Is SmartCore flooring good? As for the LifeProof LVPs, the costs range from $2.99 to $4.39 per square foot. The second is the Commercial warranty. Additionally, you will get a variation in colors, making the flooring planks fit for any usage. But based on the specs of each LVP name, Smartcore carries the day. Why Mohawk Has the Best Selection of LVP Flooring. COREtec One is a WPC similar to the Plus lines. US floors began the COREtec firm in 2013. (Step-by-Step Tutorial). If you love DIY, then choose LifeProof. SmartCore is offered in just two collections: Ultra and Pro. COREtec makes the COREtec and Smartcore LVPs. Turns out, you will get everything similar in both cases. If you want the wood looks, there are more than a dozen colors. It received 4s in all categories except for a 5 in Ease of Installation. Oh, and If you were discouraged from buying wood because of the cost to refinish hardwood flooring, you should know that if your SmartCore gets marked up, your only option is to replace all of it. Cartons of Smartcore Ultra premium vinyl plank flooring are available, and they may cover an area ranging from 15 to 28 square feet. Why is Renting Furniture a Smart Decision? Its because they have an ISOCORE body. (6 Simple Ways). Heres are the reasons COREtec is rated the second-best vinyl plank flooring. Price starts below $2.60 per square foot and tops out under $4.00. There are several varieties of each line. Engineered Hardwood vs. Vinyl Plank Flooring: Whats the Difference? ft. For 8.5mm with a 6 mL wear leather, it costs about $3.29 $3.59 per sq. Take a look at the cons of LifeProof LVPs: You have an idea of who makes the Smartcore and LifeProof LVP. Lowes slaps its name on SmartCore flooringbut who actually manufactures it? Your floor will be warm and dry to your feet. Earlier, we noted that SmartCore flooring is low-VOC certified. ft and 15.76 sq. We hope this chart was helpful and, for a full breakdown of all the best LVP flooring, check out our full . The Shaw Floorte LVP has a wood/plastic core, or WCP. Look, were not trying to pooh-pooh the product by association. Since 2013, people have known Smartcore as quality floors that look like wood, cork, and bamboo. 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: Does Luxury Vinyl Flooring off-gas, is it safe in my home? SmartCores website says SmartCore Pro sacrifices a smidge of detail in the design layer for its enhanced durability. Its durable, affordable, and surprisingly eco-friendly. If you choose the natural collection, youll get 12 types. If you DIY installation and the flooring breaks, then there is no warranty. Carpet vs. Laminate: The *Real* Pros & Cons, Why Concrete Flooring That Looks Like Wood is So Darn Cool. The second is the commercial warranty. The short answer is that Shaw makes vinyl plank flooring from mid-range with good quality and reasonable cost to premium LVP with the best warranties available. 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. So, you can say bye to the grout lines showing on the floor. Here is the difference in numbers. Were impressed with the companys LVP and laminate. SmartCore doesnt do much to address the common disadvantages of vinyl plank flooringwhich means the product doesnt really bring anything new to the table. What is comparable to LifeProof flooring? 3 pilotdog68 4 yr. ago The vinyl will not be damaged by water, but water could certainly seep through the seams, which is what he was talking about. Youll enjoy cleaning Smartcore and LifeProof LVP. Yes! Proximity Mills offers the most bang for your buck. It can also be installed in below-grade rooms, but some vinyl flooring is built for that, whereas others are just sufficient in that regard. But if not, you should know: tile is cool now! 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. Other features include a waterproof vinyl core, attached cork underlayment for softness and sound control and low-VOC GreenGuard certification. Were just trying to give you some context before we talk about it. and SmartCore Ultra only comes with a 20-mil wear layer. At the end of the day, the best hardwood floors should be durable, beautiful, and comfortablebut they shouldnt have to be waterproof. Check this too: Vinyl Vs Laminate Flooring. It is harder, which isnt as nice to walk on, but it is very resistant to denting and can handle a high traffic load. Well, expect the Smartcore LVPs to be more costly than the LifeProof vinyl planks. The residential warranty is just 15 years, among the shortest of any vinyl plank flooring brand. It really helps other visitors to estimate the cost of flooring project. And more importantly, there are better options out there for the price. So, in terms of getting the floors, this is quite a setback. But of the major brands, this is the cheapest. People love LifeProof and other LVP from Halstead because they are cheap, safe, and last for long. Also, kids and pets can play on both LVPs. Both the Smartcore and Lifeproof flooring is highly durable against heavy foot traffic. SmartCore Pro only comes with a 12-mil wear layer. When buying any vinyl floors, you should look at the guaranty terms. You get what you pay for with luxury vinyl plank flooring, and what youre paying for in many cases is the wear layer. Overall, the flooring is rigid enough to withstand anything. For a lower price than SmartCore, Proximity sells LVP products with better wear layers and high-quality SPC cores. They are much easier to install than the Smartcore LVPs. Who wants cheap LVP? 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. 4 SMARTCORE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (V.1.1) In-floor Radiant Heat: SMARTCORE can be installed using the floating or glue down method. How to Install Luan Under Vinyl Floor? These LVPs are available per square foot. The 6 Best Waterproof Laminate Flooring Brands of 2023, 20+ Types of Floor Tiles: Your 2022 Guide. We gave NuCore a combined rating of 4.25 out of 5. Also, these floors are waterproof. Overall: wed still recommend certain types of hardwood over LVP for outdoor use. Mohawk Smart Select Design Element Walnut Mocha 6 Mils. Vivero Best is backed with a 15-year commercial warranty. The colors are medium to dark, with the oak type in grey. https://stock.adobe.com/au/images/worker-laying-vinyl-floor-covering-at-home-renovation/308702578. COREtec manufactures both SmartCore Ultra and SmartCore Pro. The Best Cheap vinyl plank flooring is decent quality but at an affordable price. If you need cheap LVP, these lines are worth considering, especially the low-cost options. With a 20 mL wear layer, SmartCore Pro is suitable for places with heavier traffic conditions, such as buildings and restaurants. 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. It received a 5 in the Quality category. The Benefits SmartCore Ultra Flooring Waterproof Quality Not all vinyl flooring has good waterproof quality, but this one from SmartCore is different. It has a 12 mL wear layer, which provides durability and prevents stains, and scratches. The Floorte Plus LVP has a polyurethane wear layer infused with tiny ceramic beads that enhance its resistance to wear, scratching and dents. The Smartcore price ranges from $2 to $3.80 per square foot and is only available at the Lowe's store. However, SmartCore flooring doesnt really do anything here thats outside of common industry practice. The core material is different. For example: Lowes cork flooring iswell, it isnt exactly the best cork flooring out there. Just dont use a vacuum with a beater bar or youll scratch your wear layer! However, the pricing isnt that of a deal, as getting something better will always cost you a few dollars extra. Both products look good, both offer a great water-resistant wood flooring alternative, both can be used to create classic wood floor patterns the point is, theyre very similar products. SmartCore Pro vs. Ultra: What are the Similarities? Smartcore Ultra line has 25 styles. Should you avoid any of them for your flooring projects? 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. 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. SmartCore Ultra flooring is only available at Lowes and costs $3 - $4 per square foot. Lifeproof vinyl planks prices vary, depending on their thickness and wear layer. It will depend on the collection you choose. SmartCore flooring reviews agree: itll get the job done but better options exist. The SmartCore SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe's) is part of the Flooring test program at Consumer Reports. Also, theyve been making floors for more than 30 years. SmartCore vs Lifeproof: Which Vinyl Plank Flooring Is Better? So, if you sell it to the second person, it will be the end of the warranty. Thickness varies between 12 and 22 mils, depending on the collection. The price of any LVP is also essential in choosing the best one for your house. The 6-mil layer line more than 12 colors. Thats too high for cheap vinyl plank flooring. The Smartcore flooring has a user-friendly touch, which makes it great for DIY projects. The wear layers for both Smartcore and LifeProof help resist stains, dents, and spills. Home Depots premium LVP, LifeProof is one of the most popular vinyl plank brands around. Shaw earned a rating of 4.75 out of 5 based on quality, range of options, installation ease and low-VOC content. A: Each manufacturer has certain tolerances youll need to stick to when installing LVP or LVT flooring. Smartcore Pro is an SPC flooring made of limestone powder and plastic polymers, making the vinyl planks durable and resistant to dents. LifeProof flooring is low-budget vinyl flooring, which has only minor quality compromises. You should still clean up spills promptly, but SmartCore floors are a great option to use for bathroom or even mudroom flooring. There are two reasons Mohawk vinyl plank flooring has the best selection. Ultimately, this prefinished hardwood flooring collection is probably one to skipit just doesnt stack up against any of the best hardwood floor brands. LifeProof flooring is low-budget vinyl flooring, which has only minor quality compromises. My concern is I have an antique lions paw claw foot tub. But if you want to know the best overall flooring planks, the Shaw company churns out the best quality. SmartCore SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe's) ProCore Plus Warm Honey Oak LWD8099RCB (Lowe's) Weve discussed a lot of types of flooring here, including many of the best vinyl plank flooring brands. So, without delay, lets jump right into it. Shaw Industries, founded in 1967, is a well-known Dalton-based manufacturer and distributor of flooring materials, including hardwood, carpet, laminate, resilient, synthetic turf, tile, and stone for commercial and residential markets. Remember, the prices of each name will depend on the line, style, size, and color. But before you start using the vinyl floors, what makes them durable, and for how long? Its design layer is a little more detailed, and youre not paying more money for an SPC core that apparently adds very little benefit. How Much Does SmartCore Flooring Cost? Lowes markets it under the SmartCore brand name because, like SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Ultra, its supposedly waterproof. We mentioned Proximity Mills before, but really, you have a lot of options. The second is the commercial warranty. Even the best engineered wood flooring is water-resistant at best. The Smartcore is more costly than Lifeproof because Smartcore has more specifications, and it also depends on the line, style, size, and color. Your options are 8 mils and 12 mils. 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. Compare that with wear layers of 6 to 8 mils on most economy LVP brands. Obviously, thats a huge issue for any PVC flooring product marketed for its strength. ft and 16.54 sq. Every room or your house or place needs to have floors that can last for long. First among them: is there waterproof laminate flooring? With its impressive ability to mimic the authentic color and texture of wood, its a great alternative for hardwood flooring. So, expect Smartcore to have the GreenGuard Gold pass. 2023 FlooringStores, Inc. All rights reserved. If youre fixing up a home to sell (or plan to move in a few years), then cheap luxury vinyl plank makes sense too. The Floorte Plus line is available with wear layers of 12, 20 and 30 mils. So, here is the final thought on durability between the two LVPs. The collections for each LVPs are important in choosing the best between the two. LifeProof LVP is also durable. They arent exactly cheap LVP. It protects the visual/design layer beneath. SmartCore has a separate underlayment item called SMARTCORE Soft and Sound, which reduces noise and protects planks against moisture. The big appeal of SmartCore flooring, of course, is the price tag. LifeProof vinyl flooring is FloorScore-certified as low-VOC. What is the best vinyl plank flooring brand? The plank size is 6"x48" and the size of the tiles is 12"x24". Potentially harder than real diamonds: According to Live Science and other sources we consulted, synthetic diamonds have a range of hardness. COREtec Plus is the original and features a WPC core. Again: dent-resistance is supposed to be a basic part of vinyl plank flooring. Prices start at less than $1.00 per square foot, which is a fair price for what you get. But if not, you should know: tile is cool now! However: nearly all SmartCore flooring reviews we dove into mentioned that this waterproof claim was perhaps a little less than accurate. COREtec One is a WPC similar to the Plus lines. Get a hardwood floor alternative like SmartCoreitll give you the look youre going for, without the actual, you know, disadvantages of hickory flooring. That said, COREtec is actually owned by USFloors. It doesnt offer as many varieties, but the SmartCore flooring reviews weve read are much more positive regarding quality and DIY-friendliness. So, lets dive into it as we start with the info about the two LVP names. It costs a little more than the most affordable Vivero Best, but has a 15-year commercial warranty too. Lets put it this way: tile is so cool, the Washington Post even wrote an article about just how cool it is. For more information,visit this page. Both are in wood and stone looks. Then again, COREtec, Mohawk, Smartcore, NuCore, etc., arent too far behind either. For the flooring looks options, Smartcore provides Wood, Stone, Tile, Marble, and Solid. What if you want the 22-mil layer line? Yes. 5. 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. But, if you resell the Lifeproof flooring to someone else, the warranty will get invalidated, and you will be left with just the product. I use it in bathrooms and kitchens. Usage: This ultra vinyl plank is more popular among homeowners. Remember, it will help if you look at the cost and body of the LVP before buying. 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). 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. The overall purchase price ranges from $76.04 to $84.04. Very waterproof. COREtec isnt a household name like Shaw or Mohawk, but flooring experts understand just how good this brand is. 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