Yes! It can be overwhelming to compare them all, especially because so many brands use rigid cores these days. Mohawk received a 4.25 out of 5 rating. A 20-year commercial warranty is unique. And more importantly, there are better options out there for the price. Your email address will not be published. Both SmartCore Ultra and SmartCore Naturals offer a Lifetime Limited Residential Warranty and a 5-year light commercial warranty, while Smartcore Pro provides a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty with a 10-year commercial warranty. The second is the commercial warranty. Pro Galaxy is the more affordable vinyl core brand with 30-year and 7-year warranties. The Lifeproof cost range from $2.9.39 to $3.39 per square foot and is only available at home depot. Should any LVP brands be avoided? Both LifeProof and SmartCore offer a range of colors, thicknesses, and styles. Thats a cheap price for a lifetime warranty. So, in terms of getting the floors, this is quite a setback. 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. Q: Is all vinyl plank flooring waterproof? At its budget price, theres no question that SmartCore is superior to LifeProof. COREtec is made by US Floors and ranges from mid-priced to quite expensive compared with most brands. Usage: This ultra vinyl plank is more popular among homeowners. SmartCore Pro features a much more durable SPC core. They can make or break the lifespan of almost any types of tile. If you want something tough, consider looking for some of the most durable wood flooring, or frankly, a better LVP product. The core material is different. If it wasnt clear, well spell it out here: SmartCore flooring is fine, but its not the best. This could also be called the most expensive LVP, or close to it at least. What brand of vinyl plank flooring is the best? Shop SMARTCORE Ultra XL Sherwood Oak 7-1/2-mm T x 9-in W x 72-in L Waterproof Interlocking Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (17.96-sq ft/case)undefined at Lowe's.com. Method vs Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent, 5 Safety Tips To Remember When Moving Out, Why Hire An Electrician Hartford CT For Your Home Remodel. And heres where things go from not-great to really not-great. Cali Bamboo offers both quality and value. However: many SmartCore flooring reviews question thisnot because the detail is affected, but because SmartCore Pro apparently isnt that durable. We mentioned Proximity Mills before, but really, you have a lot of options. For 7mm thick vinyl planks there are five color options, Trail Oak, Sterling Oak, Fresh Oak, Scratch Stone, and Biscayne Oak, while the 8mm planks only have two color options: Ocala Oak and Alys Oak. The overall purchase price ranges from $76.04 to $84.04. Sure, Cali Bamboo came to the game later than those other brands, but it is doing it the right way with sustainable materials and ecofriendly practices. When gluing floor, use only recommended flooring adhesive. But: for some reason, this underlayment doesnt protect it from moisture. For the flooring looks options, Smartcore provides Wood, Stone, Tile, Marble, and Solid. USFloors is an importer/producer of sustainable flooring products, including bamboo, cork, linoleum, and hardwood floors. Lowes answer to Home Depots LifeProof, SmartCore is a decent floor for the price. These are tongue & groove designs that can float or be glued to the subfloor for maximum stability. SmartCore flooring, like virtually every LVP product, is almost completely waterproof (well revisit this later on). It doesnt offer as many varieties, but the SmartCore flooring reviews weve read are much more positive regarding quality and DIY-friendliness. The best underlayment for luxury vinyl plank flooring is from Floorlot blue, Roberts, First Step, etc. It is harder, which isnt as nice to walk on, but it is very resistant to denting and can handle a high traffic load. Were very impressed with the 20 and 30 mils wear layers: It isnt just the thickness of the wear layer that is important. For more information,visit this page. Remember, the prices of each name will depend on the line, style, size, and color. Its not the worst floor in the world, but its not the best either. SmartCore Ultra flooring is only available at Lowes and costs $3 - $4 per square foot. ft. The most expensive is just $2.39. Founded in 1978 by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, Home Depot is one of the largest home improvement retailers, supplying construction and home improvement products, tools, and services. Overall, the flooring is rigid enough to withstand anything. But well show you the best LVP between these two. The COREtec firm makes the Smartcore LVPs. On the other hand, the Lifeproof Vinyl Plank flooring has a better traditional wood carving look to it. To be honest, independent flooring stores will be able to sell you a much better product at a much better price than any box store. Even if a floor is flooded for a short period of time, this LVP will probably keep the water from getting to a wood subfloor. Theres a place for cheap vinyl plank flooring, so we arent disparaging this product. 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. The company combines quality and value with environmentally responsible flooring. There must be some difference in how long each can floor can last. Overall, SmartCore flooring reviews are pretty mixed. Cali Vinyl Pro is an SPC, or stone/polymer core line. 2. Home Depots premium LVP, LifeProof is one of the most popular vinyl plank brands around. When it comes to the looks and feel, the Smartcore flooring will give you a natural wood-like structure. SmartCore doesnt do much to address the common disadvantages of vinyl plank flooringwhich means the product doesnt really bring anything new to the table. It reduces noise as you walk on them. First, this is a relatively new company. The inventor of WPC flooring, COREtecs products are very well-regarded. (1) Warranty: The first number is the Residential warranty. ft and 15.76 sq. Doma isnt a direct competitor to SmartCore, in that Domas vinyl plank is a bit more priceybut it more than makes up for this in just how gorgeous it is. The only fallback of the Smartcore is the pricing. If you want sustainable, eco-friendly vinyl planks, SmartCore is the best flooring option for you. Adding an underlayment to the flooring provides an extra layer of protection. Vinyl plank, and by extension SmartCore flooring, doesnt have any special care requirements beyond a vacuum and the occasional mop. Thickness varies between 12 and 22 mils, depending on the collection. From the light touch of ash flooring to the jet-black of ebony flooring, SmartCore comes in a lot of hues and patterns. It is sold online and at flooring stores. Cost starts at about $3.65 per square foot. Side note: if you want an innovative type of underlayment for your floors that also makes for easy installation, its worth checking out magnetic flooring. This includes rolling loads, which means exactly what it sounds like it wont be damaged by carts being rolled over it with a heavy load. However, that premium quality comes with an equally premium price tag. The Smartcore, with all its additional features, is always better than the Lifeproof Vinyl plank flooring. When you need style that goes the extra mile, SMARTCORE Ultra XL is the smart Vivero Best is backed with a 15-year commercial warranty. Translation: the floors are going to be a bit louder. There are also loads of other exceptions to SmartCores warranty policy. They are almost the same. Would you instead avoid both of them? Those are your options, take em or leave em. Both SmartCore and Lifeproof are durable and easy to install, but if you prefer lower-priced vinyl planks with notable warranty coverages, then Lifeproof suits you best. Other features include a waterproof vinyl core, attached cork underlayment for softness and sound control and low-VOC GreenGuard certification. (1) Thickness: This is total plank thickness. But remember, if you still doubt your skills, go for a pro. Q: Is SmartCore or LifeProof a better budget-flooring brand? The Pro planks a 7 vs 5 regular SmartCore planks; Cutting The SmartCore SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe's) is part of the Flooring test program at Consumer Reports. Its because they have an ISOCORE body. Then again, Smartcore makes up to 4 types of flooring, and the Vinyl lacks in type variation. However, SmartCore flooring doesnt really do anything here thats outside of common industry practice. Like most LVPs, both LifeProof and Smartcore will be safe to use in your house. No other brand we reviewed makes a 30-mil wear layer. A lot of them sport a rustic look such that appears to be a modified wood. COREtec Pro has a compressed polymer and vinyl core. While fixing them, you wont need any help from a pro. The big appeal of SmartCore flooring, of course, is the price tag. LifeProof flooring reviews arelukewarm at very best. Secondly, Mohawk also shines is in the number of floating and glue-down flooring lines. However: if you ask us, its average. 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. But before you start using the vinyl floors, what makes them durable, and for how long? Thick, high-quality wear layers; multiple installation styles; zero-VOC optionsall at an incredibly reasonable price. Pro Galaxy is the more affordable vinyl core brand with 30-year and 7-year warranties. Why NuCore is the Best Value Vinyl Plank Flooring. Remember, the firm says that they give you the best LVPs before getting profits. But we wanted to mention it because there have been many attempts by stores like Lowes and Home Depot to sell proprietary flooring products. Yes. That in itself does not show value. If you choose the natural collection, youll get 12 types. It means that users can fix the vinyl floors on sub-floors that have slight imperfections. The main parts you will be comparing are wear layer thickness, which is in mils, attached underlayment or not, and how thick the image layer is. Your email address will not be published. (6 Simple Ways). It received 4s in all categories except for a 5 in Ease of Installation. Youll only need a tapping block and a soft hammer. Required fields are marked *. COREtec Premium has a 3mm pad that creates a softer floor with better sound reduction than standard LVP pad. Smart Ultra vinyl planks cost ranges from $3 $4 per sq. Being plastic, it is totally waterproof. When it comes to the looks and feel, the Smartcore flooring will give you a natural wood-like structure. Lowes slaps its name on SmartCore flooringbut who actually manufactures it? Lets put it this way: tile is so cool, the Washington Post even wrote an article about just how cool it is. I also have a box of I bought Lifeproof so I could lay out some and see if color/style worked for us. Q: Can you install any brand of vinyl plank in any room of your home? Other brands like Shaw Vinyl Flooring, Floortee Pro, DuraTru are comparable to the LifeProof. SmartCore vinyl is GreenGuard-certified, but does not offer zero-VOC products. SmartCore, on the other hand, has more favorable consumer reviews. Youll enjoy cleaning Smartcore and LifeProof LVP. However: nearly all SmartCore flooring reviews we dove into mentioned that this waterproof claim was perhaps a little less than accurate. If youre fixing up a home to sell (or plan to move in a few years), then cheap luxury vinyl plank makes sense too. Subscribe today for exclusive content & tips in your inbox! LifeProof flooring is low-budget vinyl flooring, which has only minor quality compromises. For example, rather listing a brand as the best commercial LVP, we name the specific line: Armstrong Vivero Best. If youre looking into different types of floor tiles, youre probably in on the secret already. Prices are in the range of $3-$4 per square foot, but they give you options for quality LVP that is more affordable. As for the LifeProof, you can only buy them at Home Depot. Though, if you want LVPs that can last for long in your house and money isnt a problem, go for Smartcore. Most have the traditional wood looks. Thats why weve put together this easy-to-understand vinyl plank flooring comparison, stacking up the key features of the 4 brands we get the most questions about: Proximity Mills, COREtec, LifeProof, and SmartCore. Where other brands add ceramic beads to the finish, Armstrong uses cultured diamonds with all the properties of real diamonds to provide the ultimate in scratch, stain, and scuff resistance. Those are Armstrongs words, but theyre backed up by science. Like the Smartcore LVPs, these vinyl floors have a wear layer. You can buy and install them. Is SmartCore flooring good? SmartCore Pro vs. Ultra: What are the Similarities? However, the user experience may vary depending on best durability, value, runner-up, etc. Both SmartCore and LifeProof flooring are private-label LVP floors offered by big box stores, right? LifeProof flooring is low-budget vinyl flooring, which has only minor quality compromises. Q: Do any vinyl plank flooring companies make scratch-proof flooring? The second is the Commercial warranty. The Floorte Plus LVP has a polyurethane wear layer infused with tiny ceramic beads that enhance its resistance to wear, scratching and dents. (Step-by-Step Tutorial). For both 6mm and 7mm thick vinyl planks with a 6 mL wear layer, it costs about $2.59 $3.09 per sq. Why COREtec is the Runner-up Best LVP Brand. For subfloors that are slightly uneven or with some roll, its best to use more flexible products as rigid core flooring requires an almost perfect surface for a clean installation. To put that in context: buying SmartCore floors is head-over-heels more affordable than buying hardwood floors. If youre researching the best types of vinyl flooring, youve probably found a lot of acronyms (EVP flooring, LVT flooring, PVC, WPC, etc.). They are rich in chocolate and charcoal shades. The warranty for SmartCore flooring is even more limited for DIYers. Again: dent-resistance is supposed to be a basic part of vinyl plank flooring. 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 if youre hesitant about buying the product because of the well-documented disadvantages of cork flooring, the stuff isnt going to change your mind. On the other hand, the Lifeproof Vinyl Plank flooring has a better traditional wood carving look to it. If you choose the Smartcore LVPs, it will limit you to four collections. https://stock.adobe.com/au/images/worker-laying-vinyl-floor-covering-at-home-renovation/308702578. This is the traditional way that LVP has been made since introduced in the early 2000s. It will depend on the collection you choose. You will find several good options for your project regardless of your homes architecture or your decorating style or the color range you prefer. Thats not a problem in itself, and Lowes pairs a recommended underlayment with the product. Weve discussed a lot of types of flooring here, including many of the best vinyl plank flooring brands. The residential warranty is just 15 years, among the shortest of any vinyl plank flooring brand. For more information,visit this page. They compare very similarly in price to SmartCore however Proximity Mills and Newton both have much better consumer reviews. Bargain shoppers might be interested in two other lines: One and Galaxy. SmartCore features a wide range of wood species, namely Oak, Pine, Acacia, Maple, Walnut, Eucalyptus, Hickory, Bamboo, and Mixed species, with seven finish options: Brown, Gray, Black, Off-white, White, Copper, and Multiple colors. To paraphrase Hamlet, that is the question. Ultimately, you might say SmartCore flooring is a good budget option. Carpet vs. Laminate: The *Real* Pros & Cons, Why Concrete Flooring That Looks Like Wood is So Darn Cool. What about the LifeProof LVPs? Youll pay more for COREtec One and Galaxy than you will for cheaper vinyl plank flooring, but youll get more too. SmartCore Flooring Reviews Usually Say That DIY Installation Is Easy, And Professional Installation Isnt Too Expensive Either, SmartCore Flooring Offers Easy Maintenance, SmartCore Ultra and SmartCore Pro Are Both Low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), SmartCore Flooring Can Be Used Outside (Though it Will Wear Out Faster), SmartCore Floorings Attached Pad Does Not Protect it from Moisture, SmartCore Flooring Reviews (Surprisingly) Say it Scratches Easily, SmartCore Flooring May Dent Easily Too (Especially SmartCore Pro), SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra Only Have One Wear Layer Thickness Option, SmartCore Floorings Lifetime Residential Warranty Is Very Limited, Again: You Can Not Install SmartCore as a DIY Project Within Warranty, SmartCore Floorings Commercial Warranty Is Even Worse, SmartCore Flooring Isnt Environmentally Friendly, The Core of SmartCore Flooring Isnt Particularly Special. COREtec Plus is the original and features a WPC core. Some readers complained that they cound't find the local installers or overpaid the installation. Now that all the paperwork is out of the way, lets get into the meat of this thing. All rigid cores are SPC (Stone-Polymer Composite). The overall purchase price ranges from $47.13 to $63.04. The wooden tiles are so amazing and you will like them at the first glance. If you are looking for alternatives to SmartCore, we would highly suggest Proximity Mills or Newton. Obviously, the best vinyl plank flooring for you is the one that fits your lifestyle and offers professional results. The wear layer and proper care can go a long way towards keeping your floors looking great, so it pays to keep dog nails trimmed and use protection under heavy furniture or appliances. That means you can only buy it at Lowes. It also comes with an attached underlayment, cheaper ones don't have that and you'd have to purchase and lay it separately. It also has a wear layer infused with ceramic beads that enhances the planks stability and strength. Pattern repetition and finishing technique also play a part in how real plastic flooring looks in your home. Pro version is much more durable and can handle rubber mallet taps and blows during installation. LifeProof can only be installed as a snap-together floor. The answers are here, and theyre more comprehensive than youll find elsewhere. Remember, it will help if you look at the cost and body of the LVP before buying. A complete range of looks traditional, contemporary, rustic, modern, etc. Q: Which brand is vinyl flooring is best for uneven subfloors? For even more detail, see our Brand Reviews of all the leading LVP / luxury vinyl plank flooring brands. What Colors Does SmartCore Flooring Come In? Additionally: Lowes markets SmartCore Ultra flooring as Hi-Def flooringmeaning theres more detail in its design layer. 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