2023 FlooringStores, Inc. All rights reserved. Which is Better: LifeProof or SmartCore Flooring? I usually use a non-vinyl . Yes. The waterproof quality makes this floor great for any room, including areas with high level moisture, such as bathrooms, basements, and kitchens. Its Pretty Affordable! This tool is powered by our partner Networx which has been specializing in collecting, vetting and rating vinyl flooring contractors for more than 20 years.Comparing the 3 bids can help you get the reasonable installation cost and avoid getting ripped. The Lifeproof cost range from $2.9.39 to $3.39 per square foot and is only available at home depot. Well, here well look at Smartcore vs. LifeProof vinyl plank flooring. SmartCores commercial warranty is only 5 yearsand all of the exceptions outlined above still apply. The big appeal of SmartCore flooring, of course, is the price tag. The only con that lets Smartcore LVPs down is the price. SmartCore flooring reviews agree: itll get the job done but better options exist. Cork vs Bamboo Flooring: Durability, Styles and Cost, Non-Toxic Flooring Options Best Low VOC Flooring, Floor Transition Strips Ultimate Guide: Cost, Types and Installation. And just try not to damage planks when youre taking them aparthah! When it comes to the looks and feel, the Smartcore flooring will give you a natural wood-like structure. All rights reserved. The only fallback of the Smartcore is the pricing. Pro Galaxy is the more affordable vinyl core brand with 30-year and 7-year warranties. SmartCore Naturals is made of real wood with a bamboo veneer. but apparently, Lowes didnt get that memo. Your options are 8 mils and 12 mils. SmartCore SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe's) ProCore Plus Warm Honey Oak LWD8099RCB (Lowe's) The SmartCore SCU XL Southern Pecan LX93707206 (Lowe's) is part of the Flooring test program at Consumer Reports. Most SmartCore Flooring Reviews Favor SmartCore Ultra, But Reviews for SmartCore Naturals AreNot Great. Remember, the firm says that they give you the best LVPs before getting profits. Though, if you want LVPs that can last for long in your house and money isnt a problem, go for Smartcore. The varieties, such as COREtec Plus HD, are called collections. As for the LifeProof LVPs, the costs range from $2.99 to $4.39 per square foot. The majority of COREtecs products feature a super-comfortable WPC (wood-polymer composite) core. So, expect Smartcore to have the GreenGuard Gold pass. Mohawks lack of confidence in the quality of the flooring is shown in the short warranties. Your email address will not be published. Or, if you dont want to deal with the disadvantages of floating floors, you can glue your SmartCore flooring down too. Why Vivero Best is the Best Commercial Vinyl Plank Flooring. That means its ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens along with playrooms or entryways. Heres How. Your budget is a key factor in choosing a flooring plank for your projects. If you want the wood looks, there are more than a dozen colors. The LVPs need a dual-lock way of installation. All the best vinyl plank flooring is easy to clean. As it turns out, thats a little complicated. These colors range from dark to light grey. You can get them at Lowes store. The residential warranty for SmartCore flooring only applies if you hire a professional contractor. SmartCore vs Lifeproof: Which Vinyl Plank Flooring Is Better? Why Cali Bamboo is the Best New LVP Brand. Theres a place for cheap vinyl plank flooring, so we arent disparaging this product. The second is the commercial warranty. ft. For 8.5mm with a 6 mL wear leather, it costs about $3.29 $3.59 per sq. On the other hand, the Lifeproof vinyl plank cant withstand uneven interlocking and may get damaged. Lowes SmartCore flooring is (with one exception) composed entirely of rigid-core luxury vinyl plankaka LVP. Smartcore vs. LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring: Which Is Better? ft. Well, expect the Smartcore LVPs to be more costly than the LifeProof vinyl planks. makes great vinyl plank flooring, but the high price tag might not be worth it for many buyersespecially with equally good products available from other brands. The Floorte Plus line is available with wear layers of 12, 20 and 30 mils. They say "bigger is better". If you want sustainable, eco-friendly vinyl planks, SmartCore is the best flooring option for you. SmartCore doesnt do much to address the common disadvantages of vinyl plank flooringwhich means the product doesnt really bring anything new to the table. It received 4s in all categories except for a 5 in Ease of Installation. Smartcore LVPs can last longer because of a stronger interlocking tab. That's why we've put together this easy-to-understand vinyl plank flooring comparison, stacking up the key features of the 4 brands we get the most questions about: Proximity Mills, COREtec, LifeProof, and SmartCore. Its well worth considering for your flooring project. We often cite this company as an example of what a budget brand can be if they do flooring the right way. Smartcore is different from LifeProof because of the wear layer. SmartCore Pro features a much more durable SPC core. SmartCore is GreenGuard Gold certified, which is proven to have low chemical emissions and manages indoor air quality. Who wants cheap LVP? It might not win any awards, but its not a bad product. The price of any LVP is also essential in choosing the best one for your house. It really helps other visitors to estimate the cost of flooring project. And because of a couple of big design flaws, it can actually add to them. In short, well help you find the exact flooring youre looking for, whether it is premium, cheap but dependable or something in between. Of course, this isnt a SmartCore issue as much as it is an LVP issue in general. Price starts below $2.60 per square foot and tops out under $4.00. You won't need to buy underlayment for either product, and both are waterproof with a lifetime residential warranty. SmartCore vinyl is GreenGuard-certified, but does not offer zero-VOC products. Take a look at the cons of LifeProof LVPs: You have an idea of who makes the Smartcore and LifeProof LVP. ft and 15.76 sq. When hes not creating content, he can be found doing crosswords, drinking coffee, and petting the office dogs. The guaranty terms apply only to the first buyer. And at the same price, better floors are available. SmartCore Pro vs. Ultra: What are the Similarities? The Shaw Floorte LVP has a wood/plastic core, or WCP. Several pieces of core and joint on the ultra broke with very little force. It isnt the only urethane/ceramic combination wear layer, but the 20 mils layer is about as thick as most brands offer. But we wanted to mention it because there have been many attempts by stores like Lowes and Home Depot to sell proprietary flooring products. Oh, and If you were discouraged from buying wood because of the cost to refinish hardwood flooring, you should know that if your SmartCore gets marked up, your only option is to replace all of it. Were just trying to give you some context before we talk about it. (Step-by-Step Tutorial). (1) Thickness: This is the total thickness of the plank or tile. Your email address will not be published. Youll get the firm in Norwalk, CT, USA. However, that premium quality comes with an equally premium price tag. The difference is that bamboo is more sustainable and greener than wood. And USFloors is actually owned by Shaw Industriesthe second-largest flooring manufacturer in the world. The LVP is both worst and good? We rely on readers like you to share your flooring project cost or quote. So, in terms of getting the floors, this is quite a setback. All three lines of SmartCore vinyl plank flooring are purchased in cartons. Is Lowes in-house brand of LVP worth purchasing? Besides being durable, water, and scratch-resistant, vinyl plank floors also offer ease of installation and maintenance, making them an ideal flooring for spaces with heavy traffic activity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and restaurants. Whats the better vinyl floor between Smartcore and LifeProof? Halstead firm also produces the Allure and TrafficMaster LVPs. There are no flexible options available. SmartCore Flooring Installation: How Does it Work? To skip to our is SmartCore worth it judgment call, click here! Other than that, everything is somewhat similar. And more importantly, there are better options out there for the price. The company combines quality and value with environmentally responsible flooring. A wear layer just 6 mils thick, one of the thinnest in the industry, Total plank thickness of 3.4mm, 4.4mm in floating flooring and 2mm in glue-down flooring, Two are floating UniClic floors and one is a glue-down flooring, Armstrong Vinyl Plank Flooring Reviews 2023, Armstrong makes more than 200 vinyl plank flooring options, one of the largest collections available.This flooring is also called luxury vinyl flooring, LVP (luxury vinyl plank) and LVT (luxury vinyl, Explore Tarkett Luxury Vinyl Flooring 2023, Most Durable: Shaw Floorte Plus 20 Mils & 30 Mils, Best Commercial LVP: Armstrong Vivero Best, Best Cheap LVP: Home Decorators Collection, Best Brand You Might Not Know About: Cali Bamboo, Worst Warranty: Mohawk Smart Select 6 Mils Flooring, Final Thoughts on the Best Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands, Home Decorators Collection Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Guide, Cheap Vinyl Plank Flooring Options & How to Cut Cost on Installation, Vinyl Sheet Reviews: Prices, Best Brands, Installation Cost 2023. But since we didnt want to just copy-and-paste endless blocks of info and hundreds of comments, weve used them to create this guide to SmartCore flooring pros and cons! Both Smartcore and LifeProof have few lines but with many colors and styles. Thickness varies between 12 and 22 mils, depending on the collection. Frankly speaking, there is no true winner in the flooring industry. Where other brands add ceramic beads to the finish, Armstrong uses cultured diamonds with all the properties of real diamonds to provide the ultimate in scratch, stain, and scuff resistance. Those are Armstrongs words, but theyre backed up by science. ft. SmarCore offers a wide range of warranty coverage. Lifeproof provides a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty and a 10-year Light Commercial Warranty (though it only applies to the first owner). Read on to see who makes these LVPs before they come to the market. Then again, the underlayment will give insulation and sound dampening properties to the Smartcore flooring. Then again. It is similar to the wood/polymer core, or WPC, lines mentioned above. It is backed with a solid 25-year residential and 5-year commercial warranty. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Flooringclarity.com All Rights Reserved. LifeProofs core is made of vinyl foam. A: There are two things to worry about with indoor air quality the flooring itself and adhesives. If your budget is small, LifeProof wont be a bad choice. The list goes on. Theres nothing wrong with thatmany national chains have their own private-label brands. 2. COREtec makes the Smartcore LVPs using the telegraphing tech. It received a 5 in the Quality category. One SmartCore Naturals reviewer mentioned that its like SmartCore looked at all the pros and cons of engineered bamboo flooringand only kept the cons. Yikes. SPC incorporates limestone powder into its construction, making for a (supposedly) more durable product. You should still clean up spills promptly, but SmartCore floors are a great option to use for bathroom or even mudroom flooring. Why Shaw is the Overall Best LVP Flooring. Your email address will not be published. We do more than list the best LVP brands with trite descriptions of how great they are. Pro version is much more durable and can handle rubber mallet taps and blows during installation. Both One and Galaxy lines have 12-mil wear layers. Also, kids and pets can play on both LVPs. Smartcore and LifeProof are easy to clean and eco-friendly. If you plan on using click-lock flooring, the latter wont be an issue, but VOCs can be produced by poor quality products. To be fair, Im sure we could find worse LVP if we did an exhaustive survey of every brand produced. 2. Go for it if you want a premium floor. A 12-mil wear layer is actually pretty good (ignoring the durability concerns mentioned in SmartCore reviews)but considering that so many top brands offer different wear layer options, its odd that SmartCore doesnt. Both SmartCore Ultra and SmartCore Naturals offer a Lifetime Limited Residential Warranty and a 5-year light commercial warranty, while Smartcore Pro provides a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty with a 10-year commercial warranty. Its a firm that is owned by the US floors, which is part of Shaw Inc. SmartCore Naturals is a hybrid vinyl engineered wood composed of actual hardwood and bamboo veneer layers with its top layer sealed with a protective coating. Sure, Cali Bamboo came to the game later than those other brands, but it is doing it the right way with sustainable materials and ecofriendly practices. So, you can say bye to the grout lines showing on the floor. The collections for each LVPs are important in choosing the best between the two. They are rich in chocolate and charcoal shades. If youre on a budget or arent familiar with luxury vinyl flooring and want to give it a try, affordable flooring requires less investment. A: At this time, there is no vinyl flooring available that is impervious to scratches, but some brands hold up better than others. Almost all of them make good quality products at a certain price. SmartCore features a wide range of wood species, namely Oak, Pine, Acacia, Maple, Walnut, Eucalyptus, Hickory, Bamboo, and Mixed species, with seven finish options: Brown, Gray, Black, Off-white, White, Copper, and Multiple colors. The second is the Commercial warranty. Can I Use in Bathrooms? LifeProof Berkley Waterproof Engineered Bamboo Click YY-VSPC-DG02 (Home Depot) . 4 SMARTCORE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (V.1.1) In-floor Radiant Heat: SMARTCORE can be installed using the floating or glue down method. A: Thats tough as there are so many lines to consider, but Shaw, COREtec, and Mohawk have some of the more realistic styles available. The best warranties are not. (2) Warranty: The first number is the residential warranty. The warranty for SmartCore flooring is even more limited for DIYers. But they can be harder than real diamonds, and that would make for a tough flooring finish. So, without delay, lets jump right into it. Linoleum vs. Laminate vs. Vinyl: Differences, Pros, & Cons. Seriouslyeven some traditional types of floor tiles can be harder to clean than LVP because theyre more porous. If youre looking into different types of floor tiles, youre probably in on the secret already. Or is it simply another product in the already-crowded world of vinyl plank? Certain products can even be recycled. Usage: This ultra vinyl plank is more popular among homeowners. For more information,visit this page. It has a 12 mL wear layer, which provides durability and prevents stains, and scratches. COREtec is one of the best LVP names in the market. Lifeproof features three thickness categories for their vinyl planks: 6.5mm, 7mm, and 8mm. The tables make it easy to compare brands at a glance. Pieces of core and joint on the collection important in choosing the best vinyl plank is more among! Taps and blows during Installation brand can be harder to clean it is backed with a solid 25-year residential 5-year! Galaxy is the best one for your house provides a Limited lifetime residential warranty are than!: there are better options out there for the LifeProof vinyl plank flooring is?! Per square foot and tops out under $ 4.00 they can be if they do flooring right... 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