Luxury vinyl plank flooring
LVP is the most-installed flooring in Minnesota right now, and for good reason: it is waterproof, it handles a wet mudroom in March, it takes dog claws, and it goes over concrete in a basement where hardwood cannot.
What we install
- SPC (stone plastic composite) — rigid core, the most dent-resistant, best over imperfect subfloors
- WPC (wood plastic composite) — softer and warmer underfoot, quieter
- Glue-down LVT — the commercial-grade approach, best for very large open areas and basements
- Loose-lay — for spaces that need to come back up
- Waterproof laminate — a competing option we will price honestly against LVP
What to actually look at when shopping
Ignore the marketing names. Look at:
- Wear layer thickness — 12 mil is a rental minimum, 20 mil is the residential sweet spot, 28 mil for heavy use. This single number predicts lifespan more than anything else.
- Total thickness — 5 mm minimum, 6 to 8 mm feels much more solid
- Attached pad — saves a step and quiets the floor
- Rigid SPC core if the subfloor is anything less than perfect
Planning ranges (Twin Cities, estimates)
| Item | Per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Material, builder grade (12 mil) | $1.75 – $3.00 |
| Material, mid grade (20 mil) | $3.00 – $5.00 |
| Material, premium (28 mil) | $5.00 – $8.00 |
| Installation, floating | $2.00 – $4.00 |
| Installation, glue-down | $3.00 – $5.50 |
| Underlayment | $0.35 – $0.90 |
| Trim and transitions | $2 – $6 per linear ft |
| Installed, typical | $5.50 – $10.00 |
A 1,000 sq ft main floor typically lands between $6,000 and $10,000 installed. Estimates for planning.
Why it dominates Minnesota basements
Concrete basement slabs push moisture vapor year-round, and every spring some percentage of Twin Cities basements take on water. Hardwood is destroyed by that, carpet grows mold, and tile is cold and expensive. LVP shrugs off standing water, and if a section is damaged you replace planks instead of the room.
Install details we do not skip
Acclimate the material 48 hours in the room. Leave a 1/4 inch expansion gap at every wall and vertical obstruction — a floating floor that is pinched will buckle in July. Break the end joints at least 6 to 8 inches apart so the pattern does not stair-step. And on concrete, test moisture and put down the correct vapor retarder before anything goes down.
What's included
- Free, no-pressure estimate
- Licensed & fully insured crew
- Cleanup included — we leave it spotless
- Same-day or scheduled service
- Written quote, fair pricing
- 24/7 emergency response
FAQ
Is LVP really waterproof?
The plank itself is. Standing water can still get through the seams to the subfloor over time, so a burst pipe still needs to be dried out — but a spill, a wet dog, or mopping does no damage at all.
What wear layer do I need?
20 mil for a normal household with pets. 12 mil is acceptable in a low-traffic room or a rental turnover budget. 28 mil for heavy commercial-style use.
Can LVP go over an existing floor?
Over sound, flat, single-layer vinyl or tile, often yes. It cannot go over carpet, and any subfloor dips have to be leveled first or the joints will separate.
Does LVP work in a basement?
It is the best common choice for a Minnesota basement — waterproof, comfortable over concrete with the right underlayment, and individually replaceable if a section is damaged.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring near you
We cover 74+ Twin Cities cities. Pick yours: