Vinyl plank flooring: LVT, SPC and WPC explained

The three main types

Glue-down LVT is a flexible vinyl plank, usually 2–3mm thick, bonded to the subfloor with adhesive. It is the thinnest option, the best over underfloor heating, and the most stable in rooms with big temperature swings such as conservatories. It demands a very flat subfloor because every imperfection telegraphs through.

SPC (stone plastic composite) has a rigid limestone-and-PVC core, typically 4–6mm thick, with a click joint. It is dense, dimensionally stable, dent-resistant and much more tolerant of a slightly uneven subfloor. It is the fastest-growing product in UK homes and is what most people mean by 'click vinyl'.

WPC (wood plastic composite) uses a foamed core, so it is thicker, lighter, warmer and softer underfoot than SPC. It is more comfortable to stand on but dents more easily under heavy point loads such as fridge feet or piano castors.

• Glue-down LVT: thinnest, best for UFH and conservatories, needs the flattest subfloor
• SPC: rigid, dent-resistant, tolerant of minor subfloor imperfection, fastest to fit
• WPC: warmest and softest underfoot, but dents under heavy point loads

Wear layer: the number that predicts lifespan

The wear layer is the clear protective coat above the printed design layer, measured in millimetres. It is the single best predictor of how long the floor will look good. Everything else — thickness, core type, brand — matters less.

A 0.3mm wear layer is a light domestic specification: fine for a spare bedroom, marginal for a hallway. 0.55mm is the sensible standard for kitchens, halls and family living rooms. 0.7mm is commercial grade and will comfortably outlast a domestic tenancy cycle.

Be wary of products advertised only by total thickness. A 5mm plank with a 0.2mm wear layer will look worn in traffic lanes within three years, while a 2mm glue-down with a 0.55mm wear layer will still look new. Thickness affects feel and subfloor tolerance; wear layer affects life.

Glue-down or click: how to choose

Choose glue-down where stability matters: over underfloor heating, in conservatories and garden rooms with wide temperature swings, in commercial settings, in kitchens where appliances get dragged, and in any room over about 40 square metres where a floating floor would need expansion breaks.

Choose click where speed and reversibility matter: upstairs bedrooms, rented properties where the floor may be lifted, rooms over existing hard floors you do not want to remove, and jobs where the room needs to be usable the same day.

Click floors need a perimeter expansion gap of 8–10mm hidden by skirting or beading, and they need expansion breaks at doorways and in long runs. Glue-down floors need neither, which is why they look neater in open-plan spaces.

Subfloor and fitting requirements

Glue-down LVT needs a subfloor flat to 3mm over 2 metres, clean, dry and primed. On concrete that usually means latex; on timber it means 6mm plywood screwed at close centres. This preparation is not optional — it is the difference between a floor that looks poured and one that shows every ridge.

SPC and WPC are more forgiving, tolerating around 5mm over 2 metres, and are usually laid over a thin foam or attached-pad underlay. They still need the subfloor swept clean; grit under a rigid floor causes clicking noises that are impossible to trace later.

Moisture is the other checkpoint. On ground-floor concrete, a moisture test is essential before glue-down, and a damp-proof membrane is required if readings are high. Vinyl is impermeable, so any moisture in the slab gets trapped under it.

Cost and lifespan

Supplied and fitted in 2026, budget £35–£55 per square metre for a good click SPC and £45–£75 for glue-down LVT with a thick wear layer. Add £10–£20 per square metre where subfloor preparation is required. Herringbone patterns add 40–70% to the labour.

Realistic lifespan in a domestic setting is 10–15 years at 0.3mm, 15–20 at 0.55mm, and 20–25 at 0.7mm. Those figures assume basic care: mats at the doors, prompt cleaning of grit, and felt pads under furniture.

The cost-per-year maths usually favours the thicker wear layer. Paying £8 per square metre more for a floor that lasts five years longer is straightforwardly good value in any room you walk through every day.