SPC Vinyl Flooring

Rigid core luxury vinyl flooring, also known as SPC flooring, is the most durable waterproof vinyl flooring option on the market.

Vinyl has a reputation for being flexible and less sturdy than traditional wood or laminate? Well, WPC vinyl is pretty darn sturdy, but SPC rigid core luxury vinyl flooring is like standing on concrete.

This small, thin flooring may seem like it doesn’t have much unf to it, but it is the toughest of the tough, specially designed to withstand the use and abuse of commercial environments.

Like WPC, SPC rigid core vinyl flooring is the top of the line for not just functionality but looks, as well. With rigid core vinyl, you’ll see all the hottest wood and stone-look trends and colors in beautiful, convincing planks and tiles.

What Does SPC Stand For?

SPC is industry lingo for Stone Plastic Composite or Stone Polymer Composite (these terms are used interchangeably). It describes the ultra-tough core of rigid core luxury vinyl flooring. The stone plastic composite makes that core layer virtually indestructible, maintaining its form even on top of uneven subfloors.

What does that mean for you?

I’m glad you asked! It means you can install SPC rigid core luxury vinyl flooring on any level, over almost any existing (hard surface) subfloor, and for any amount of traffic.

SPC Vinyl Flooring stands for stone plastic composite vinyl flooring. Similar to WPC vinyl, an SPC vinyl is an engineered luxury vinyl that combines limestone and stabilizers to create an extremely durable core. An SPC vinyl floor is still 100% waterproof but adds stability, dent resistance, and structure to vinyl plank flooring.

Benefits of SPC Vinyl Flooring

SPC vinyl is becoming one of the most popular floors to install for a variety of reasons. If you’re a homeowner, property manager, or business owner, SPC vinyl flooring may be a great option for your next project!

Waterproof: This is one of the biggest factors in choosing an SPC vinyl. It is 100% waterproof, which means it can be installed in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and restaurants without worry!

Stability in Temperature Fluctuations: With the stone construction, an SPC vinyl core is more stable in environments with temperature changes, such as cabins, homes with AC units, and homes with humidity fluctuations.

Appearance: SPC vinyl flooring can have a variety of looks, textures, and styles. It will be hard to believe they are vinyl!

DIY Installation: SPC vinyl flooring is a click-lock installation system. It is installed similarly to a regular vinyl and laminate with a tongue and groove installation. No glues or extra tools are required! This is a floor for the everyday DIY’er.

Comfort: The SPC vinyl floor is going to feel more sturdy and cushioned underfoot than a traditional vinyl due to the dense core and thickness of the plank. A thicker plank will give you more comfort. Also, some SPC vinyl will have attached underlayment that adds to the softness underfoot. If it does not have attached underlayment, you can opt for an LVT-specific underlayment to install over the subfloor.

Sound: With the dense core, this plank tends to have a quieter sound. You will not hear a hollow sound when you walk on it.

Affordability: SPC vinyl plank flooring is very budget-friendly. Depending on the brand and features, you can find SPC vinyl in a variety of price ranges. Features like attached underlayment, texture, and edges can increase a floor’s price.

Easy Maintenance and Cleaning: An SPC vinyl will have the same cleaning and maintenance needs as regular vinyl. These planks are designed to be easily cleaned with regular sweeping and mopping.

With all the benefits of SPC vinyl flooring, you can see why this is such a highly rated material! From a cushioned step to dent resistance and waterproof core, you can’t go wrong with an SPC vinyl. Whether it is for a busy home, rental property, or business, this floor does it all.

SPC rigid core luxury vinyl flooring is typically comprised of 4 layers.

An SPC vinyl has several main layers.

1. Wear Layer – The wear layer is the top coating on the vinyl floor that is transparent. This adds scratch and stain resistance to the vinyl plank.

Wear Layer

Just like with traditional vinyl, the wear layer is like your bodyguard; it helps protect your floor from dents, scratches, etc. The thicker the wear layer, the buffer your bodyguard, you feel me?

SPC flooring is known for having a buff, beefy wear layer offering more protection. When you look at vinyl flooring, it’s just as (if not more) important to look at wear layer thickness as plank thickness.

1. Vinyl Top Coat – Each SPC vinyl floor will have a thin layer of vinyl attached to it. This layer is waterproof and will contain the pattern, texture, and look of the floor.

Printed Vinyl Layer

This is where you get your gorgeous photo imagery that makes the vinyl look (nearly) identical to natural materials like stone and wood. Often, rigid core luxury vinyl flooring is the highest quality vinyl on the market. This means you get the most realistic looks that people will swear are real wood/stone!

1. SPC Core – The SPC core is made by combining limestone powder and stabilizers to create a dimensionally stable and waterproof core.

SPC Core

This is the main attraction! SPC flooring contains a solid, waterproof core. It won’t ripple, swell or peel no matter much liquid you subject it to.

This core is ultra-dense with no foaming agents like you’ll find in traditional WPC flooring. It gives you slightly less resilience underfoot, but it makes the flooring a superhero in the durability department.

4.    Attached Underlayment – SPC vinyl floors may or may not come with attached underlayment. These are usually included to help with sound reduction and add softness to the floor. Backing Layer

This is the backbone of your plank