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?
Considering replacing my entire first floor with lifeproof. The trouble is my family room is currently carpet and my kitchen and foyer are ceramic tile. We don’t want the hassle to break up the tile so we would like to put the lifeproof right over it. If we do that the floor will be higher than our family room sub floor (without the carpet). Any ideas on how to make the floors even? Our kitchen, foyer and family room all flow together. Thanks!
I have a small bathroom. It’s a long hallway (10×3), then I have to pass the toilet and into a small linen closet which would make that 10×5. Would you remove the vanity and install under it or not? Also, most of the LVP are 7″ wide or 8″, and there are a few I don’t like that are multi. Is this flooring worth installing in a small bathroom? I do like the multi gray Sterling oak. Dark would make the bathroom look smaller, and I don’t want the gray to be too light. Any suggestions would be helpful. I do plan on installing myself to save money.
Hi Patricia. Your choice is perfect for bathroom applications. Actually, it’s perfect for all indoor applications. I’m currently doing our whole home in it. Sterling oak in 1 bedroom, Choice oak in 2 other bedrooms and Alpine Backwoods in all the other areas. It’s easy to install so you’ll have no problems. YouTube has some good videos with tips. I think you’ll find your color choice to be just the right shade, without making the room look small from being too dark.
As for your cabinetry, it will not go under the cabinets. Just run it to the edges of the base and trim it out with baseboards or quarter round.
I’m looking for decking for our swimming pool project, would LVP be suitable? Slippery when wet? Salt water pool, would it stain or degrade the product? Sunlight a problem?
Hi Tony. LVP is not for outdoor use. However, lifeproof does make a porcelain wood-look tile that is for outdoor/indoor use and is more slip resistant than normal tile. I think it would be perfect for your desired application.
I’ve been experimenting with a sample. The “scratches” made by pets and wood chairs have all been removed with a vigorous rubdown with Simple Green and a rough cloth. They obviously were not gouged into the surface, but were just material applied to it.
I have an ‘office’ room which I use for multiple purposes, including electronic building and repair, which means I use soldering irons in the room and the occasional drop of hot molten solder may accidentally land on the floor.
I asked one of the sales people at the local Home Depot if LifeProof flooring would be damaged by solder droplets. They could not answer my question but gave me a sample piece I took home and tested.
With a soldering iron just inches away from the flooring sample I dropped numerous large droplets of molten solder on it. Once cool enough to touch, I easily popped the solder balls right off the flooring. The rosin flux from the solder remained on the flooring and I used a paper towel soaked with acetone to wipe off the rosin.
For the final test, I showed my wife pictures of the solder and rosin and asked her find those places on the sample flooring….. she could not. The flooring looked perfectly fine like I had done nothing to it. That sold me on using the LifeProof flooring for my room.
As far as the scratching others have reported, I did not test for that on the sample I had, but where I will be using it the only furniture movement will be office chairs, one with rollers and one without rollers.
I live in Hawaii and the product is sold at my local store. I’m having some trouble understanding what is meant by temperature control. Average temperature during the day is 80 F, and we do not run an AC in the house. Is this product able to be installed without air conditioner? The trade wind does a good enough of a job cooling the house in the evenings.
I think when they state temperature control they mean that the foam backing is a great insulator for those who are like me and live in Illinois!
Hi Megan! In Illinois too, how has Lifeproof been for you? Looking for it as an option for my condo.
Thanks!
We installed this floor throughout our entire house, and within the first week it has scratched horribly just from moving furniture around. Very disappointed every time I look at my living room floor.
We have a lighter shade of the flooring so the scratches didn’t show up at first but we did find our dining room chairs caused some scratching. I bought some felt tips for the chairs so I’ll see how those do. We also have dogs, but have had no problems with scratches from their nails. We tested a number of samples and types of flooring before we chose this one and this resisted scratching better, by far. But not scratch-proof, unfortunately.
We layed the flooring throughout our entire house as well. Beautiful flooring but not scratch resistant as advertised. We have scratched in our kitchen from the chairs even after we placed caps on the legs to prevent scratches. You have to treat these floors delicate. Not what I was looking for living in the state of Alaska where we have harsh winters and bring all sorts of stuff inside on our shoes.
I’m using this floor in a salon, although I’m happy about waterproof and durability I’m concerned that color stain from hair color will stain it. Is there a protective coat I can put on to help fill without changing the look of the floor? Like a sealant of some sort? What do you recommend?
We have installed Life Proof flooring in the living area which includes a wood-burning fireplace. Is the floor flammable? Do we have to cover it to prevent damage from sparks?
I’ve read comments elsewhere about DIYers saying this floor is difficult to install as the tabs break off easily. Anyone have that problem? Also we have a heavy tredmill. Will this cause the flooring to buckle? Thanks!
I just installed ~1100 sqft in our home during the renovation and it went together without a hitch. I will say I have installed other products before, both laminate and vinyl. The interlock mechanism used is not the finest I’ve seen on this type of product, but I had no problems. I honestly used just a non-marring rubber mallet on about 90% of the install, tilting the tiles into the previous and then laying flat. Once the tongue is in the groove I hammered on the face of the plank with the mallet at a sweeping angle and it generally slides right in. Invest in a puller bar for tight spaces such as against walls, otherwise a 2×4 worked fine in other areas I needed it without any damage to the planks and their tongues/grooves.
We went with the Seaside Oak and it is very nice, the wife was very happy. I will say that I would like to see the wear layer made thicker. We found numerous scratches from furniture and appliances, even though they all were either on rollers or plastic/felt feet. In the several years we had Coretec at another home, we never experienced scratching like this even with 2 children and our dog so invest in a touch up kit.
Ease of install 7/10
Cost of product (as compared to others) 9/10
Ease of scratching and damage 6/10
All in all a pretty good product for the money. I especially liked the underlayment, it makes the plank feel very nice under foot. Not too spongy but gives just enough, better than laminates with a good 3-in-1 underlayment.
I’m wondering if this particular type of flooring will stand up to ice melt when people track it in to the store that I plan to put it in?
I know that I’ve encountered small problems with PVC type materials in the past ( i.e. Plank decking). Could you please tell me you have tested or know the reactive implications of ice melt and this floor?
Which floor do you think is better for a basement – the Home Depot LifeProof or Lowe’s Shaw matrix? Thanks.
Can you tell me about the possible VOC’s and/or dioxin content of this vinyl? How bout off gassing of these chemicals?
I plan on using this product on the wall above the shower. Can I use some sort of adhesive? If so, what do you recomend?
Which brand of cleaner is recommended for this type flooring in the bathroom?
MamaSuds Castile soap.
We are looking to install this in our laundry room. We have a drain in the middle of the floor that we would need to cut out and likely caulk around. Can this be done?
Previously we had linoleum (which we just pulled up).
We just put this flooring all through our house and the floors were uneven. We were told there was no need to make the floor even as this type of flooring is very giving and should not be a problem. Just wondering if anyone has had issues and will there be any problems down the road by not leveling the sub floors?
Mine was not installed correctly and is now buckling. It should have been leveled and has even cracked. In one spot it has no give. Make sure you level it. I have to have reinstalled.
Dan, How did you remedy the situation? We just had this product professionally installed and within two months time with minimal traffic, we have buckling and uneven seams. I’m now not sure how to correct the situation. Should we just get some new planks? Or replace the entire floor with a different brand?
Thanks for your reply.
Gwen
At what degrees should house be at all times for this tile? Thinking of installing in summer house which is shut down for winter. House is in New England by the beach. Will moisture from basement affect these tiles?
Can it be installed under a refrigerator, range, and dishwasher?
Yes, absolutely. As long as those appliances are properly installed and maintained, you will have no trouble with the lifeproof vinyl. In fact, it should perform better than hardwood flooring in the case of a leak. As with any flooring material though, be sure to keep it as clean and dry as possible as this will extend the already great lifespan.
My concern in this case is not for leaking since the flooring product claims to be waterproof, but for the “dents” made by the weight of the appliances through their supporting feet. Given the softer nature of this flooring material, I’d be concerned about denting and other damage to the top surface. It would also make moving the appliances harder if they get embedding into their dents.
Does anybody have any experience with this?
We had this installed in the kitchen, living and dining rooms last fall. We have a heavy refrigerator and a stove on it. After 9 months, there is a very shallow, almost imperceptible dent under the refrigerator. However, that has not prevented the fridge from being pulled out to clean. By the way, the flooring is slick enough so that its easy to pull the appliances out. Vinyl flooring we had before was always sticky from humidity and stained from the appliance feet. This is great stuff.
Actually, Home Depot suggested to install AROUND the appliances. I would do so, because vinyl will expand and contract due to temperature, and if you have it pinned by heavy things like appliances, it’ll have nowhere else to go but buckle.
What kind of area rug can be used with LifeProof water proof vinyl?
Would a vinyl or rubber rank mat discolor the floor?
We installed Lifeproof in our sunroom and it is wonderful. Easy to install and looks great.
Caution, if the installers do not follow the directions and take their time, ask them to leave. It isn’t worth the hassle if not done correctly.
Has it buckled in the heat? Looking to install in an enclosed sunroom.
Can you install over tile if you fill in grout joints even with the tile, thus eliminating removing tile, etc? Thank you.
David, there’s no need to fill in the grout joints unless they’re abnormally deep. The expansive cushion on the bottom of the bottom of the lifeproof vinyl flooring is designed to easily fill such gaps.
Can this flooring be applied in a three season porch in Massachusetts? As of now, there isn’t a heat source in this area.
Gayle, lifeproof vinyl flooring is only designed to be used in a temperature controlled (or indoor) environment. Performance of the floor will be greatly decreased especially in the MA climate.
Hi! How hard is it to replace a damaged plank of lifeproof vinyl flooring without taking the whole floor apart?
Thank you!
I was just at a flooring store talking to the flooring guy. He said if you have floating floor, you have to start at the wall closest to the plank you want to remove and remove all the way from the wall to the plank.
I have radiant heat in my bathroom. Can I still use LVP?
Susan, as long as the thermostat is kept below 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the floor should perform well. You may experience a decrease in efficiency, but it should be minimal. It is a more efficient option than carpet.
Can I install this product in a sun room? Looked at it in Home Depot and the back of the plank says it cannot be installed in a sun room. Is this true?
I have a lot of dogs at my house. Will their nails scratch the floors?
We just had one room installed and we already have a scratches on it from moving a piece of furniture and vacuuming. We are not happy and going to contact Home Depot and the company. Not impressed with the 100% lifetime residential warranty and 0% worries. Not the case! We hope they honor that warranty.
I would love to hear. We just installed it throughout our entire new home first floor and we have scratches EVERYWHERE! It makes me cry just looking at it. So utterly disappointed. For a few dollars more, I could have had real hardwoods!
Nicole and Michele, sorry to hear of your poor performance with lifeproof vinyl flooring. Home Depot should honor the warranty as long as proper installation procedures are followed. I will warn you, however, that the floor you installed will, under almost any circumstance, outperform real hardwood. The lifeproof vinyl has a wear layer made of ceramic which is much more resistant to scratches than hardwood. If you’ve experienced issues, you may want to speak with a flooring expert to better understand the care and maintenance of your floors. I wish you the best with the warranty and finding something to better suit your needs!
I use a dab of dishsoap on a wet cloth and apply directly to scratch with light pressure.
Nicole, I have seen many mixed reviews about scratches in this flooring. We have a ninety pound pit bull and kids. We haven’t gotten a single scratch in ours and have had it down for almost 9 months. We’re doing the rest of our home in it.
I suggest you buy a case, lay it throughout your home and give it a trial run.
How about using it in a room with Kira if windows and sun coming in?
I sell Lifeproof Luxury Vinyl Plank every day, and it is by far the most frequently purchased flooring system we offer. I’ll try to address some of the questions that have come up, but you can also go to any of the Lifeproof Vinyl Plank listings at homedepot’s website (such as “Sterling Oak”, our bestseller) to Search through the questions/answer section posted at the bottom of each listing. Use keywords to narrow down which topics you wish to view, like “heated floor” or “island”. Halstead, the maker of Lifeproof, is very good about actively responding to consumer questions. They can also be reached directly using their 800# which can be found in the documentation also provided within the listing.
Just to correct a couple of points made in this article: 1) The author refers to “6mm” and “12mm” when in fact she means “mils”, NOT millimeters. One mil = 1/1000th of an inch… 2) Since LVP is a floating floor system, it cannot be installed over any other floating floor system, which eliminates laminate from the list. Only solidly attached flooring systems like glued-down sheet vinyl/linoleum, nail/glued hardwood, or ceramic tile are appropriate flooring substrates for LVP.
Proper leveling is everything when installing vinyl, because over time even the thickest planks (Lifeproof is approx. 7mm thick) can depress into holes or old grout lines lurking beneath it. Take the time to level out your old floor, or your wood or concrete subfloor flaws, using a product like LevelPro (which is self-leveling) or one of the premixed patching compounds that come in a pint or gallon size. The size of the issue determines which type of product would work best. They all dry quickly so that you can proceed directly to your install, often within the same day.
Re: Heated floors… According to the mfg., you can install LVP over a properly imbedded floor heating system. They say: “This product can be installed over radiant heat concrete subfloors. The radiant heating system must be cast 1/2 in. below the surface of the concrete slab and should be operating at least 2 weeks before installation. Set the temperature of the radiant heating system to 68°F 48 hours before, during, and 72 hours after installation. You may gradually raise the temperature starting 72 hours after installation. The finished floor surface must not exceed 85°F (29°C) for the life of the floor. Because radiant heat creates a dry heat that can lower interior humidity levels, it may be necessary to add a humidifier to maintain the humidity level between 30-85% to prevent damage to the vinyl floor. Consult with the radiant heat system manufacturer to ensure that the system is compatible with vinyl flooring.”
Re: Installing LVP underneath thing, the mfg. says: It’s typically fine under standard rolling appliances, but specific concerns should be reviewed with your installer. However, LVP should NOT be installed underneath an island or underneath cabinets due to the danger of the weight damaging the click-lock system. Instead, install around those fixtures.
Re: Outdoor areas or non-temperature controlled rooms or structures… installing in those scenarios would void the Lifeproof warranty.
Hi Mia – Wow! Thank you for this helpful, awesome comment. And, for that matter, all of your other helpful contributions. 🙂
I’ve updated this guide with corrections re: mil (NOT mm) & the clarification re: installation over existing floors.
Can it be placed in a screen room porch?
What do you recommend I use under the flooring in a bathroom?
Just a question about the leveling. Would I need to try and level the grout lines so they are the same height as the ceramic tile? Currently mine are lower than the ceramic tile, which is how most ceramic tile is. Thanks for any advice you can provide.
I would like to know if this vinyl flooring could be installed on a cement wall?
How is sound proofing? Looking to instal in a condo with concrete between floors. WIll I have any issues with unit below me?
Can this product be used in a RV where the temperature can reach 90 degrees in summer and also – 15 degrees in the winter?
I installed Lifeproof Vinyl in my motor home on a good level floor and it has buckled in the center of the floor. It was not glued down except under the living room slide, other wise it floats. The temp. in Arizona heat can be as much as 118 during the day time. Can this be fixed or did I use the wrong product ?
Bob and Harold, lifeproof warranty recommends a maximum floor temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
I am remodeling a kitchen. Everything in the kitchen is removed. Is it allowed to install the waterproof vinyl plank flooring under the new counters, refrigerator, oven and dishwasher without violating the lifetime warranty?
Do not install your flooring under kitchen cabinets. People often replace flooring to update a kitchen but only replace cabinets when doing a major remodeling.
Can you install lifeproof planks over a heating floor?
I have the same question as Christiane – I want to install an electric heating system under the vinyl floor. Will it work and will the warranty be valid. I don’t want to create an odor because of the underlaying heat.
Please respond asap as I am ready to purchase a floor and Christiane has been waiting since 4-21.
Christiane and Matt, I think you will find the answer to your question in other comments, but to summarize, lifeproof vinyl flooring works very well with radiant heating. You must, however, keep the floor temperature below 85 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid damaging the floor and likely voiding the warranty. Check with your installer or representative for humidity concerns.
Is this product suitable for an outdoor covered deck?
I’ve heard so many negative comments about hardwood and big dogs. This is one of the reasons we are considering lifeproof. I noticed a comment about scratches from furniture and how its not as hard as hardwood. Thoughts?
I am also considering lifeproof vinyl. Worried about how it scratches. We have had Mannington with a diamond finish. It was a very bad flooring, had to be extremely careful.
This is what I am wondering also. I have 5 dogs. I don’t want to spend over 6 grand to replace our floors just to find out it is going to be full of scratches.
I have 9 very active dogs & I’m wondering about the floors scratching as well! I’m with Cindy, don’t want to spend the $ if they are going to look totally horrible! Thanks for your time.