Tips on How to Buy Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring with Confidence

Deciding on new flooring is a big deal. It’s a huge choice that sets the tone for your entire home, and you want to get it right. With so many options out there, it can feel a little overwhelming.

That's why we're here to help you figure out how to buy luxury vinyl plank flooring with total confidence and zero regrets. We believe beautiful homes start with the floor, and we’re on a mission to make sure you find your perfect match.

Step 1: Core Matters

The first step in knowing how to buy luxury vinyl plank flooring is understanding what’s on the inside. While every LVP product looks great on the surface, the core is what truly determines a floor’s durability, feel, and overall performance. On the market today, you'll find two primary core options: SPC and WPC. Knowing the difference between them is the key to choosing a floor you'll love for years.

SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) Core

This is the industry standard for a waterproof core. Made from a blend of stone and plastic, SPC flooring is known for being ultra-thin and incredibly rigid. 

This extreme hardness makes it highly resistant to dents and dings, which can be a plus for high-traffic commercial spaces. However, this same rigidity can feel like walking on a rock, and it doesn't offer much in the way of comfort or sound-dampening. It’s a functional, no-frills option that prioritizes pure durability.

WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) Core

This is the core we’ve chosen for our floors, and for good reason. Made from a blend of resins, polymers, and limestone, a WPC core is much thicker and more flexible than an SPC core. In fact, many years ago, our family saw the need for a flooring core that was not only durable but also incredibly comfortable, and we helped pioneer this very technology.

This makes our WPC core far more comfortable underfoot—it’s warmer, quieter, and more forgiving on your joints. It's the difference between a floor that feels industrial and a floor that feels like home. While still incredibly durable, its added thickness and cushioned feel have made it our preferred core choice all these years later, as comfort is just as important to us as performance.

Step 2: Embrace the Warmth

Flooring trends are always changing, and we're seeing a big shift away from cool grays. People are craving warmth, and we’ve got you covered. When you’re looking for your perfect match, lean into the rich, warmer tones. Think honey, caramel browns, and natural oaks with beautiful, natural character. These looks add a sense of coziness and sophistication that will stand the test of time.

At Canopy, we’ve specifically focused our collections on these warm, inviting tones. You won't find any whitewashed pine-looks or out of date designs. We believe a floor should feel like a warm hug for your feet, and our colors are designed to do just that.

Step 3: Size and Style

Wood Look LVP 

Our LVP comes in modern, generous plank sizes ranging from 7” to 9”. This creates a spacious, high-end look that mimics the feel of genuine hardwood.

Stone Look LVP 

Craving the classic elegance of a marble, slate, or other natural stone look for your home? Our Canopy Flex collection is the perfect solution. We’ve used our out-of-the-box thinking to tackle one of the most common flooring headaches: grout. With patented SetaGrip(TM) technology, we've integrated the grout line directly into the tile, so you get the stunning aesthetic you love without the messy application or back.

Step 4: Installation Method

When you choose a new floor, the material is just one part of the equation. How that flooring is installed can make all the difference in its final look, durability, and feel. Here’s a quick overview of the most common installation methods and what they mean for your home.

Floating Click

Floating or click-and-lock installation is one of the most secure installation methods. With this approach, each plank is folded securely into the next, and the entire floor floats over the subfloor without glue or nails. This quick and easy method is a great choice for luxury vinyl plank (LVP), and if you’re interested in this installation, consider our LVP collections: Comfort, Comfort Enhanced, and Comfort Premium.

Glue-Down

As the name suggests, this less common method involves applying adhesive directly to the subfloor before laying the flooring. Certain situations may warrant this. 

A glue-down installation creates a solid, stable surface that feels more permanent underfoot. It’s ideal for high-traffic areas and concrete subfloors, or if you are installing flooring underneath cabinets, we recommend you glue the perimeter planks. Glue Down installation can be more difficult and messy than other methods and it’s not always a DIY project.

Peel-and-Stick

This method is primarily used for vinyl tiles and planks. The adhesive is pre-applied to the back of the flooring, so all you have to do is peel off the backing and stick the product directly to your leveled subfloor. 

If this installation method catches your attention, then consider our Canopy Flex collection of self-adhering floors. Canopy Flex requires no adhesives. It is easy to install and requires no glue, grout, demo or mess. 

Step 5: See Your Options in Your Space

You've done the research, narrowed down your options, and now you have a good idea of what you want. Before you make a final decision, the most important step you can take is to order samples. This isn't just an extra step; it's the only way to truly confirm your choice and avoid any surprises.

Seeing a product online or in a store's display isn’t enough. You may love the look of a product on the shelf or on Pinterest in another space, but will it work for your home, in the exact room you are looking to install in? 

Here's why getting a physical sample is so crucial:

• Experience True Color: Flooring colors can look drastically different depending on the lighting. A sample allows you to see how the material looks in your specific space, under both natural sunlight and your home's artificial light. This is the only way to ensure the color is exactly what you envision.
• Feel the Texture: The texture of a floor affects its entire feel. A sample lets you touch and feel the surface, helping you confirm that its texture, finish, and durability are right for your lifestyle.
• Confirm Your Vision: Place the samples next to your paint colors, cabinets, and furniture. This will allow you to see how all the elements of your design work together, ensuring a cohesive and beautiful final result.

Take your time with your samples. Move them around the room, look at them throughout the day, and compare them against other design elements. This final step is the difference between a good choice and a perfect one. Canopy will ship flooring samples straight to your door so do not be afraid to shop our collections and try out a variety of styles and colors! 

Canopy Floors: Your Perfect, Regret-Free LVP

Choosing new flooring should be a breeze, not a burden. By focusing on the core, embracing warmer tones, and selecting the right size and style, you’ll know how to buy luxury vinyl plank flooring with total confidence and set your home up to look incredible for years to come!

Order a Sample or Find a Local Retailer. Your floors see it all, and we believe they should be as beautiful as they are resilient. Our family legacy is built on flooring innovation, and we've poured that passion into creating a collection designed for modern families. It’s a floor you can live on, not just look at.