When someone enters your home or your business, the first thing they notice is the floor. While aesthetics are important, it’s crucial not to overlook the significance of safety. Without the right safety flooring, the risk of slips and the subsequent legal consequences can’t be ignored.
Fortunately, safety flooring options are available that don’t compromise on aesthetics. LVT flooring is a prime example. In this guide, we will delve into what LVT flooring is and why it’s widely regarded as the best choice for maintaining your floors’ safety and visual appeal.
What is LVT flooring?
LVT, an acronym for Luxury Vinyl Tile, represents a modern interpretation of traditional flooring. It seamlessly combines aesthetics and durability, mimicking the appearance of hardwood floors. The unique composition of LVT flooring, which incorporates ceramic tiles, sets it apart from other options on the market.
An LVT floor is made up of four layers:
- Top layer: Also known as the wear layer, the top layer is a transparent protective coating over the floor. It is scratch, stain, and wear-resistant. Generally made from urethane, it is suitable for high-traffic areas.
- Image layer: A high-resolution photographic image of a real hardwood floor lies beneath the top layer. Its goal is to simulate the appearance of a natural floor without compromising the modern style of tiles.
- Core layer: Right below the image layer is the core layer. Sometimes, it is made from pure vinyl, but most tiles are composites of other materials. Depending on a person’s needs, materials like fiberglass, stone plastic composite, or even wood plastic composite can be added to the core layer.
- Backing layer: The final layer is the backing layer. It gives structure to the LVT flooring, strengthening its foundation and making it very durable.
Now that you know what LVT flooring is, it is time to learn why people want to install it for safety purposes.
Reasons why LVT flooring is the best safety flooring choice for you
As customers, people hardly have an all-or-nothing mindset. While they can compromise safety for aesthetics, they can’t always compromise aesthetics for safety. LVT flooring gives people a sweet choice to pick both simultaneously.
Here is a list of reasons why LVT flooring is considered the prime choice for safety flooring:
- Slip Resistant Choice: The top layer of LVT flooring is made from urethane, which offers slip resistance. Therefore, LVT flooring is the best choice in areas where spills are common and foot traffic is high.
- Durability: Another reason people pick LVT for safety flooring is durability. The backing layer used to create LVT flooring adds a big safety element, making it the right choice in commercial and industrial settings where foot traffic is high and wear and tear are common.
- Easy to Maintain: The third main reason is that LVT is easy to clean and maintain. It only requires regular sweeping and mopping to stay in top shape. Such an easy way to maintain the floor ensures longevity, and since no specialized equipment is needed, money is saved.
- Cushioning: People often feel discomfort when they are engaged in a standing activity for an extended period of time. LVT flooring provides a cushioning solution. Thermal insulation is also one of its biggest perks, which is why it is often common in retail and healthcare settings.
- Aesthetically Flexible: Since the middle layer of LVT flooring is an image layer consisting of a photograph of a hardwood floor, people can enjoy a high level of aesthetic flexibility. Some companies even provide options to customize those images, which makes each LVT floor unique to a property.
- Sound Absorption: Another major positive aspect of LVT flooring is sound absorption. Because it is dense and made from resilient materials, it can absorb sounds, which is particularly beneficial if one lives in a multi-story building.
Get the best LVT flooring with NJL Flooring
Are you looking for LVT flooring that meets all the safety benchmarks? Contact NJL Flooring today. We understand that your need for aesthetics and safety must be met. Therefore, we deliver the most customisable flooring solutions.
