Lifeproof Flooring: What You Need to Know!

If you are thinking of replacing your existing floors with Lifeproof flooring, here is what you should know. Before rushing into this large purchase read the pros and cons.

What is Lifeproof Flooring?

Lifeproof vinyl flooring is extremely durable and scratch resistant make it a great option for kids and pets. 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.

Below is a picture of Chiffon Lace Oak Lifeproof Flooring installed in my friend’s basement.

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

Lifeproof vinyl flooring comes in a variety if colors and thicknesses. Some of my favorite shades not pictured are Sterling Oak, Alexandria Oak, and Tupelo Oak.

Below Are Some of the Lifeproof Flooring Colors:

You can’t go wrong with any of the colors designed by Lifeproof Vinyl Fooring.

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!

Chiffon Lace Oak Lifeproof Flooring

A friend of mine was looking to install flooring in her basement, so I told her about Lifeproof.

After reading more about the flooring she went with it because she was so impressed with the durability and that the floors are waterproof.

Here is a photo during the installation of the Lifeproof flooring color Chiffon Lace Oak.

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 Lifeproof 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 Lifeproof 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

Lifeproof flooring 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 Lifeproof flooring even easier.

Affordable

Most of the Lifeproof flooring is under $3.00 per square foot which is a great deal for luxury flooring!

Warranty

Lifeproof literally are “Life Proof” in that 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 Lifeproof 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.

Lifeproof Staining Test

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.

Lifeproof Water Test

I spilled water onto the flooring and left it for a full day to see if the water would absorb into the floor and cause damage.

When I checked the flooring about 30 hours later, the water was still there.

After cleaning up the water from the flooring, I carefully inspected for any signs of damage.

The flooring was in perfect condition and didn’t show any signs of water damage.

Keep in mind this is only a small amount of water, but this is reassuring that this floor really is waterproof.

This makes this a great option for a basement or other area in your home that could potentially have moisture.

Lifeproof 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 Lifeproof 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 Lifeproof 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 Lifeproof 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.

Tips and Tricks to Installing Interlocking Flooring

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!