What Is WPC Engineered Vinyl Flooring?
WPC engineered vinyl flooring, which stands for Wood Plastic Composite, is still a relatively new concept in the UK but, in America, it’s one of the fastest-growing flooring types.
With one of the main unique benefits waterproof, it is also renowned for being extremely stable and rigid and the composite core is constructed from calcium carbonate, thermoplastics and wood flour. In Pro-Tek™ Excel collections, the WPC core is one of seven layers, making it the thickest engineered vinyl plank in the market, and incorporates a gluseless locking joint.
Pro-Tek™ Excel Structure
The WPC structural layer makes Pro-Tek™ much thicker and more rigid than traditional vinyl, and also comparable products, and it can be laid directly onto a subfloor with little or no preparation. In comparison, traditional vinyl tends to be more flexible and is prone to ‘telegraph’, i.e., any irregularities in the subfloor distort the surface, creating gaps and an uneven appearance. In traditional vinyl installations, subfloors generally have to be screeded or boarded out to create a sufficiently flat surface but, even then, some distortion is often visible.
The waterproof features of Pro-Tek™ Excel make it suitable for wet areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens, and the built-in underlay makes the surface comfortable to walk on, as well as providing sound insulation up to 24bd. The planks are also phthalate-free and all materials used are 100% recyclable, so there are eco-benefits too.
In America, many retailers offer engineered vinyl as an alternative to luxury vinyl tile and laminate, as it combines a natural aesthetic with the benefits of vinyl, and provides additional benefits too. Its popularity has also been driven by the demanding US commercial sector and it’s widely specified in new build, healthcare, retail, education and hospitality sectors, with growing interest from the consumer market too.
Closer to home, stick-down LVT has enjoyed strong growth in the UK but with the speed and convenience of a click lock installation system it seems that products like Pro-Tek™ will be driving the trends in flooring over the coming years.
View the Excel collections, available to buy online now.