Its Alright. Which is Better: LifeProof or SmartCore Flooring? It also comes with an attached underlayment, cheaper ones don't have that and you'd have to purchase and lay it separately. But remember, cheap can be costly. To skip to our is SmartCore worth it judgment call, click here! Obviously, the best vinyl plank flooring for you is the one that fits your lifestyle and offers professional results. Its because of the strong wear layers. Smartcore vs. LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring, How to Install Lifeproof Vinyl Plank Flooring? But we wanted to mention it because there have been many attempts by stores like Lowes and Home Depot to sell proprietary flooring products. A: Each manufacturer has certain tolerances youll need to stick to when installing LVP or LVT flooring. Here is the difference in numbers. Armstrong Vivero Best, Shaw Floorte Plus and LifeProof three excellent options for commercial LVP. If youre looking for a much wider variety of unique wood floor designs (that are more durable and only marginally more expensive than SmartCores) wed check them out. The remainder top out at 3.5 stars or fewer. A: It depends on what youre looking for from a style standpoint. 6.5mm thick vinyl planks are available in eight different colors: Seasoned Wood, Walton Oak, Shadow Hickory, Tekoa Oak, Seaside Oak, Essential Oak, Breezy Stone, and Starry Light. Also, these floors are waterproof. And we mean cool. SmartCore Flooring Installation: How Does it Work? Below is a table showing the costs and guarantees of both LVPs names. If youre looking for the best cost-to-value ratio, Proximity Mills is an excellent choice. However, SmartCore flooring doesnt really do anything here thats outside of common industry practice. And we mean cool. Some have stone looks. The second is the Commercial warranty. Like, hipster-fabulous, Brooklyn-bound, ultra-chic cool. Why Home Decorators Collection is the Best Cheap LVP. You get what you pay for with luxury vinyl plank flooring, and what youre paying for in many cases is the wear layer. The difference is that it is reinforced with limestone for added stability and strength. Wider planks. The Floorte Plus line is available with wear layers of 12, 20 and 30 mils. In general, SPC is more rigid than WPCbut that also means its not as shock-absorbing. If you are looking for alternatives to SmartCore, we would highly suggest Proximity Mills or Newton. Jul 23 . They include the basic Smartcore, Ultra, Pro, and Naturals. Why COREtec is the Runner-up Best LVP Brand. As for the LifeProof LVPs, the costs range from $2.99 to $4.39 per square foot. You can also try out QEP, and the results will be somewhat similar. 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. But with LifeProof, they have a 6, 8, 12, and 22-mil wear layer. What about the LifeProof LVPs? Today, we are here to unveil the best choice for you and hopefully improve your decision before you buy. Because both SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra can be installed as floating floors. The most expensive is just $2.39. Then again, Smartcore makes up to 4 types of flooring, and the Vinyl lacks in type variation. With SmartCore, there's a layer of rubber on the bottom, whereas COREtec sports a slightly thicker layer of cork. This brand uses 1.5mm cork pad on most lines. 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. Both are also 100% waterproof and offer a lifetime warranty. Our opinion? SmartCore Flooring Is Lowes Private-Label Brand. The information contained on whatisvinyl.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. At $3.50$7.00/square foot, Proximity Mills offers features youd expect to find in a much more expensive LVP product. Well, expect the Smartcore LVPs to be more costly than the LifeProof vinyl planks. We want to remind you that our brand buying guides are comprehensive with pros, cons, comparisons and costs. Were just trying to give you some context before we talk about it. For more information,visit this page. 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. It reduces noise as you walk on them. It shows that the LVPs are safe for use. The flooring tends to be more aggressive when it comes to darker color contrast. It costs a little more than the most affordable Vivero Best, but has a 15-year commercial warranty too. (Step By Step Guide), Should Kitchen Countertops Match The Floor? If youre looking into waterproof laminate flooring, you probably have some questions. (1) Thickness: This is the total thickness of the plank or tile. Both the Smartcore and Lifeproof flooring is highly durable against heavy foot traffic. The list goes on. Many negative LifeProof reviews mention its lack of scratch resistance. Overall, the flooring is rigid enough to withstand anything. So, lets dive into it as we start with the info about the two LVP names. Both Smartcore and LifeProof have few lines but with many colors and styles. Piet Dossche was the founder. But of the major brands, this is the cheapest. The warranty for SmartCore flooring is even more limited for DIYers. Like the Smartcore LVPs, these vinyl floors have a wear layer. So, without delay, lets jump right into it. This brand scored a very solid 4.5 out of 5 in our ratings. Is SmartCore flooring good? Why Shaw is the Overall Best LVP Flooring. It isnt terrible, it just isnt LVP you should expect to hold up very long to heavy traffic, big dogs and rambunctious kids. and SmartCore Ultra only comes with a 20-mil wear layer. But well show you the best LVP between these two. SmartCore Ultra and SmartCore Pro are no exception, and are Greenguard Certified as low-VOC options. Youll pay more for COREtec One and Galaxy than you will for cheaper vinyl plank flooring, but youll get more too. Smartcore Pro is a pad-attached vinyl flooring which is waterproof and very adaptable to wet locations in houses as well as commercial apartments. It is sold online and at flooring stores. 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. This could also be called the most expensive LVP, or close to it at least. We rely on readers like you to share your flooring project cost or quote. Reducing VOCs is a priority in the industry and it shows in newer products like low-VOC carpet and non-toxic laminate flooring. Expect the terms of LifeProof to be different from Smartcore LVP. SmartCore Ultra features a comfortable WPC core. What is a floating floor? 2023 FlooringStores, Inc. All rights reserved. The downside of this is that the warranty is prorated. Prices start at less than $1.00 per square foot, which is a fair price for what you get. LifeProof Berkley Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Click YY-VSPC-DG02 (Home Depot) . Aside from that, there aren't many differences in color, variety, even protection. Almost all of them make good quality products at a certain price. Lifeproof vinyl plank isnt bad, but the Smartcore is just better. However, the pricing isnt that of a deal, as getting something better will always cost you a few dollars extra. Mohawk makes three Smart Select flooring lines with 15-year residential warranties and no commercial warranties. protective wear layer to prevent staining. However, mixed reviews suggest it may lack in quality. It makes two well-constructed lines, the same approach as Shaw Floorte and COREtec. My concern is I have an antique lions paw claw foot tub. Certain_Cut_6371 1 yr. ago I've used Lifeproof and Pergo, both have worked well for my projects. Lets now look at the differences between the specs of the two LVP names. (1) Thickness: This is the total thickness of the plank. Bargain shoppers might be interested in two other lines: One and Galaxy. Secondly, Mohawk also shines is in the number of floating and glue-down flooring lines. Both One and Galaxy lines have 12-mil wear layers. Cali Bamboo offers both quality and value. For a lower price than SmartCore, Proximity sells LVP products with better wear layers and high-quality SPC cores. Adding an underlayment to the flooring provides an extra layer of protection. So, you can say bye to the grout lines showing on the floor. These are cheap luxury vinyl flooring lines. LifeProof LVP is also durable. On the high end, cost is about $2.70 per square foot. Yes, both Smartcore and LifeProof LVP will make your floor durable and be used by many people. I also have a box of I bought Lifeproof so I could lay out some and see if color/style worked for us. They have low or no VOCs. Again: dent-resistance is supposed to be a basic part of vinyl plank flooring. All the best vinyl plank flooring is easy to clean. Vinyl Plank Flooring vs. Vinyl Sheet Flooring: Whats the Difference? Each guide includes a table showing each collection the brand makes and its cost, key features and warranty. And heres where we talk about the bad stuff. But we rate the Armstrong Vivero Best just as high for commercial use. Lowes markets it under the SmartCore brand name because, like SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra, its supposedly waterproof. ft. SmarCore offers a wide range of warranty coverage. I use it in bathrooms and kitchens. These collections have many colors and styles. The Smartcore, with all its additional features, is always better than the Lifeproof Vinyl plank flooring. But since we didnt want to just copy-and-paste endless blocks of info and hundreds of comments, weve used them to create this guide to SmartCore flooring pros and cons! If youre just starting your research into LVP, our Vinyl Plank Flooring Guide is a comprehensive resource loaded with information that will assist you in your buying decision. A lot of them sport a rustic look such that appears to be a modified wood. And more importantly, there are better options out there for the price. 5. But at a similar price, you could get a vastly superior product. All three lines of SmartCore vinyl plank flooring are purchased in cartons. In our lab tests, Flooring models like the SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe . 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. Theres a reason hardwood floor alternatives like SmartCore are so popular, after all. It is harder, which isnt as nice to walk on, but it is very resistant to denting and can handle a high traffic load. (Step-by-Step Tutorial), How to Clean Lifeproof Vinyl Flooring? And, well, reviewers arent fond of SmartCore Pros SPC core. Core material is very brittle in the Ultra. 2. At its budget price, theres no question that SmartCore is superior to LifeProof. The overall purchase price ranges from $76.04 to $84.04. Its because of the WPC. The plank size is 6"x48" and the size of the tiles is 12"x24". It probably weighs 500 pounds. The only fallback of the Smartcore is the pricing. The first is the 200+ styles in traditional wood looks, but with stone and tile too. In addition to SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra, Lowes also sells a third collection: SmartCore Naturals. Potentially harder than real diamonds: According to Live Science and other sources we consulted, synthetic diamonds have a range of hardness. Remember, it will help if you look at the cost and body of the LVP before buying. If you choose the Smartcore LVPs, it will limit you to four collections. This distribution arrangement allows Floor & Decor to keep the cost pretty competitive. Even laminate flooring comes in waterproof options now, like Mohawks RevWood (and you can check out this vinyl plank vs. laminate guide out if youre curious about the differences between the two products). 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. It will depend on the use of your floor. When it comes to durability and built quality, the SmartCore is always better than the LifeProof floor covering. The tables make it easy to compare brands at a glance. Cali Vinyl Plus has a bamboo and polymer core (BPC). LifeProof flooring reviews arelukewarm at very best. The company combines quality and value with environmentally responsible flooring. If it wasnt clear, well spell it out here: SmartCore flooring is fine, but its not the best. Lets talk about SmartCore flooring. All LVP is waterproof because it is 100% vinyl. A: No, although most manufacturers would lead you to believe that. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How To Fix Gouges In Hardwood Floors (Step-by-Step Guide), Can You Paint Hardwood Floors? That in itself does not show value. Our Mohawk Vinyl Plank Flooring Guideincludes a detailed table of the lines and much more information, but heres an overview: In total, there are 21 different collections like Defined Beauty (14 colors), Perfect Escape (8 colors) and Bowman (14 colors) that add up to 218 different Mohawk LVP options. With SMARTCORE Ultra XL, we think you'll agree. 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. So, cases of foul smell and odor wont be present. Its the excellent quality and warranty protection combined with competitive cost that makes NuCore the best value in LVP/LVT. Seriouslyeven some traditional types of floor tiles can be harder to clean than LVP because theyre more porous. Mohawks lack of confidence in the quality of the flooring is shown in the short warranties. Your email address will not be published. A wear layer just 6 mils thick, one of the thinnest in the industry, Total plank thickness of 3.4mm, 4.4mm in floating flooring and 2mm in glue-down flooring, Two are floating UniClic floors and one is a glue-down flooring, Armstrong Vinyl Plank Flooring Reviews 2023, Armstrong makes more than 200 vinyl plank flooring options, one of the largest collections available.This flooring is also called luxury vinyl flooring, LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and LVT (luxury vinyl, Explore Tarkett Luxury Vinyl Flooring 2023, Most Durable: Shaw Floorte Plus 20 Mils & 30 Mils, Best Commercial LVP: Armstrong Vivero Best, Best Cheap LVP: Home Decorators Collection, Best Brand You Might Not Know About: Cali Bamboo, Worst Warranty: Mohawk Smart Select 6 Mils Flooring, Final Thoughts on the Best Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands, Home Decorators Collection Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Guide, Cheap Vinyl Plank Flooring Options & How to Cut Cost on Installation, Vinyl Sheet Reviews: Prices, Best Brands, Installation Cost 2023. The Pro planks a 7 vs 5 regular SmartCore planks; Cutting All Proximity Mills products feature an ultra-durable, ceramic bead-infused wear layer. All the details are in our Shaw Vinyl Plank Flooring Guide, but to summarize, your options include: In our comprehensive Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Buying Guide, we rate each LVP brand in a number of categories. With Smartcore, youll get lines with 12 to 20 mil wear layers. 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. There are two reasons Mohawk vinyl plank flooring has the best selection. LifeProof LVPs comes with an underlayment. When it comes to the looks and feel, the Smartcore flooring will give you a natural wood-like structure. Its design layer is a little more detailed, and youre not paying more money for an SPC core that apparently adds very little benefit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Flooringclarity.com All Rights Reserved. As for the LifeProof, you can only buy them at Home Depot. If you read our review of Home Depots LifeProof vinyl flooring, you might have noticed that this review is relatively similar. Can I Use in Bathrooms? The easy answer is, it depends on the features you want the most. Pro Galaxy is the more affordable vinyl core brand with 30-year and 7-year warranties. It comes with waterproof, structure, and residential wear lifetime warranties. At $3$4/square foot, LifeProof is a relatively inexpensive floor. However: nearly all SmartCore flooring reviews we dove into mentioned that this waterproof claim was perhaps a little less than accurate. Why have you decided to look up how to stagger vinyl plank flooring? Youll only need a tapping block and a soft hammer. Other brands like Shaw Vinyl Flooring, Floortee Pro, DuraTru are comparable to the LifeProof. Also, the body of the LVP has various plastics to make them withstand more traffic. It protects the visual/design layer beneath. Is Bamboo Flooring Waterproof? Almost all of them make good quality products at a certain price. Sobasically, DIY-ers are out of luck. SmartCore flooring, like virtually every LVP product, is almost completely waterproof (well revisit this later on). Heres one thing that separates SmartCore flooring from some other budget LVP brands: you can use it as an outdoor flooring option. Its because Smartcore has specs. Also, they come in stone and wood looks. 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