SPC Flooring vs. LVT Flooring: A Comprehensive Comparison
When it comes to choosing flooring options for a modern home, homeowners and interior designers often find themselves weighing the pros and cons of SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) flooring in Dubai and LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) flooring. Both have gained popularity due to their appealing aesthetics and high functionality. But how do they compare against each other? Let’s delve into a detailed comparison between these two flooring types to help you make an informed decision.
Composition
SPC Flooring: SPC is a robust flooring option that combines limestone and stabilizers, creating an incredibly stable core. The core is then topped with a vinyl layer, giving it a realistic appearance that can mimic various natural materials.
LVT Flooring: LVT is made up of multiple layers, including a vinyl backing, a printed design layer, and a clear wear layer. The structure enables a wide range of designs and colors, making it a versatile choice.
Durability
SPC Flooring: Thanks to its stone-plastic composite core, SPC flooring offers remarkable durability. It is resistant to dents, scratches, and wear and tear, making it ideal for areas with high foot traffic.
LVT Flooring: While LVT is still quite durable, it may not withstand heavy impacts as well as SPC. The wear layer’s thickness plays a vital role in determining its resistance to scratches and dents.
Comfort and Feel
SPC Flooring: Though highly durable, SPC can feel harder underfoot due to its rigid core. It might not be the preferred choice if comfort is a primary concern.
LVT Flooring: LVT tends to have a softer feel underfoot, making it comfortable to walk on. It can be an ideal choice for living rooms or bedrooms where comfort is desired.
Installation
SPC Flooring: When it comes to the installation of SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) flooring, it requires a level surface and can be affixed directly on various subfloors including ceramic tiles, marble, plywood, and leveled screed, or even directly onto a leveled raised access floor.
We use a 2mm EVA underlay to ensure a solid foundation. Mainly suitable for commercial areas, SPC flooring’s rigidity offers strong performance where needed. If the subflooring has dents or protrusions, the rigid nature of SPC ensures that these imperfections do not transfer through the surface. The 2mm EVA underlay used also offers improved acoustics, making SPC flooring a reliable choice for commercial applications.
LVT Flooring: The installation process for Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), or Vinyl Click, is similar to SPC but offers more flexibility. LVT can be installed over the same types of subfloors as SPC and is also suitable for installation directly onto a leveled raised access floor.
The 2mm EVA underlay is essential here as well, providing a solid foundation. Unlike SPC, LVT’s more pliable and flexible nature means it’s suitable for both residential and commercial areas.
However, this flexibility also means that dents or protrusions in the subflooring might transfer through the surface. The use of a 2mm EVA underlay helps combat this potential issue and offers improved acoustics, ensuring a smooth and visually appealing finish.
Appearance
SPC Flooring: SPC’s design capabilities have grown significantly, and it can closely mimic natural materials like wood or stone. However, the designs might not be as varied as those available with LVT.
LVT Flooring: LVT is known for its wide variety of designs, colors, and patterns. The design layer allows it to replicate natural materials with stunning realism, offering greater flexibility in matching your interior décor. LVT floors can also be installed with skirting tiles
Water Resistance
SPC Flooring: SPC’s stone-plastic composite core offers excellent water resistance. It’s an attractive option for bathrooms, kitchens, or any area where moisture might be a concern.
LVT Flooring: Though LVT is water-resistant to some extent, it might not be as impervious to moisture as SPC, depending on the quality and construction of the product.
Price
SPC Flooring: Generally, SPC is considered more cost-effective than LVT, offering high durability and appealing aesthetics at a more budget-friendly price point.
LVT Flooring: LVT might be more expensive due to its design variations and comfort. It often provides a more luxurious appearance, which can reflect in its pricing.
Advantages of SPC Flooring
SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) flooring is known for its affordability, making it a budget-friendly option due to the lower cost of its stone core components. Its stability ensures less shrinkage and makes it suitable for areas that require higher indentation resistance or where extensive exposure to sunlight/heat can occur. This makes SPC suitable for commercial applications demanding actual performance. Furthermore, its 100% waterproof nature, ease of maintenance, and compatibility with various subfloors enhance its appeal.
Disadvantages of SPC Flooring
However, the very construction that provides SPC’s stability also renders it hard underfoot. If something like a glass falls on an SPC floor, it would likely smash, indicating its rigid nature. This rigidity might lead to a higher rate of injury compared to other floorings like LVT. Additionally, SPC flooring causes more noise pollution, as it tends to make more noise when walked on with high heels, shoes, or slippers compared to LVT.
Advantages of LVT Flooring
Our floor wrapping service in Dubai is has a lot of similarities to Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) flooring which offers a more realistic look and feel of actual wooden, stone, or ceramic floors. It’s known for being softer underfoot, reducing the chance of breakage from dropped objects and lowering injury rates. LVT also provides a quieter underfoot experience, causing less noise in your home or selected venue. Like SPC, LVT is 100% waterproof (unlike laminate flooring) and easy to clean and maintain. Its flexibility allows installation over various subfloors and even dented or protruded surfaces using an underlay, making it suitable for both residential and commercial areas.
Disadvantages of LVT Flooring
While LVT’s softer, more pliable construction offers certain advantages, it may also be considered a disadvantage in some applications. Since it’s more flexible, dents or protrusions in the subflooring might transfer through the surface. This necessitates careful consideration of the underlay and subfloor conditions. Additionally, although LVT offers a more luxurious appearance, it might not be as budget-friendly as SPC, particularly depending on the specific design and quality chosen.
Conclusion
Both SPC and LVT flooring have unique characteristics that can make them suitable for various applications. If you’re looking for a more comfortable and visually diverse option, LVT might be the way to go, but be sure check out our third option and compare LVT flooring vs. Laminate flooring. However, if you’re in need of high durability, and a budget-friendly choice, SPC could be your ideal match.
