Your channel has helped me tremendously in my LVP research, planning and install. The locking system was a priority in my selection. After installing LVP from Floor and Decor (NuCore) in my rental I looked for a more premium product for my main home. After going through Floor and Decor, Home Depot, and Lowes, I decided on the Pergo Duracraft from Lowes. It covered all the important bases you had mentioned in your videos, durable locking system, great wear layer, a lot a various non-repeating patterns. Also no bevel. My wife and I laid over 1500sf of it and found no issues in quality. Like you said it took a little more attention to assemble it but was worth the extra effort. I’ve installed Pergo laminate on two other occasions in prior homes about 9 years ago and they are holding up like new. I wish I had the knowledge that I learned from your channel back then. Much thanks for all your time and effort in sharing your experience and expertise. Thank you very much and God bless.
Hey Joe I just want to say how awesome you are down to earth you are and I like the fact that you are Christian and that you do let people know about that and bless you for what you doing to help people awesome bless you and your family thank you very much
I just put down 1500 square feet of SmartCore Ultra Blue Ridge Pine. I found the locking system to be a similar durability to what you showed on the regular SmartCore. I will mention that I was told to look for the boxes made in China and not in the US. Reason for that is the pad on the back is far superior. I accidentally bought one box of the US made and the pad was junk…similar to old rubber-backed carpet that rolls up when you run your thumb along it. The China made pad is way better. Great video, Joe!
Just put about 1300 sq ft down in my house. Your video is very accurate. I have found the shine finish is easy to scuff. You can see it when the light hits it just right. Been down a few months and very happy. Will see what time brings with it
I wish these videos were available 2 years ago when I got my Twelve Oaks Solidcore vinyl flooring. Now I have a kitchen, mud room, and bathroom with sections of the floor where the horizontal joint seams are literally breaking out and creating an ugly defect, let alone a safety hazard. And just shy of two years, I'm shopping once again for vinyl flooring.
Outstanding and objective evaluation. Could you make the same type of video of the Home Depot flooring? Many thanks for all of your great efforts and time spent. Much appreciated.
We were deciding to go with a vinyl floor or have our oak floors sanded. Our floor is in good condition so we are going with the sanding. Thanks for all the info.
I installed 1200sqft of the pergo and had 7-10 boards with the same defect as you. Also had another 7-10 with bubbles in the vinyl. Also had a hard time finding repeats till it was on the floor and the obvious knots boards can be spotted
I installed the pergo in a tiny bathroom. I only had to buy a couple boxes. I assumed the tiny gaps were the result of my subfloor, but now I think a couple planks were defective. That is really frustrating.
I’m actually installing this this week but it’s pretty good stuff the installation instructions suggest you use a scrap piece to hammer it in as opposed to him using a tool directly on the edge. I can attest that the edge is easily damaged
Thanks Joe, really appreciate your time and effort. I have one more room to do, concrete floor, looking for something good. I have used the Menards plank and it was good. Just want to get the best bang for my $$. Thanks again.
I have to replace my floor because the office chairs made a white haze that won't come off. Clear coats won't correct. Also back in the day, the flooring swelt up with summer and winter. Suppose to float but I have heavy desk and book cases on it; no floating.
Can you share what your top 3 brand/styles are as of today? I am at the stage of being ready to purchase my flooring for us to install ourselves. I have watched all the videos that you have where you review planks but you don’t seem that impressed with the majority. Thanks!!
This was helpful. Enjoyed the little “soft shoe” dance on the sand! We looked at the Lowe’s vinyl plank products, but when we talked with them about installation, we realized that our floor will never get within their 1/4 inch specs. We have a wood subfloor on pier and jack foundation over adobe. Adobe shifts. We have a it dip in the living room that we are going to attempt to level on our own and then find someone who WILL install the floor. We’re hoping to find one of the thicker (12 mm) more rigid types and keep our fingers crossed. We have 18 year old laminate now. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you for all of your advice and tips in the videos. Can you do a video on how to replace a LVT piece in a doorway? Flooring wasn't able to be undercut to get around the jam because the doorframe is metal framed.
Your videos have been tremendously helpful! After watching this video, I wondered what is your best recommendation for LVP that is the best balance of affordable, easy to install, and durable? Thanks!
Joe that's what I told you SMART CORE LOWES is the best !None of the thins stuff is worth it Menards Home Depot you pay the same for thin and you do smartcore that is the greatest waterproof flooring!
Another great video Joe. I look forward to seeing the rest of Lowes. Near me we have Lowes, Home Depot and Lumber Liquidators. Do you have any plans to do a review on LL?
We used a Lowe's smartcore product in our laundry room over hardwood - It was a challenge in a small space (that was already finished, had to pull the quarter round and reinstall ) but has seemed to hold up well . ( installed at Christmastime 2018-2019) - It is a travertine look 2ft by 1 ft plank - Perhaps you could also comment on finding quality and attractive 12" vinyl tiles for small spaces like bathrooms , laundry rooms, and closets . I'm finding that ones w/ colorful designs seem to be short term flooring and I'm hoping to find something for a vintage home that will last a good while w/ a commercial use rating or lifetime residential rating ...thank you so much for all your videos
Ok, I'm still trying to decide which floor to go with. What about glue down? A friend is thinking that's the better way to go since it's firmly in place, you never have to worry about a locking system, and you can change out the planks easily by just heating them up with a hairdryer. I'm so lost. ☹️
Thank you Joe. I have a quick question. I like the planks with more grains so they don't feel as slippery under feet. Do more grains easier to scratch?
Have you reviewed Quick-Step Flooring from Lowes? It sounds like a good deal and others have installed it with good results but I'm not sure it will work long term.
Love the reviews. Looking forward to the futures videos. I've been looking to do a project, but can't decide what I want. You did mention Cali, which I have on my list. Have you done any from Costco or Lumber Liquidators ?
Great ! can't wait for part 2, so i can figure which is best for my kitchen, between Home Depot and Lowe's . Once again i love the attention to the patterns / repetition. The Pergo looks like a decent candidate. For a DIYer with no experience, how much does it matter that they have the locking system reversed?
HI Jeff, In my opinion, I think it makes more of a difference for us who install on a regular basis. We get used to a certain way, majority of the planks go opposite way. So, if you are not a regular installer you should be fine.
Have you tested any of the products from flooret? I've already purchased the Modin Signature line. 9mm thick. 40 mil wear layer. Hopefully it holds up. By the way, thank you for these videos. I've completely replaced my subfloor and I just watched your video on using feather finish, which I will be installing in a couple days.
I was driving and it hit me that I needed to share this information with you. Your confidence in the name of Jesus is inspiring! I would encourage you that everytime you lite a cigarette to announce, " I hate smoking!" Proverbs 18:21 "Life and death are in the power of the tongue."
I picked up a few samples of lvp from Lowe's by Stainmaster Pet Protect and Pergo Duracraft Wet Protect. Both have a 20 mil wear. The Stainmaster is 7 mm thick and the Pergo is 6 mm. Both have a very strong locking system. Do you have an opinion which one is better.
Maybe a dumb question - if the install on the Pergo is "backwards", do you also start install from the right to left, rather than left to right? Because I've never laid vinyl before, I don't know exactly what's "backwards."
Lowe's worst store I have ever delt with. I asked for a simple quote for 3 floors. It started 9/9/2023. Still don't have the quote as of 9/31 run don't walk away from Lowe's!
I had the same issue with Lowes when I purchased my dishwasher !!!! they could never get the delivery date and time correct !!! I sat and waited for them for half a day !!! Nothing but a complete waste of my time !!! They finally did deliver it 2 days later … but now I know that I’ll never purchase a major appliance from them again !
Your channel has helped me tremendously in my LVP research, planning and install. The locking system was a priority in my selection. After installing LVP from Floor and Decor (NuCore) in my rental I looked for a more premium product for my main home. After going through Floor and Decor, Home Depot, and Lowes, I decided on the Pergo Duracraft from Lowes. It covered all the important bases you had mentioned in your videos, durable locking system, great wear layer, a lot a various non-repeating patterns. Also no bevel. My wife and I laid over 1500sf of it and found no issues in quality. Like you said it took a little more attention to assemble it but was worth the extra effort. I’ve installed Pergo laminate on two other occasions in prior homes about 9 years ago and they are holding up like new. I wish I had the knowledge that I learned from your channel back then. Much thanks for all your time and effort in sharing your experience and expertise. Thank you very much and God bless.
Do you know if Pergo is toxic?
Hey Joe I just want to say how awesome you are down to earth you are and I like the fact that you are Christian and that you do let people know about that and bless you for what you doing to help people awesome bless you and your family thank you very much
I did my kitchen and living room with smart core vinyl flooring. No problem installing. Easy to install from both direction
Thanks again Joe for another helpful video. All of us DIYers appreciate your tips!
I just put down 1500 square feet of SmartCore Ultra Blue Ridge Pine. I found the locking system to be a similar durability to what you showed on the regular SmartCore. I will mention that I was told to look for the boxes made in China and not in the US. Reason for that is the pad on the back is far superior. I accidentally bought one box of the US made and the pad was junk…similar to old rubber-backed carpet that rolls up when you run your thumb along it. The China made pad is way better. Great video, Joe!
I looked at the blue ridge pine last night at lowes and absolutely love the color but I dont think it will look great in my house.
Great information. Thank you for offering your expert opinions of these items. Much appreciated.
Just put about 1300 sq ft down in my house. Your video is very accurate. I have found the shine finish is easy to scuff. You can see it when the light hits it just right. Been down a few months and very happy. Will see what time brings with it
I look forward to the video on Smartcore Ultra as that's the one I'm thinking of installing in my home.!
Thanks for being so thorough!
I wish these videos were available 2 years ago when I got my Twelve Oaks Solidcore vinyl flooring. Now I have a kitchen, mud room, and bathroom with sections of the floor where the horizontal joint seams are literally breaking out and creating an ugly defect, let alone a safety hazard. And just shy of two years, I'm shopping once again for vinyl flooring.
Outstanding and objective evaluation. Could you make the same type of video of the Home Depot flooring? Many thanks for all of your great efforts and time spent. Much appreciated.
Hi Ma Ma, he did Home Depot last week.
We were deciding to go with a vinyl floor or have our oak floors sanded. Our floor is in good condition so we are going with the sanding. Thanks for all the info.
I installed 1200sqft of the pergo and had 7-10 boards with the same defect as you. Also had another 7-10 with bubbles in the vinyl. Also had a hard time finding repeats till it was on the floor and the obvious knots boards can be spotted
I installed the pergo in a tiny bathroom. I only had to buy a couple boxes. I assumed the tiny gaps were the result of my subfloor, but now I think a couple planks were defective. That is really frustrating.
I’m actually installing this this week but it’s pretty good stuff the installation instructions suggest you use a scrap piece to hammer it in as opposed to him using a tool directly on the edge. I can attest that the edge is easily damaged
Thanks Joe, really appreciate your time and effort. I have one more room to do, concrete floor, looking for something good. I have used the Menards plank and it was good. Just want to get the best bang for my $$. Thanks again.
I have to replace my floor because the office chairs made a white haze that won't come off. Clear coats won't correct. Also back in the day, the flooring swelt up with summer and winter. Suppose to float but I have heavy desk and book cases on it; no floating.
Thank you, your videos are really helping me to decide just what to do.Thank you again
Can you share what your top 3 brand/styles are as of today? I am at the stage of being ready to purchase my flooring for us to install ourselves. I have watched all the videos that you have where you review planks but you don’t seem that impressed with the majority. Thanks!!
I'm wondering as well! ❤
This was helpful. Enjoyed the little “soft shoe” dance on the sand! We looked at the Lowe’s vinyl plank products, but when we talked with them about installation, we realized that our floor will never get within their 1/4 inch specs. We have a wood subfloor on pier and jack foundation over adobe. Adobe shifts. We have a it dip in the living room that we are going to attempt to level on our own and then find someone who WILL install the floor. We’re hoping to find one of the thicker (12 mm) more rigid types and keep our fingers crossed. We have 18 year old laminate now. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for all you do.
Are you going to do a floor and decor test. More specifically Nucore
Masterful instructions and review.
Best on RUclips
Thanks for this info.Looking forward to L.L. Flooring
Thank you for all of your advice and tips in the videos. Can you do a video on how to replace a LVT piece in a doorway? Flooring wasn't able to be undercut to get around the jam because the doorframe is metal framed.
Is there a best glue down vinyl plank?
Hi Joe
Thank you for great information that you provide.
What do you think about Nucore Performance brand from floor and decor
Your videos have been tremendously helpful! After watching this video, I wondered what is your best recommendation for LVP that is the best balance of affordable, easy to install, and durable? Thanks!
Joe that's what I told you SMART CORE LOWES is the best !None of the thins stuff is worth it Menards Home Depot you pay the same for thin and you do smartcore that is the greatest waterproof flooring!
Awesome review. Do you think duraclik xrp is good? Think to get it since it’s 25% off this week but not sure if Costco golden select vinyl is better ?
What about Smartcore Ultra?
Yeah Smartcore Ultra seems to be a big step up over the others with a SPC core. I’d really like him to take a look at the Cali planks also.
Next week?
He said next time 😀
Another great video Joe. I look forward to seeing the rest of Lowes. Near me we have Lowes, Home Depot and Lumber Liquidators. Do you have any plans to do a review on LL?
We used a Lowe's smartcore product in our laundry room over hardwood - It was a challenge in a small space (that was already finished, had to pull the quarter round and reinstall ) but has seemed to hold up well . ( installed at Christmastime 2018-2019) - It is a travertine look 2ft by 1 ft plank - Perhaps you could also comment on finding quality and attractive 12" vinyl tiles for small spaces like bathrooms , laundry rooms, and closets . I'm finding that ones w/ colorful designs seem to be short term flooring and I'm hoping to find something for a vintage home that will last a good while w/ a commercial use rating or lifetime residential rating ...thank you so much for all your videos
Ok, I'm still trying to decide which floor to go with. What about glue down? A friend is thinking that's the better way to go since it's firmly in place, you never have to worry about a locking system, and you can change out the planks easily by just heating them up with a hairdryer. I'm so lost. ☹️
Thank you Joe. I have a quick question. I like the planks with more grains so they don't feel as slippery under feet. Do more grains easier to scratch?
Are there video on how to install the Mannington adura max plank?
Have you reviewed Quick-Step Flooring from Lowes? It sounds like a good deal and others have installed it with good results but I'm not sure it will work long term.
Thanks joe !!
Love the reviews. Looking forward to the futures videos. I've been looking to do a project, but can't decide what I want. You did mention Cali, which I have on my list. Have you done any from Costco or Lumber Liquidators ?
I am hoping for a Lumber Liquidators too.
Great ! can't wait for part 2, so i can figure which is best for my kitchen, between Home Depot and Lowe's . Once again i love the attention to the patterns / repetition.
The Pergo looks like a decent candidate. For a DIYer with no experience, how much does it matter that they have the locking system reversed?
HI Jeff, In my opinion, I think it makes more of a difference for us who install on a regular basis. We get used to a certain way, majority of the planks go opposite way. So, if you are not a regular installer you should be fine.
Have you tested any of the products from flooret? I've already purchased the Modin Signature line. 9mm thick. 40 mil wear layer. Hopefully it holds up. By the way, thank you for these videos. I've completely replaced my subfloor and I just watched your video on using feather finish, which I will be installing in a couple days.
Would you be able to do same video on Menards products?
Do you have to use the Pergo pad?
Which one is the best sir
Does vinyl plank expand and contract like laminate and if not so do you still need to keep it 1/4 from wall.
I was driving and it hit me that I needed to share this information with you.
Your confidence in the name of Jesus is inspiring!
I would encourage you that everytime you lite a cigarette to announce, " I hate smoking!"
Proverbs 18:21 "Life and death are in the power of the tongue."
I don’t use a tapping block on the actual plank I’m installing,I attach a scrap piece to the plank I’m installing and use the tapping block
Any thoughts on Lucida USA Maxcore? That’s what I’m considering from lowes.
I picked up a few samples of lvp from Lowe's by Stainmaster Pet Protect and Pergo Duracraft Wet Protect. Both have a 20 mil wear. The Stainmaster is 7 mm thick and the Pergo is 6 mm. Both have a very strong locking system. Do you have an opinion which one is better.
Maybe a dumb question - if the install on the Pergo is "backwards", do you also start install from the right to left, rather than left to right? Because I've never laid vinyl before, I don't know exactly what's "backwards."
What is the best and strongest i have 2 large dogs live on Canadian border my house rocks and rolls in winter
God bless!
About how many years will these planks last in high traffic areas?
Easily a 20 year floor.
I would like to have my two doxies test the lvp while tap dancing and doing zoomies. That is the test for me.
What does reversed install for the pergo mean?
Lowe's worst store I have ever delt with. I asked for a simple quote for 3 floors. It started 9/9/2023. Still don't have the quote as of 9/31 run don't walk away from Lowe's!
I had the same issue with Lowes when I purchased my dishwasher !!!! they could never get the delivery date and time correct !!! I sat and waited for them for half a day !!! Nothing but a complete waste of my time !!! They finally did deliver it 2 days later … but now I know that I’ll never purchase a major appliance from them again !