Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation
LVP is waterproof, dimensionally stable and available in convincing wood visuals, which makes it the correct specification for basements, laundries and bathrooms where wood would be a maintenance problem. It also cannot be sanded or refinished — when it wears out, it is replaced rather than restored.
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- 185 New Jersey towns
Key facts
| Waterproof | Yes — the material itself is unaffected by water |
|---|---|
| Refinishable | No |
| Best suited to | Basements, laundry rooms, bathrooms, rentals, high-moisture areas |
| Critical prep | Subfloor flatness — telegraphs through the plank |
| Over concrete | Still requires slab assessment and manufacturer-specified conditions |
Waterproof material is not a waterproof floor
The plank does not absorb water, but water can still pass at the seams and reach the subfloor beneath.
This distinction matters in a basement. LVP will survive a wet event that would destroy wood, but the assembly underneath still needs to be considered, and standing water still needs to be dealt with.
It is an honest, meaningful advantage — just not the absolute one the category name suggests.
Subfloor flatness is the whole job
LVP is thin and flexible, so every high spot and dip in the subfloor telegraphs through to the finished surface.
This is where LVP installations succeed or fail, and it is the step most often shortened. Wood flooring bridges minor variation; LVP conforms to it.
In older New Jersey basements, slabs are rarely flat enough as found. Grinding high spots and filling low ones is normal preparation, not an upcharge invented on site.
Where LVP is genuinely the better choice than wood
Below grade, in wet areas, and in rentals or high-traffic spaces where replacement cost matters more than restorability.
We will recommend LVP over hardwood where the moisture conditions call for it. Selling a wood floor into a basement that will cup within two years is not a service to anyone.
Conversely, on a main floor with a sound subfloor and no moisture issue, wood remains the material that can be restored rather than replaced.
How VGJ Floors installs luxury vinyl plank
Assess the subfloor and moisture
Check the substrate, and for concrete confirm moisture conditions against the manufacturer's limits.
Flatten the substrate
Grind high spots and fill low areas so surface variation does not telegraph through the plank.
Acclimate the material
Let the planks reach room temperature per the manufacturer's instructions before installation.
Plan the layout
Set direction and starting line, and stagger seams so the pattern reads naturally.
Install with expansion space
Maintain the manufacturer's perimeter expansion gap throughout, including at columns and door jambs.
Trim and transitions
Fit base, shoe and transition profiles to adjoining floor surfaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is LVP a good choice for a basement?
It is usually the best choice for a below-grade room, because it tolerates the moisture conditions that cause solid wood to move.
Can LVP be refinished when it wears?
No. There is no wear layer of wood to sand. Worn LVP is replaced.
Will LVP look like real wood?
Current products are convincing, particularly with varied plank patterns and embossed texture. Up close, and especially at the edges, the difference is still visible.
Does the subfloor need to be perfectly flat?
Flatter than for wood flooring. LVP is thin and conforms to what is underneath, so variation shows through the finished surface.
Can LVP go over an existing tile or vinyl floor?
Sometimes, if the existing surface is sound, well bonded and flat, and if the added height works at doorways. It has to be assessed case by case.
Get this quoted properly
We take moisture readings and check wear layer before putting a number on the job — so the quote matches what your floor can support.
Request a free estimate