How to Get Uyour Hard Wood Fkoors to Look Kike Mew Again
Review of COREtec Plus | Waterproof luxury vinyl – Looks like hardwood and holds upward to water
What is Coretec Plus?
Coretec Plus is the perfect alloy of form and part. It'due south a high quality luxury vinyl that looks (and feels) real, and it's designed to agree up in spaces that may have moisture (such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms). Coretec looks similar hardwood (the planks look like engineered hardwood…and wait much more than existent than laminate)…in fact many of my customers don't even realize they are looking at vinyl when they see the product – that'due south how real it looks. This is probably the most innovative flooring production of this decade.
Coretec Plus comes in luxury vinyl planks that await similar hardwood and luxury vinyl tile that looks like tile, natural rock and concrete. Personally, I prefer the hardwood plan options equally they are more fashionable and look more than real. Here in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, hardwood is strongly preferred over tile.
These high terminate vinyl planks (and tiles) are individual pieces with beveled edges and real texture and graining, so they expect real (unlikely sheet vinyl or cheaper vinyls or laminate which has simulated graphics). The planks are installed in a randomized way so they besides look more than similar real hardwood.
Coretec Plus gives you a high finish expect and provide the perfect solution when you want a hardwood expect, but don't want to worry about wet/water. Information technology's a groovy product considering you it solves many challenges at in one case so that homeowners don't demand to compromise. My installers love it considering it's a bully product for customers and it'due south one that you can really stand up backside.
Coretec holds up to h2o and cleans upwardly hands, so if you don't need to worry about water issues in the kitchen (e.g. from wet from dishwasher, spills while cooking, pet spills from water dishes).
Coretec Plus is made by Usa Floors, and they are a very reputable manufacturer. They brand Coretec Plus, Natural Cork, Natural Bamboo and some specialized high terminate oiled hardwood floors. The product has a limited lifetime warranty and it'south GreenGuard certified. They actually stand backside their production. U.s.a. Floors was recently purchased by Shaw Floors.
Delight note that this article may comprise affiliate links; you tin can read my full disclosure at the lesser of the page.
How is Coretec Plus constructed?
Coretec Plus is a rigid luxury vinyl constructed in 4 layers – 3 you tin can come across and ane you tin can't. The tiptop layer you can see is the luxury vinyl. It'due south designed well from a color, graining and texture standpoint, so it looks and feels real. On top of this, in that location is the clear habiliment layer (.5mm) which protects against excessive wear and makes information technology easier to clean. The middle layer is recyled limestone, woods and bamboo dust and the lesser layer is an attached cork underlayment.
All 4 layers are waterproof (including the cork).
The cork underlayment helps in a few different means. First, information technology adds a bit of cushioning. So, the floor has a bit more give and is easier on your anxiety. Besides, information technology tin help camouflage minor imperfections in the flooring (note: it volition not hide sloping or major unevenness…run into below nearly that). It too gives a tad of insulation due to the air pockets in the cork. Cork is naturally antimicrobial so it'due south resilient to mold/mildew. And, the fastened cork backing will too aid with audio assimilation.
How is Coretec Plus installed?
Coretec Plus is floating floor, meaning that it clicks together (in the aforementioned way that a laminate is installed) and is secured at the edges of the room via the base molding/shoe molding. Y'all tin can read more about a floating floor here: What is a floating floor? Because it's a floating floor (and does non demand to be nailed or glued), it has more than flexibility equally to where it can be installed.
Information technology can be installed straight on top of concrete, and if you have minor discrepancies in the floor, y'all don't demand to worry about floor prep and smoothing the area out. This contrasts with a gum down vinyl which does require smoothing (usually via a couple of skim coats) every bit gum down vinyl will telegraph all the imperfections (i.eastward. you'll see all the dimples and imperfections in the floor…see motion picture on the right). Because Coretec Plus is rigid and thicker than mucilage down vinyl, it volition hide the small imperfections in the floor. The attached cork underlayment helps with this too.
While I would recommend professional installation, talented do-it-yourselfers could install Coretec, since it's a floating clickable floor. If you feel confident installing laminate, you could probably install this floor as well. That being said, the tricky function with all floating floors are the edges.
This product can exist installed below form (i.e. in rooms that are below the basis such as basements), on grade (i.e. on footing level) as well equally upper levels, so it's a very flexible production.
Considering information technology's a floated floor (see higher up), information technology can be installed in whatsoever direction. It can be done in direct lay, or diagonal and it's non dependent on your joist management. Generally, I recommend post-obit the longest length of the room as that is more than aesthetically pleasing and makes your space expect larger. You lot tin alter direction of the floor in different rooms, but usually, it looks better to just cull one direction and stick with information technology.
Other advantages of Coretec Plus
- Dissimilar engineered hardwood or laminate, Coretec Plus does not need to be dropped off for acclimation, so this shortens the timeline
- Coretec Plus can exist installed on top of radiant heat
- It tin likewise be installed on pinnacle of most surfaces (including physical, tile and hardwood) provided that the floor is fifty-fifty/relatively even.
Color range and styles for Coretec
Coretec Plus has a broad range of colors – they have light (Rocky Mountain Oak, night (see Deep Smoked Oak), reds (see Gilt Coast Acacia), besides equally some grays/white washes (run into Ivory coast Oak, Boardwalk Oak, Blackstone Oak, Alabaster Oak, Hudson Valley Georgetown Oak). The 7″ line has more white launder/grays.
US Floors COREtec Plus 5 Deep Smoked Oak (Sample) Vinyl Flooring
Why is Coretec Plus meliorate than laminate?
-
Looks much nicer and more existent. Planks are individual pieces (while most laminates are eight″ wide with a picture that simulates several pieces together.) - Coretec Plus is waterproof and laminate is non. Further, laminate warps only with moisture (and once it'south warped it can't be fixed. Laminate also tends to delaminate when information technology gets wet only from cleaning.
- Less noisy.
- More durable
- Doesn't crave acclimation (then you tin can install it faster)
- Disadvantage: Information technology costs a lilliputian more than than laminate (but well worth information technology and lasts mode longer)
What are the advantages of Coretec over Engineered Wood?
- More than durable, holds upwards ameliorate to scratches
- Waterproof and moisture proof
- Costs less
- Less noisy
- Doesn't require acclimation (then you can install it faster)
- Disadvantage: It'south non real hardwood.
What are the advantages of Coretec over Tile?
- Easier on anxiety
- Warmer on feet
- Costs less
- Won't crevice
- Easier to clean
What are the Coretec Sub-lines?
Coretec Plus
This is the original product. Information technology comes in v″ and 7″ wide planks that are 4 ft long. It's also available in tile options which are either 12″ x 24″ or 18.5″ ten 24″ for a nice brick lay. (Note: every bit yous go wider in the planks, it'due south more of import that your sub-flooring is more even…the wider planks will bear witness the unevenness more.)
Coretec Plus XL
Coretec Plus XL is a newer and upgraded option. This line has actress wide planks (9″ wide) and extra long (they are vi ft long (rather than 4ft). They also have some very dainty wire brushed styles. These planks do toll more. (Again, exist careful if your floor is very uneven with the wider planks).
Coretec Plus Hard disk drive
Coretec Plus HD used registered embossing (which ways the surface follows the graining of the wood) for a more realistic expect and feel. The planks are 7″ broad and vi ft long (vs. the base line is only iv ft long). In add-on, the planks are a bit thicker (they are viii.5mm thick vs. the rest of line is 8mm thick. These planks also have 4 sided painted micro bevel edges for an even more realistic await. These planks do cost more than. (Over again, be careful if your floor is very uneven with the wider planks).
Here are some pictures of some of my favorite Coretec Plus HD shades.
Coretec One
Coretec One is a less expensive version of Coretec. Information technology excludes the fastened cork and in my opinion, the designs aren't as prissy and look a flake faux. This is Non a product that I would recommend. The cork underlayment makes a big departure. It costs a bit less, merely if you use it, yous should buy a separate underlayment…and that neutralizes the price difference.
Why does Coretec Plus XL price more?
Cortec Plus Xl has wider planks (9″ vs the bones line is 5″ or 7″) and longer planks (6 ft long vs. iv ft for the base line). The designs are a scrap more than contemporary. All that aside, I retrieve the basic Coretec Plus line looks amazing and it's not necessary to upgrade (note: warranty/durability are the same). And, with the wider and longer planks, it's super important that your sub-floor is apartment/even as information technology will testify more than (run into below related to floor prep/downsides).
Did you detect my tips helpful? If and then, feel free to buy me a coffee and back up my weblog.
Coretec moldings and trim
Coretec has matching moldings (reducers, t-molding, baby threshold, stair cap and stairnose). Importantly, they also have matching quarter circular (which really comes in handy if there are build in cabinets or paneled walls. Annotation: most vinyl and look alike products don't have matching quarter circular and only 1 pick for steps, so this is some other plus for this product and gives information technology a more finished await.
Is Coretec Plus really waterproof?
According to the manufacturer, it'south "100% waterproof," so the floors tin be installed in "wet areas and will never keen when exposed to water." Coretec is dimensionally stable and won't expand or contract nether normal conditions.
Please annotation that if you lot take a major floor or continuing h2o, Coretec Plus (like Any flooring) should be removed. Standing water can practice a lot of damage to your dwelling when it's sitting there and being trapped. So, if yous do take a major overflowing, I would recommend removing the Coretec Plus (advisedly). And then, permit information technology fully dry out and then reinstall it. (Near every other flooring would be destroyed, simply Coretec Plus is resilient and so it generally tin be reinstalled.)
The one exception we accept seen to this is if you have a sewage issue. If y'all have sewage, y'all desire to remove the flooring…no thing what type it is (even tile needs to be removed). I recall this is obvious (and goes without saying), simply I would be remiss if I didn't mention information technology. We did have a customer who had a sewage dorsum up in their basement. Half of their flooring had to be removed, but the remainder was fine then half of it was replaced.
What are the downsides and watch-outs for Coretec Plus?
The biggest downside (in my opinion) is that Coretec Plus doesn't piece of work well when your floors are very uneven. Because it'southward a floating floor (and clicks into each other), if your flooring is rather uneven, the planks volition depress/move a bit when you walk on them (in the aforementioned way that a laminate flooring or engineered hardwood floor would).
If this doesn't bother you lot, it's non a problem. If information technology does bother, so you lot would want to level out the floor before installing it (by and large with self leveling mix and this does get expensive/adds extra costs). Note: If your floors are extremely uneven and you don't invest in cocky leveling mix, the planks could snap apart.
The other modest downside is that the vinyl can scratch when you move heavy items (e.grand. refrigerators) on top of information technology. Now that happens for about every other flooring surface. The thick wear layer gives it actress protection, but it's proficient to avoid dragging precipitous objects or very heavy items over these floors. Too, it's relatively simple to replace a slice of two if y'all need to later.
Practice-information technology-Yourself Installation for Coretec Plus – Video
For do-it-yourselfers, check out this video from US Floors to run into how to install Coretec Plus. Soon, I will exist calculation links for the tools mentioned in the video.
DIY Tools mentioned in the video
If you click on the items below you can buy them Amazon. You can add them to your cart, even if you buy later.
- Safety glasses
- Hammer
- Pull bar
- Tapping block blade
- Carbide tipped blade
- 1/4″ expansion spacers
- Measuring tape
How practice you make clean and maintain Coretec?
Final thoughts on Coretec Plus:
Coretec Plus is an innovative production that is durable and looks great. Information technology solves many bug and it's a wonderful choice for areas that may get wet and have minor wet. You know it's a great product when your installers dearest it and recommend information technology. Nosotros take installed Coretec Plus in many basements (including high end $1-$2 million dollar homes), kitchens and whole apartments. Nosotros haven't had whatever complaints nearly it from our customers (well except for the client with the sewage issue – simply that had nothing to practise with us or the product. I highly recommend it.
Where can you lot purchase Coretec Plus?
Yous can buy Coretec Plus in nearly local flooring and carpeting stores. I don't believe they are available in Home Depot or other big box stores, but that may change in the future. You tin can now buy some of the items very toll finer on Amazon and I'1000 sure they'll be adding the other colors presently. They besides have samples you tin can order on Amazon . You tin also check out other places online . They are reasonably priced and accept complimentary shipping (which will help you for when you actually order them as shipping on flooring can get costly).
Edit: Dwelling Depot now has their own private label knock of product called LifeProof. It isn't as good every bit Coretec Plus, and then it'due south not a product I would recommend, but it certainly is cheaper. It's thinner (6.five mm vs Coretec Plus is 8mm) and I've heard from installers that it doesn't hold up and so well to water (even though they merits it's waterproof). I guess you go what you pay for. Merely, if price is your primary driver, y'all can bank check out their color choices hither.
You may observe these manufactures helpful:
-
What is a floating flooring? - What's the divergence between laminate and vinyl flooring?
- Recommended cleaning products and accessories to maintain floors and reduce scratches.
Complementary products that will prolong the life of your hardwood floors
- Bona hardwood floor cleaner
- Felt pads to protect floors
- Function chair mat
- Doggie Socks
Did you observe my tips helpful? If so, feel gratis to buy me a coffee and support my weblog.
Coretec Plus Luxury vinyl planks Review – the spousal relationship of hardwood and waterproof flooring
Summary
Reviewer Debbie Gartner
Review Engagement
Reviewed Item
Coretec Plus
Author Rating
Source: https://theflooringgirl.com/blog/review-coretec-plus-luxury-vinyl-waterproof-hardwood-planks/comment-page-1/
0 Response to "How to Get Uyour Hard Wood Fkoors to Look Kike Mew Again"
Enregistrer un commentaire