Wood Plastic Composite (WPC)

LVT stands for luxury vinyl tiles and LVP stands for luxury vinyl planks. Sometimes you will find LVT/LVP that are also waterproof/WPC, but not always. They mean two different things.

Typically, all WPC products will be considered luxury vinyl tiles or luxury vinyl planks, but not all luxury vinyl is WPC.

A WPC vinyl has a core made of a wood plastic composite, that gives the floor a solid, stable feel. Plank Thickness – WPC vinyl floors will be thicker than a standard LVT vinyl. WPC vinyl flooring usually ranges from 5mm to 8mm, while a traditional LVT will be 4mm or less

Extracts from Duchateau’s Blog, explaining why LVT is moving from Flexible to Rigid Core and WPC is becoming the most popular type of Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Flooring.

https://duchateau.com/2018/08/01/how-wpc-is-changing-the-game-in-luxury-vinyl-flooring/

WPC and LVT Layers

“Luxury vinyl tile is all about layers. There are many reasons to choose LVT, but for the flooring that features it, WPC is the defining layer. Its rigid core supports other layers responsible for stain resistance, wear and tear, and high-resolution wood imagery. Flooring featuring WPC features anywhere from 4 to 5 layers.”

WATERPROOF IS BEST

Of course, the signature feature of WPC is the fact that it’s 100% waterproof. Everyone wants the natural beauty of hardwood in their homes, but it isn’t always practical in every room in the house. LVT flooring has made it possible to put the look of wood almost anywhere.

RESILIENT, COMFORTABLE AND QUIET

Flooring featuring WPC is incredibly resilient, but much more forgiving on your feet. The composite wood plastic core is dimensionally stable when exposed to moisture and temperature fluctuations, while the layered structure ensures maximum sound reduction. No squeaking or hollow echoes like you get with laminate floors. Finally, padded underlayments provide comfort and further muffle footfalls and other unwanted noise.

ULTRA-LOW MAINTENANCE

All of the features that make flooring with WPC so appealing also make it exceedingly easy to maintain. Occasional vacuuming will do the trick, along with a regular spray mop using a cleaner formulated for luxury vinyl. The top layer of any LVT floor with WPC is designed to repel stains and protect against wear and tear. And its waterproof nature means there’s no need to be constantly on the lookout, guarding against leaks and floods.”