You down with LVP?

Question

Hi everyone —

I’m considering installing Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring—primarily in rental properties—and I’d love to hear about your real-world experiences. A few things I'm particularly curious about:

• Durability & wear: How well has LVP held up under daily use, especially with pets, rentals, or heavy foot traffic?
• Brands or product lines you've liked (or disliked): Which ones stood the test of time, and any you wouldn’t recommend?
• Installation notes: Did you use click-lock, glue-down, or floating installations? Any issues with subfloor prep?
• Rental-specific feedback: Did tenants notice it? Was it easy to maintain or replace when needed?

Durability & wear: How well has LVP held up under daily use, especially with pets, rentals, or heavy foot traffic?

Brands or product lines you've liked (or disliked): Which ones stood the test of time, and any you wouldn’t recommend?

Installation notes: Did you use click-lock, glue-down, or floating installations? Any issues with subfloor prep?

Rental-specific feedback: Did tenants notice it? Was it easy to maintain or replace when needed?

Would appreciate any insights or anecdotes you have—whether you loved it, loathed it, or anything in between. Thanks in advance!

Paul De Luca · Answer

@Mario Morales

I'm a fan of LVP flooring. It looks good, it's durable, water resistant or waterproof, and it's affordable. I think the only brand we've used is TrafficMaster and click-lock. I believe each time we also had a an underlayment installed to reduce noise. Overall we haven't had many issues.

Sure there is wear & tear over time but it's held up pretty well.

Alex Hileman · Answer

@Mario Morales

Yeah you know me!

Yes, big fan of LVP. As long as you don't use the really cheap and thin planks it looks nice and is durable. The thin stuff will rip if you drag an appliance or piece of furniture across it.

I like the Lifeproof 22mil in Vesinet Oak. It's held up through kids, pets, and some water. When we have to replace it, we would need to replace a section instead of 1 plank, so we kept a few extra boxes just in case. Our floors were pretty flat and we had no issues putting it on top of the subflooring.

Tenants like the LVP a lot more than carpet, and carpet always needs replaced when tenants move out. It's also noticeable when you replace some carpet but not the whole thing.

Mario Morales · Answer

I'm just grateful that you replied  "Yeah you know me!" , I was starting to worry that no one got it...

Greg Kasmer · Answer

@Mario Morales - Yes, I use LVP when refinishing hardwood floors is not an option. One of my "Go Tos" is Sterling Oak by LifeProof. Sold at Home Depot and likely other locations. It's a medium grey/tan color that blends well with different color patterns. It's a lock down and has worked well thus far!

Jules Aton · Answer

I don't do any carpet so it is always hardwood or LVP. The color will be area and time specific. I tend toward saddle brown color which has seemed to remain ok through the really dark espresso phase which is beautiful but shows every hair and dust speck. The grey variegated LVP which was popular a few years back has really fallen out of favor in my area other than for  inexperienced flippers still putting it in their languishing renos with subway tile and barn doors. I recently did a beach property in a white oak finish that is beautiful and bright but despite having knots, variations it really shows dirt and debris.

Chris Wilson · Answer

When we updated some apartments around 2018 we used LVP flooring instead of replacing carpet. Nice looking, less maintenance concerns though we sold in 2021.

When we bought our current home in 2021 we had all the upstairs flooring replaced with 20 Mil Shaw LVP. Durable with our 2 small dogs and easier to clean. One comment we heard was that around beach areas it was tough to keep carpets clean.

Jeremy Horton · Answer

LVP is really the go-to when it comes to value - affordable, easy to install, durable (especially if you go with a decent mil layer)

I've done stained/polished cement on a couple recently too - cheap, easy, durable etc. It's a bit more expensive and can be messy but I've liked it so far. I typically go for a modern look in my houses and it goes with the trend - grey walls, stained wood, white doors and either stainless or black fixtures. Tenants can put down rugs if they want

Christian Brown · Answer

Yeahhh you know me.I’ve been investing and working with investors for 10+ years now across multiple geographies. LVP has become my go-to choice I recommend for rentals.LVP is durable. For rentals, it beats carpet every time. You’ll still see scratches if someone drags furniture, but compared to laminate or hardwood, it holds up better.If you're not installing it yourself, ask contractors for brands they prefer. Avoid the ultra-cheap off-brands — the locking mechanisms tend to break. I've got a Home Depot discount for my flippers. If you do decide to install it yourself, installing is a breeze.  Click-lock floating installs are quick and it's easy to replace planks individually if there’s damage. Subfloor is key. Don’t skip leveling or a moisture barrier if you’re in a humid market.ROI is there because LVT looks good. As with most renovations, improvements in the property increase rents and reduce vacancies. Most tenants appreciate the “wood look” over carpet. From an investor standpoint, turnovers are faster because it’s wipe-clean between tenants. If one plank gets ruined, you swap it — you don’t replace an entire floor like with carpet.For rental holds, LVP is a winner. It's the perfect balance of upfront cost, durability, and style. In flips, we’ll sometimes upgrade depending on comps, but for rentals it’s my #1 pick.Hope that helps. What market are you investing in? Humidity may not be as much of a factor for you.

Paul De Luca · Answer

@Mario Morales

We haven't had to replace a specific piece, but we did have to replace a small section one time after there was water that got under the flooring due to a leak. Didn't have to redo all the flooring because of it though.

You down with LVP?

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