Why have you decided to look up how to stagger vinyl plank flooring? However: nearly all SmartCore flooring reviews we dove into mentioned that this waterproof claim was perhaps a little less than accurate. To put that in context: buying SmartCore floors is head-over-heels more affordable than buying hardwood floors. Overall: wed still recommend certain types of hardwood over LVP for outdoor use. It also features three hardness scales: 3 (Janka rating 1261 1400), 4 (Janka rating 1401 2500), 5 (Janka rating 2501+). These styles look like wood. Both are also 100% waterproof and offer a lifetime warranty. COREtec makes great vinyl plank flooring, but the high price tag might not be worth it for many buyersespecially with equally good products available from other brands. Most all LVP and LVT are water-resistant and ideal for damp areas, but if you want something thats truly waterproof, read the fine print and check out the construction of the core. Your email address will not be published. On the other hand, the Lifeproof Vinyl Plank flooring has a better traditional wood carving look to it. Being plastic, it is totally waterproof. Youll only need a tapping block and a soft hammer. On the other hand, the Lifeproof vinyl plank cant withstand uneven interlocking and may get damaged. This post may contain references or links to products from one or more partners of our parent company and/or subsidiaries of our parent company. And at the same price, better floors are available. It is what the layer is made of. Our recommendation is to remember the ancient warning: Caveat emptor Buyer beware. Seriouslyeven some traditional types of floor tiles can be harder to clean than LVP because theyre more porous. Should you avoid any of them for your flooring projects? What is the best underlayment for luxury vinyl plank flooring? Like the Smartcore LVPs, these vinyl floors have a wear layer. Lifeproof features three thickness categories for their vinyl planks: 6.5mm, 7mm, and 8mm. Almost all of them make good quality products at a certain price. SMARTCORE Ultra Blue Ridge Pine 7-1/2-mm T x 6-in W x 48-in L Waterproof Interlocking Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (15.76-sq ft/case). Like most LVPs, both LifeProof and Smartcore will be safe to use in your house. Turns out, you will get everything similar in both cases. If youre looking into different types of floor tiles, youre probably in on the secret already. These vinyl planks come with a pre-attached pad and have bevel edges. Most arent worth knowing about because of their poor quality or value. SmartCore is offered in just two collections: Ultra and Pro. Yes. Required fields are marked *. Associate Director of Content Marketing at FlooringStores (and its parent company, Broadlume), Samuel is a former travel writer, English teacher, and semi-professional trivia host. SmartCore Pro vs. Ultra: What are the Similarities? VOCs stands for volatile organic compounds, which are harmful chemicals released into the air by many plastics and adhesives. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Q: Does Luxury Vinyl Flooring off-gas, is it safe in my home? Finally, its a cost-effective choice for areas that dont get heavy use. Q: Is all vinyl plank flooring waterproof? Its probably not as easy as peel-and-stick carpet tiles, but the interlocking click-together flooring tabs and optional adhesive dont require a ton of experience. However, SmartCore flooring doesnt really do anything here thats outside of common industry practice. Cork vs Bamboo Flooring: Durability, Styles and Cost, Non-Toxic Flooring Options Best Low VOC Flooring, Floor Transition Strips Ultimate Guide: Cost, Types and Installation. SmartCore Ultra features a comfortable WPC core. The LVPs have a floating and interlocking make. Its not the worst floor in the world, but its not the best either. It doesnt offer as many varieties, but the SmartCore flooring reviews weve read are much more positive regarding quality and DIY-friendliness. So, cases of foul smell and odor wont be present. Today, we are here to unveil the best choice for you and hopefully improve your decision before you buy. It also comes with an attached underlayment, cheaper ones don't have that and you'd have to purchase and lay it separately. It will depend on the use of your floor. SmartCore SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe's) ProCore Plus Warm Honey Oak LWD8099RCB (Lowe's) Smartcore Pro is a pad-attached vinyl flooring which is waterproof and very adaptable to wet locations in houses as well as commercial apartments. Translation: the floors are going to be a bit louder. However, the user experience may vary depending on best durability, value, runner-up, etc. Your budget is a key factor in choosing a flooring plank for your projects. You should still clean up spills promptly, but SmartCore floors are a great option to use for bathroom or even mudroom flooring. (2) Warranty: The first number is the residential warranty. We often cite this company as an example of what a budget brand can be if they do flooring the right way. They all are in wood and stone looks. The only con that lets Smartcore LVPs down is the price. Its just that simple. When buying any vinyl floors, you should look at the guaranty terms. It makes two well-constructed lines, the same approach as Shaw Floorte and COREtec. Is SmartCore flooring good? And just try not to damage planks when youre taking them aparthah! Its the excellent quality and warranty protection combined with competitive cost that makes NuCore the best value in LVP/LVT. SmartCore Ultra is a WPC flooring made of wood fibers and polymer plastics. You cant go wrong with the Shaw Floorte Plus flooring for commercial settings, especially with the 20-year commercial warranty. Know what the firm offers you in case anything happens to the LVPs. 2023 FlooringStores, Inc. All rights reserved. Though a SmartCore Flooring doesnt need any underlayment, you can still improve the life span of it. (1) Warranty: The first number is the Residential warranty. Carpet or Hardwood in Bedrooms: Which is Better? When it comes to waterproofing, you wont see any difference. Something very unusual about SmartCoreand particularly SmartCore Prois that its weirdly prone to scratching. Underlayments protect vinyl planks from damage and increase their service life. These colors range from dark to light grey. The Floorte Plus LVP has a polyurethane wear layer infused with tiny ceramic beads that enhance its resistance to wear, scratching and dents. It is sold online and at flooring stores. February 20, 2023 SPC, also known as Stone Plastic (or Polymer) Composite flooring is marketed as an upgrade to ordinary luxury vinyl plank and tile flooring, []. Besides being durable, water, and scratch-resistant, vinyl plank floors also offer ease of installation and maintenance, making them an ideal flooring for spaces with heavy traffic activity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and restaurants. While most products sold by the best vinyl plank flooring brands have an attached underlayment, SmartCore floors do not. Basically, unless youre planning on using it to create some super-intricate parquet flooring patterns, youre probably looking at a relatively inexpensive install. Pro Galaxy is the more affordable vinyl core brand with 30-year and 7-year warranties. What is the most realistic looking vinyl plank flooring? With COREtec technology SmartCore Ultra is 100% waterproof, easy to install, and effortless to clean, handling the daily rigors of your household chores with style and strength. Lets put it this way: tile is so cool, the Washington Post even wrote an article about just how cool it is. What Colors Does SmartCore Flooring Come In? COREtec manufactures both SmartCore Ultra and SmartCore Pro. Most SmartCore Flooring Reviews Favor SmartCore Ultra, But Reviews for SmartCore Naturals AreNot Great. People love LifeProof and other LVP from Halstead because they are cheap, safe, and last for long. If youre looking into waterproof laminate flooring, you probably have some questions. The only major difference between SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra flooring is the material each product uses for its coreplus a little bit of design detail. Is SmartCore flooring good? To be fair, Im sure we could find worse LVP if we did an exhaustive survey of every brand produced. The 6 Best Waterproof Laminate Flooring Brands of 2023, 20+ Types of Floor Tiles: Your 2022 Guide. Youll pay more for COREtec One and Galaxy than you will for cheaper vinyl plank flooring, but youll get more too. Were very impressed with the 20 and 30 mils wear layers: It isnt just the thickness of the wear layer that is important. It might not win any awards, but its not a bad product. Remember, it will help if you look at the cost and body of the LVP before buying. Heres are the reasons COREtec is rated the second-best vinyl plank flooring. A lot of them sport a rustic look such that appears to be a modified wood. They are rich in chocolate and charcoal shades. Jul 23 . As for these two names, both have the specs that many love about LVPs. Q: Is SmartCore or LifeProof a better budget-flooring brand? Both SmartCore and LifeProof flooring are private-label LVP floors offered by big box stores, right? The Floorte Plus line is available with wear layers of 12, 20 and 30 mils. In our lab tests, Flooring models like the SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe . That means its ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens along with playrooms or entryways. Each collection has different specs that can match your interest. Now, we wouldnt say that Newtons products are head over heels superior to SmartCores in generalbut at the price, they absolutely are. Also, kids and pets can play on both LVPs. Bamboo Flooring vs. Laminate: Which to Buy? All three lines of SmartCore vinyl plank flooring are purchased in cartons. It is harder, which isnt as nice to walk on, but it is very resistant to denting and can handle a high traffic load. What is the best flooring brand between Smartcore vs. LifeProof vinyl plank? Prices start at less than $1.00 per square foot, which is a fair price for what you get. Bargain shoppers might be interested in two other lines: One and Galaxy. The majority of COREtecs products feature a super-comfortable WPC (wood-polymer composite) core. It is similar to the wood/polymer core, or WPC, lines mentioned above. Theres a place for cheap vinyl plank flooring, so we arent disparaging this product. Many negative LifeProof reviews mention its lack of scratch resistance. Why is Renting Furniture a Smart Decision? (Step-by-Step Tutorial). Price starts below $2.60 per square foot and tops out under $4.00. There are several varieties of each line. We mentioned Proximity Mills before, but really, you have a lot of options. protective wear layer to prevent staining. Costing less than the Smartcore flooring, the Vinyl Plank flooring breaks the record in being both low-priced and durable. The difference is that bamboo is more sustainable and greener than wood. A 12-mil wear layer is actually pretty good (ignoring the durability concerns mentioned in SmartCore reviews)but considering that so many top brands offer different wear layer options, its odd that SmartCore doesnt. Other than that, everything is somewhat similar. They can make or break the lifespan of almost any types of tile. It is and durable you in case anything happens to the wood/polymer core, or WPC, lines above. 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smartcore ultra xl vs lifeproof