You want the most stunning floors possible for your home. The kind of flooring that will make your friends and family think you spent a small fortune on remodeling your home.
Only, you didn’t (spend a small fortune that is). So, how do you get that high-end look without the hefty price tag that comes along with them?
The latest trend that many homeowners are going with is luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring. But there are so many options in LVP – how do you choose?
LifeProof, formally known as Allure, is an excellent choice in LVP. It has many features that will appeal to both your eyes and your wallet.
Ready to learn more about this great product?
Features
LifeProof Vinyl Plank flooring offers beautiful selections in several different widths of planks. Plus, they are deeply embossed to resemble natural wood grains like oak, hickory, and pine.
It features both traditional wood looks as well as more trendy and rustic looks.
They also have a 6 mil wear layer that is resistant to scratches, marks and skids. So, LifeProof LVP may be an option for homes with children or pets. Though, for those with an active home, looking for a 12 mil wear layer or higher would be my personal recommendation.
These planks also come with an attached underlayment, which means they are warm and comfortable to walk on. (And they are very quiet, unlike hard tiles).
Since LifeProof LVP is antimicrobial, it is also a smart choice for anyone who suffers from allergies. This LVP is specially treated to prevent the growth of odor and stain that can cause mold or mildew to grow on the surface or in the underlayment.
Plus, it is formaldehyde-free and phthalate-free. So, it is a safe product that is free of many of the harmful contaminants that some products contain.
Another great feature of these floors is that they have a rigid PVC core and are 100% waterproof.
If you are looking for flooring in a wet room, or an area prone to flooding, then LifeProof vinyl plank floors will give you the look of natural wood yet hold up much better under the elements.
But, these LVP planks can look great anywhere throughout your home. These planks come in gorgeous shades of gray like Rustic Wood or Lighthouse Oak, and beautiful brown hues like Heirloom Pine and Shadow Hickory.
Installation
One of the many benefits of LVP is that it is very easy to install. In fact, if you like DIY projects, this is one you can definitely do yourself.
You will just need a few simple tools like a tapping block and a soft-faced hammer.
LifeProof’s LVP is designed with floating or interlocking planks that you can install directly over your subfloor.
So, if you are replacing your tile, or other floors, you may not even have to remove them. Simply lay your floating LVP over the existing floor.
However, in some cases, you may need cushioning or a vapor barrier system. When in doubt, you can always ask an expert.
Note: Your existing subfloor should be solidly attached. LVP cannot be installed over another floating floor (in other words, do not attempt to install your LifeProof Vinyl Planks over laminate).
And once you have your planks installed, there is no acclimation time required. You can move all your furniture back in the room and begin enjoying them immediately.
Maintenance
LifeProof Luxury Vinyl is a high-quality vinyl plank flooring that is easy to maintain. It includes many features designed to help it last a long time even in high traffic areas.
It has a solid virgin vinyl layer and ceramic bead enhanced wear layer that makes it an extremely durable product that is resistant to scratches.
With ISOCORE technology, these luxury vinyl planks are difficult to damage. But if you do, simply replace the damaged plank with a new one.
LifeProof’s drop-and-lock end joints make it not only easy to install, but you can also easily switch out a plank if there is some major damage to it.
For routine cleaning, simply sweep the floors, use a dust mop or even a vacuum with a hard floor attachment.
Since it is 100% waterproof, you can also mop your LifeProof floors when you need a deeper cleaning. Just make sure to use a cleaning product approved for LVP on your floors when using a mop.
How to Purchase LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring
LifeProof luxury vinyl plank flooring, formally called Allure, is sold exclusively at Home Depot.
Priced per square foot, this flooring is generally sold by the case. The planks generally cost a little less than $3 per square foot and a case covers around 20 square feet.
You can order LifeProof flooring, as well as other popular flooring brands like the Floorte line made by Shaw, online or at your local Home Depot store. However, not all styles are available to ship to your home.
There is also an option to ship your order to your nearest Home Depot location for store pickup. There is no shipping fee for this service.
If you can’t decide which one to choose, you can request free samples to take home. You can also return the flooring for up to 90 days after purchase.
LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring comes with a lifetime residential warranty from the manufacturer.
The Verdict
LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring is a great option for anyone who loves the look of hardwood flooring but doesn’t want the headaches that come along with it.
It comes in a variety of beautiful wood grain looks. And with today’s technology, the resemblance to wood is so close that your guests may not even realize it’s not real wood.
This LVP is also good for your health. It protects against harmful allergens and is not overladen with harmful chemicals like some other vinyl flooring.
LifeProof is also easy to install and easy to maintain. And at a cost of less than $3 a square foot in most areas, it is also a budget-friendly product.
But you can’t just buy it just anywhere. LifeProof vinyl plank flooring is only available through Home Depot.
What is your favorite LifeProof vinyl plank flooring style?
Absolutely garbage! I am disabled and use a rolling chair to move around my house. I Specifically was looking for flooring that would stand up to the chair. I was Steered to the Lifeproof flooring by the Home Depot sales associate stating “it is life proof and 💯 guaranteed if any issues”. It scratched easily with sliding a light box across it and did not last for even a year before it started to fray and peel around the edge of planks. Oh and as far as that 💯 guarantee, they send a “independent inspector” out and if the subfloor is not completely level within a 1/4 inch in a five foot span then the guarantee is null and void! I don’t recommend it to anyone!
If I sometimes get a little seepage onto my old tile basement floor do I need a vapor barrier installed first to prevent possible mildew/mold or is that built into the underlay part of LifeProof vinyl luxury planks?
Says you can use a mop to clean, but can you use a steam mop?
No, it states do not use a steam mop.
Absolute garbage. Scratches SO easy just by sliding a chair,box,garbage can etc. my take don’t buy had much better luck with wood
We are in this same situation! Just put it in 2 months ago, and needs replacing by our doors. Quite expensive, and very disappointing!
We have a concrete floor that is in good shape, but we do not heat the building in the winter and it could easily end up well below freezing. Can we use this product?
The Lifeproof wear layer is only 6.
Can infloor heating be installed and work properly under LifeProof luxury vinyl planks?
I have LifeProof throughout my home. It looks good, but I definitely need to put down some larger area rugs. I was specifically told by the installer NO jute-backed rugs. But I was also told no vinyl backed. What’s the best option for area rugs? And are those rug pads vinyl? I want to make sure I’m putting down something that won’t mess up the floor. Thank you. Home Depot has been no help and the buying experience was horrible. I’m half-way sorry that we went with LifeProof. But too late now.
Curious why the installer would say no vinyl backed rugs? Doesn’t make sense to me. This flooring is very hard to scratch or mar. I would double check on that .
Thanks Byron, I agree. But he was firm on no jute-backed or vinyl. Many of the non-slide things for under rugs are also vinyl, so I’m still bare-floored and not loving it. This article also says to clean with approved products, but gives no suggestions. It never feels clean when I walk barefoot no matter how much I sweep or damp mop. So far, I’m not a fan.
This flooring comes in only 4 patterns plus another 4 that are the same, but reversed. It would seem simple enough to put one of each in a box of 8. That is not the case. Some boxes had 6 or 7 of the same and I ended up with a very imbalanced load. I returned 2 boxes that were all the same and 2 more on the next load. They were just put back on the pile for the next person to deal with. They don’t allow you to go through boxes in the store (because opened boxes are not saleable, I’m told). The only option then would be to order lots extra and return the extras in opened boxes.
I would have returned the lot, but I had already started flooring. The first batch I picked up was reasonably balanced. Except for this, it is good flooring. I would not recommend it for anyone wanting more variation, especially over large spaces, or don’t want the inconvenience of sorting and returning flooring.