Costco Connection - February 2012

home for your
Luxury vinyl tile
is upscale and easy

THE FLOORING IN your home or office sets the stage for everything on and around it. Flooring, according to the World Floor Covering Association, accounts for nearly a third of the visual space in a room. So, like a great pair of shoes, it has to work well aesthetically with the rest of the ensemble, and it must stand up to rigorous functional requirements.

If it’s time to replace the flooring in your home or office, you should know there’s a new category of flooring, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), that is worth considering.

The words “vinyl tile” may conjure images of the old-school peel-and-stick flooring found in grocery stores, but modern LVT is akin to laminate flooring in that it simulates the beauty of natural materials; is extremely durable, simple to install and easy to clean; and is among the most affordable flooring options available.

Like laminate flooring companies, LVT
manufacturers photograph natural materials
such as granite, marble and travertine, and
then transfer the images onto extremely
durable vinyl planks, tiles and sheets. The
main difference is that LVT has the reputa-
tion of being a snap to install, especially LVT
planks, because they click together and
require no glue or saws. It can go in directly
over nearly any existing flooring, and,
because it’s water resistant, it will work well in
any room in your house, including a bath-
room or laundry room. It should be noted,
however, that LVT won’t work in a garage or
exterior application.

The Costco Connection The LVT flooring available at Costco carries a 20-year warranty. The manufacturer recommends letting the material acclimate to your home or office for two days before installing it. Each box contains 10 tiles and covers 19. 25 square feet.