettykim hit the nail on the head with the 12 mil wear layer thing. @bettykim I've seen the same thing with customers who went with the super cheap stuff. They get these little dents from just moving a couch or dropping a cat toy. The wear layer is basically like a clear coat on a car, if its too thin the pattern underneath gets scuffed right off. Once that top layer is gone the whole plank looks faded and beat up.
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bettykim
bettykim1mo ago
Yeah "the thick wear layer makes all the difference" is the real kicker. Ive learned that cheap planks barely have any wear layer so they scratch and chip like crazy even with light use. If you go under $2 you're basically asking for trouble, stick with at least 12 mil wear layer and you'll save yourself the headache later.
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