Differences between LVT flooring, SPC flooring and WPC flooring
LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles), SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) and WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) floors are all derivatives of PVC floors, each with different characteristics and uses.
Material composition
-LVT floors are mainly composed of PVC resin and stone powder, and plasticizers, stabilizers, etc. may be added to ensure physical properties and fire resistance.
-The composition of WPC floors is similar to LVT, but wood powder replaces part of the stone powder, and a foaming agent is added to make the floor lighter and have a better feel underfoot.
-SPC floors are mainly composed of PVC and calcium carbonate powder, with a higher proportion of calcium carbonate powder. It is a hard sheet floor.
Structural features
-LVT flooring usually includes a UV layer, a wear-resistant layer, a printing layer and a mid-base material layer, and a glass fiber mesh may be added to improve dimensional stability.
-The WPC flooring structure includes a paint layer, a wear-resistant layer, a color film layer, an LVT layer and a WPC substrate layer.
-SPC flooring may be a single-layer structure or a composite structure, such as an AB structure or an ABA structure, and lubricants are added during the production of the substrate to facilitate extrusion.
Production process
-LVT floor is processed into sheets by "mixing + calendering", and then assembled and hot pressed into finished products.
-WPC floor is first made into a single-layer LVT floor, and then the WPC substrate is pressed and composited with adhesive.
-SPC floor is extruded and calendered into sheet-like boards by an extruder, and the color film and wear-resistant layer are attached to the surface. If it is a composite structure, the LVT layer is pressed.
Installation method
-There are many ways to install LVT flooring, including gluing and locking.
-The outdoor installation of WPC flooring is more complicated and may require fixing the keel before assembly.
-SPC flooring usually adopts a locking design for easy installation.
Environmental performance
- All three types of flooring focus on environmental performance and do not contain harmful substances, but SPC flooring particularly emphasizes environmental protection characteristics such as zero formaldehyde, mildew resistance, and moisture resistance.
Thickness and flexibility
- The thickness of WPC flooring can be more than 8MM, SPC flooring is generally 4-7MM, and LVT is generally no more than 5MM.
- Loose lay products (a type of LVT) are obviously much softer than traditional LVT floors, which can be used as a distinguishing feature.
