LVT Flooring Buying Guide: How to Choose Luxury Vinyl Tiles
Luxury vinyl tile flooring (LVT) offers convincing timber and stone finishes with practical everyday maintenance. But deciding between click and glue-down LVT, selecting a pattern and ordering the correct accessories can be more important than choosing the colour. The best floor is the one that fits the room, the subfloor and how the space will be used.
This UK buying guide explains the decisions in a useful order. You can explore the LVT flooring collection while comparing the Luvanto Click Plus and Design formats currently available at JJ Building Materials.
What is LVT flooring?
LVT stands for luxury vinyl tiles, although wood-effect products are frequently long planks rather than traditional square tiles. A decorative layer recreates grain, slate or marble, and a protective surface is designed to withstand ordinary use. Bevelled edges, embossed texture, tile dimensions and installation system all contribute to the finished appearance. Unlike natural timber, LVT does not need sanding or oiling, and it is generally simpler to maintain.
However, the broad term LVT covers several constructions. Flexible dryback planks need to be bonded to a smooth prepared subfloor, while click-lock products interconnect to form a floating surface. Some click floors use rigid SPC cores. Comparing products only by thickness or price can hide the important differences between these systems. If you want a different type of flooring altogether, compare engineered wood flooring and SPC flooring with the LVT options.
Click LVT or glue-down LVT?
Click LVT has machined locking edges so that compatible planks fit together without spreading adhesive over the whole subfloor. Luvanto Click Plus includes integrated acoustic backing in its specified construction. That can simplify the installation sequence, although the subfloor must still be sound, dry where required and flat enough to support the locking system. Uneven floors can cause movement and damaged joints, even with a rigid core.
Glue-down or dryback LVT is installed with approved adhesive on a carefully prepared substrate. This is often chosen for design-led layouts, lower finished floor heights and a closely bonded feel. But it demands an appropriate moisture assessment, preparation and the correct adhesive application. Neither method is universally better. Read our click LVT versus glue-down LVT comparison before deciding, and match adhesives and preparation materials from the LVT accessories collection to your chosen system.
Wood-effect planks, stone-effect tiles and pattern designs
Wood-effect planks can soften the look of a kitchen, hall or living room, with oak colours ranging from pale and neutral to dark and characterful. Stone-effect LVT creates the look of slate or marble without the same floor-weight and grouting requirements as natural stone. Select samples in the actual room: daylight, cabinet colours and warm evening lighting can change how the printed pattern appears.
Herringbone, chevron and basketweave are more distinctive. Each requires the right product geometry and accurate setting-out. A dedicated click herringbone or chevron system is not interchangeable with ordinary straight-lay click planks. A glue-down pattern can allow greater freedom with borders and feature strips, but usually involves extra cuts and labour. Our LVT pattern planning guide explains how to decide whether the extra visual detail suits your room.
Choosing flooring for kitchens, hallways and bathrooms
LVT's surface is well suited to normal household spills and straightforward cleaning, which explains its popularity for family kitchens and utility rooms. But a waterproof tile is not a substitute for waterproof construction: liquid can find its way through damaged joints or perimeter edges to the subfloor. Remove spills promptly, especially near appliances and plumbing connections. Luvanto does not recommend LVT for shower enclosures or wet rooms.
Hallways can collect grit and moisture from shoes, so the wear surface, protective entrance matting and cleaning routine matter. Kitchens may also contain concentrated loads beneath appliances or cabinets. Carefully check how a particular floating floor must be detailed around fixed units and door thresholds. For underfloor heating or rooms with large south-facing windows, study our LVT in kitchens, bathrooms and heated rooms guide before ordering.
Wear layer, thickness and practical durability
Total plank thickness does not tell you everything about resistance to wear. Look for the stated wear layer, manufacturer-use classification, surface finish and warranty conditions. Compare products at the same intended use level rather than assuming a thick click core is necessarily more scratch-resistant than a thinner glue-down tile. Domestic and commercial warranty terms may be different, and fitting mistakes or unsuitable cleaning chemicals can fall outside cover.
Furniture protection makes a real difference. Use compatible felt pads on chair legs, keep grit out of entrances and avoid dragging heavy items over the floor. Save spare planks of the exact colour and batch for a later repair. For a rental property or small business, check that the specific floor is approved for the expected traffic and any rolling loads before purchasing.
Subfloor preparation: the step that prevents expensive problems
Both click and glued LVT rely on an appropriate foundation. Concrete may need residual moisture testing, contamination removal and a compatible levelling system. Timber can require damaged boards to be fixed, deflection assessed and a suitable overlay specified. An apparently smooth old vinyl floor is not automatically an approved substrate for new LVT, and different manufacturers set different flatness tolerances.
Dryback LVT is particularly sensitive to raised joints and bumps showing through its surface. Click LVT is vulnerable when voids beneath the board stress a locking edge. Do not assume an extra layer of soft underlay will fix either problem. Our subfloor preparation guide for LVT explains the steps, and the accessories range includes an appropriate starting point for investigating levelling and underlay systems.
Does LVT need underlay?
The answer depends on how it is installed. Certain click products, including Luvanto Click Plus formats, have integrated backing and generally should not be combined with a random additional compressible underlay. Too much movement beneath a locking floor may harm the joints. Conventional glue-down vinyl tiles do not use a typical floating foam underlay. Specialist acoustically rated glued installations have their own approved underlay systems.
Read the product-specific fitting instructions before choosing any acoustic underlay for LVT or adhesive. A promising acoustic rating is not enough if the assembly is incompatible. See our click and dryback LVT underlay guide for a detailed explanation.
How much LVT should you buy?
First measure the net floor area, breaking L-shaped rooms into rectangles. Multiply each section's length and width in metres, then add the results. Divide the required area by the square metres covered by the chosen pack and round up to full boxes. Pack coverage varies considerably between Luvanto ranges, even when product names sound similar.
Add a suitable cutting allowance based on room shape, layout and pattern complexity. Herringbone and diagonal layouts usually generate more offcuts than straight-lay planks, so a one-size-fits-all allowance is unhelpful. Allow for replacements or the possibility that the pattern may be discontinued. Our LVT pack calculator and measuring guide
Calculate the full installed price
Compare flooring by square metre rather than box price. Then add wastage, approved adhesive or underlay, levelling materials, trims, fitting, disposal and any delivery charge. Glue-down tiles can be less costly per square metre while requiring more preparation and fitting. Click floors can have a higher initial price but a simpler installation sequence on an appropriate subfloor. Neither price comparison is useful without including preparation.
Ask a fitter to itemise floor preparation, moisture assessment, pattern setting-out and threshold work. Confirm whether prices include VAT. A low quote that excludes levelling or finishing may become more expensive than a complete specification.
Installation timing and deliveries
Check the latest fitting instructions before booking the installer. New screed may need moisture testing or drying; timber boards can need repairing; flooring may require storage or conditioning under defined conditions. A delivery arriving the morning of fitting can leave little time to discover damaged boxes, the wrong colour or missing accessories. Plan the whole installation sequence rather than only the day the planks go down. Arrange compatible LVT fitting accessories alongside the flooring and allow for the preparation the installer has specified.
Final checks before ordering
Check whether the room has exceptional direct sunlight, underfloor heating, heavy traffic or frequent moisture. Confirm the exact product's permitted substrate, total build-up height, installation method, temperature limits and use classification. Check the colour and embossing in person, not solely from a screen. Calculate full-box quantities against the published pack coverage and verify whether additional trims or adhesives are required.
Finally, save the manufacturer's most recent installation and aftercare documents and show them to your installer. A well-planned LVT flooring purchase begins with the room's requirements and finishes with compatible materials, not the other way round.
Frequently asked questions
Is LVT the same as laminate?
No. LVT uses vinyl-based construction, whereas conventional laminate typically has a wood-based core. Both offer different fitting and moisture characteristics.
Can LVT go in bathrooms?
Many ranges suit ordinary bathrooms, provided the fitting and perimeter details are suitable. It should not automatically be used in a wet room or shower enclosure.
Is click LVT always easier to install?
Click fitting can be quicker, but it still requires a flat, suitable subfloor and precise joint and perimeter detailing.
What is the difference between wear-layer thickness and overall thickness?
The wear layer is the protective surface; total thickness includes the rest of the tile or board construction. Both figures can matter, for different reasons.
Do I need spare packs?
Keeping some matching material can help with repairs. Order a sensible amount for cutting and retain any spare pieces stored as the manufacturer advises.