PSA: That 'high-end' vinyl plank from the big box store isn't what you think

I just got back from a job site in Louisville where I had to rip out 800 square feet of luxury vinyl plank that was only 18 months old. The homeowner bought it from one of those big box stores because the salesman told her it was 'commercial grade.' I saw the box myself - it was a 4mm wear layer with a foam backing. The stuff was curling at every seam and the locking system had failed in three separate rooms. What changed my mind was seeing how much money she wasted. I used to think any LVP from a national chain was fine for basic residential. Now I only recommend stuff from flooring-specific suppliers where you can actually feel the product and check the specs before buying. Has anyone else seen massive failures from these store brand planks?

2 comments

2 Comments

west.alice6d ago

Commercial grade" from a box store is as real as my fitness goals after Christmas.

amy8586d ago

This whole thing is just another example of how people trust big names because of brand recognition instead of actual quality. You see it EVERYWHERE not just flooring. People buy expensive headphones from a big electronics store and wonder why they break in six months. Or they grab a fancy mattress from a certain retailer only to find it sagging after two years. It's like the big box stores know folks want to feel like they got a deal so they slap a nice label on something cheap. Getting burned once on something like this teaches you real quick that you have to dig into the details yourself. Nobody else is going to look out for your money but YOU.