You might be wondering if the name Lifeproof flooring really means, “Lifeproof.” Well, we put the name to the test to see if it can hold up against daily wear and tear and even a flood.
Yes, you read that right, FLOOD!
Sadly, our friends basement flooded 6 months after installing their brand new vinyl flooring.
Do you think the LVP flooring held up after this flood?
Read on to see their new renovated basement and find out if the flooring held up against the flood.
What is LVP Flooring?
Luxury vinyl plank also known as LVP, is extremely durable and scratch resistant make it a great option for kids and pets.
If you are thinking of replacing your existing floors with Lifeproof flooring, here is what you should know.
These floors can hold up against a hot wheel car without showing any signs of wear and tear.
If you have ever stepped on other vinyl flooring it can feel thin and cheap, but not Lifeproof vinyl flooring.
Basement Flooded after Installing LVP
Unfortunately, 6 months after renovating the basement and installing brand new Lifeproof flooring this basement flooded.
Everything had to removed from the space and all of the flooring had to be ripped up. Luckily, the basement flood was noticed immediately after it occurred.
The flooring was quickly removed and relocated to the garage to try to salvage it while repairing the basement leak.
After relocating the flooring to the garage, it was cleaned and wiped down to dry it as much as possible.
A few days later the flooring dried completely without ANY damage and the original flooring was reinstalled.
It is safe to say that this flooring brand really is “Lifeproof.”
What is the Thickness
Lifeproof flooring is at least 7mm thick or more depending on which flooring you choose. The thicker vinyl makes it feel more like luxury flooring.
Not only do these floors hold up against everyday dings, they are waterproof and antimicrobial.
The benefit of antimicrobial floors are that they can resist mold and mildew, which would make these a great option in a bathroom, kitchen, or a laundry room.
Anywhere there could be a potential spill, would be able to withstand damage from moisture.
Flooring Colors
The flooring comes in a variety if colors and thicknesses. Some of my favorite shades not pictured are Sterling Oak, Alexandria Oak, and Tupelo Oak.
All of the flooring options will look great in any space in your home no matter the paint color or home decor style.
If you just aren’t loving any of these flooring colors, there are more options here!
Matching Transition Strips
If you are transitioning from different types of flooring then you will need a transition strip. However, it can be tough to find the exact match for your flooring.
Currently Lifeproof Flooring products are only sold at Home Depot, but there is a limited selection for transition strips and other accessories.
I ran into this same issue when I installed my Pergo Flooring years ago.
The limited selection in color options for transition strips seems to be a common problem with many laminate and vinyl flooring manufactures.
There are many different flooring colors out there, so many times the manufacture will not make transition strips to match every color.
After browsing several Home Depots in my area, I realized that an exact match did not exist for my flooring. So, I had to settle on something that matched close enough.
If you can’t find a transition strip that matches to your floor, you might need to purchase a transition strip that can be stained to match your floor.
LL Flooring and Zamma both have a decent selection of transition strips to match the flooring.
If you still cannot find a close enough match, try do a search using name of the floor stain color online.
You should be able to find more options using the stain color, instead of a broad search such as “Lifeproof transition strips”.
Where to Buy Lifeproof Vinyl Flooring
The LVP flooring brand is exclusive to Home Depot. You can purchase flooring and samples online or in you local store.
Pros of Lifeproof Flooring
Zero Acclimation Time
These floors do not require an acclimation time, unlike most laminate flooring. I previously used Pergo flooring and it has has up great, but it did take 2-3 days to acclimate the floors to the temperate.
If you are in a hurry to get these floors installed, waiting days can seem like forever and can really delay your project.
Underlayment Attached
A large amount of laminate flooring already have the underlayment attached to the bottom of the planks. This makes installing the flooring even easier!
Affordable
Most of the flooring is under $3.00 per square foot which is a great deal for luxury flooring!
Warranty
This flooring brand offers a lifetime warranty is included for residential customers. The warranty covers things such as water damage, fading, factory defects, and more.
Easy Installation
Lifeproof flooring can be installed directly overtop of existing floor such as wood, concrete, tile, and vinyl.
This vinyl flooring has an interlocking design that can easily be installed by a beginner level DIYer.
Cons of Lifeproof Flooring
Warranty
The warranty isn’t the best for commercial use. Commercial use is only provided with a 5 year warranty.
Interlock Breakage
The interlock tabs can break from time to time when installing the flooring. However, this can occur when installing an snap and click type of flooring.
So, I don’t feel that it is fair to call this a con, but it is something to be aware of with interlocking flooring.
The best thing to do is take your time when installing the floors and not be too forceful when snapping the floors together.
Vinyl Flooring Wear and Tear Testing
I was curious how easily a stain would wipe up from Lifeproof Vinyl flooring, so I left red wine on the floor for a few hours.
After a few hours, I used a dry paper towel to wipe up the red wine from the flooring.
The red wine cleaned up easily and did not leave any staining at all.
Water Test
As I mentioned before these floors can hold up against a small flood. Especially if you catch the flood early and remove the floods quickly.
The flood was caught immediately in this basement, so the floors were salvageable after drying out for a few days.
Then the same flooring was reinstalled after the basement leak was taken care of, saving thousands of dollars in flooring!
Toddler Test
This is the most important test to me because I have 2 toddler boys that love to drive and throw cars on the floor.
I took a metal toy car and pressed firmly against the floor to see if the floor would scratch or scuff.
After digging the car back and forth onto the floor to try my best to scratch it, there was only a small scuff mark that wiped off with a baby wipe.
I couldn’t believe that this floor didn’t show any signs of damage even after I was trying to ruin it.
If this floor can resist scratching from me digging a metal car into it, then it will definitely hold up with pets too.
How to Clean Vinyl Flooring
When it comes to cleaning vinyl flooring, it is best to use mild cleaners.
It is not recommended to use a steam mop on vinyl flooring because the mop gets very hot which could damage floors.
A Swiffer mop is a great option when it comes to cleaning your new flooring as it is it gentle on floors and will not cause any damage.
Vacuuming Vinyl Flooring
It is safe to use a vacuum on Lifeproof flooring, so don’t be afraid to use one on these floors. I love the Shark Rock Duo on my vinyl floors. This vacuum easily picks up dust, dirt, and other small particles.
I typically vacuum the floors first then mop the floors. Sometimes I even vacuum after mopping if a lot of small crumbs were scrapped off the floor while mopping.
My kids constantly spill food and drinks on the floors, so I am always vacuum and mopping. When I am lazy a quick baby wipe works fine for small spots.
Area Rugs and Runners for LVP Flooring
You might be concerned about what the best rug is or if you need a special padding for your newly installed luxury vinyl flooring.
The answer to this question can be found in this detailed about vinyl safe rugs article by What is Vinyl.
What is Vinyl goes over how the damage can occur to your LVP flooring and how to prevent it, so it’s a great read if you want your flooring to last.
Conclusion
If you are considering installing the flooring yourself, then I recommend reading our other post about snap and click flooring.
This flooring is installed using the same method as Lifeproof flooring, and we share some great tips that will save you a ton of time!