What Are The Different Types of Luxury Vinyl Tiles?

If you like the idea of a wood-effect floor and you want something that's practical, comfortable underfoot and easy on the eye then our LVT flooring range is well worth considering. Short for Luxury Vinyl Tile, it comes in a wide choice of oak-effect colours, plank sizes and layouts, so there is plenty of room to find something that suits both the space and the look you have in mind.

At Topps Tiles, our current LVT collection comes in two formats, plank and herringbone, and every one of them uses a click-fitting system with integrated underlay already attached, so there's no separate layer to buy or fit.

The real differences come down to how the flooring is constructed, what the surface is made from and what conditions the floor is designed to withstand.

It’s often the case that two different LVT floors can look very similar at first glance, especially when they share a similar oak tone or grain. The differences become clearer once you look at how they are made and the surface you actually see and feel.

The format is the most obvious difference. Plank gives you that familiar floorboard look, while herringbone brings more of a pattern into the room. Construction is where the practical differences start to matter more, with SPC using a rigid waterproof core and real wood veneer combining a waterproof hybrid core with a genuine oak surface.

That is really the key to understanding the range. Plank and herringbone describe the layout, while SPC and real wood veneer tell you more about how the flooring is constructed and what sits on the surface. Once those two things are separated, comparing the options becomes much easier.

We all know the shape of plank LVT by now. It has been a staple look across laminate and engineered wood for years, taking its cue from traditional floorboards. It is usually laid in a staggered pattern, and once it is down, those longer boards give the room that clean, continuous run you expect from a wood floor.

A lot of the character comes from the colour more than the layout. You can go for a light oak tone to give the room a lift, choose a warmer natural oak for a more classic look, or move into deeper browns if you want the floor to bring more depth to the space.

It also comes into its own across adjoining rooms. In a hallway that leads into a kitchen or living area, those longer boards can help the whole space feel like one continuous floor instead of something that stops and starts.

Then there's herringbone LVT, with smaller boards laid in that repeating zig-zag pattern. It is really the opposite approach to plank. Where plank tends to keep a look understated, herringbone has a beautiful, distinct pattern that you can't miss, so even a fairly quiet colour still ends up giving the room some real character.

Worth knowing before you start, though, is that some herringbone ranges come as A and B boards, which need to go down in the right sequence to form the pattern correctly. It is not difficult once you know how the system works, but it does take a bit more planning than laying straight planks, so it is always worth reading through the correct fitting guide first instead of trying to work it out as you go.

One thing worth clearing up is that herringbone describes the format, not the construction underneath. You can find it across a number of our LVT ranges, but the core, surface, waterproofing and room suitability can all vary depending on which range you choose. That is where the practical differences start to show up, which is what the next couple of sections get into.

SPC flooring stands for stone plastic composite, and its rigid core gives the floor real strength and stability underfoot. It is fully waterproof too, which makes it a strong choice for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and other busy parts of the home. It is also suitable for conservatories, which makes it a useful option for spaces that see bigger changes in temperature and sunlight.

There is a good range of oak-effect shades to choose from, and depending on the range you can go for plank or herringbone. That makes SPC particularly easy to work into family homes, rooms with pets and spaces that lead straight out to the garden.

If you are planning to fit it yourself, our SPC flooring fitting guide is worth a read before you start. It covers the range-specific details such as acclimatisation, subfloor requirements, expansion gaps and the correct way to install the boards.

Real wood veneer flooring is different because the top surface you see and feel is genuine oak. Each board has its own grain, tone and natural markings, giving the finished floor the variation you would expect from real timber. Underneath the oak sits a waterproof hybrid core, bringing the natural character of wood into a modern click-fit construction with integrated underlay. You can choose between plank and herringbone too, depending on whether you want a more traditional floorboard look or a little more pattern across the room.

It is suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, bedrooms and utility rooms, but not conservatories, where the genuine oak surface is more sensitive to direct sunlight and larger changes in temperature.

If you are planning to fit it yourself, our real wood veneer flooring fitting guide covers the details you need to know before you start, including preparation, acclimatisation, expansion gaps and the correct fitting method for the range.

Whichever type you go for, our current LVT flooring uses a click-fitting system. The boards lock together to create a floating floor, so they sit over the prepared subfloor instead of being glued directly to it.

The exact locking mechanism can vary between ranges. SPC and real wood veneer use the i4F click system, while our Pronto LVT uses 2G or 5Gi click systems. They all do the same basic job of locking the boards together, but the fitting sequence and the way the joints engage can differ.

Most people will choose the colour, format and room first and only think about the click system once fitting starts, which is completely understandable. You do not need to know every technical detail before you buy, but it is worth checking the correct fitting guide so you know exactly how your chosen range goes together.

Pronto is another part of our LVT collection, built with a layered vinyl construction and a tough, rigid waterproof core underneath. A protective wear layer sits over the decorative surface, helping the floor stand up to everyday spills, scuffs and general wear while keeping the wood-effect design looking its best.

The current Pronto LVT range uses either a 2G or 5Gi click system, depending on the product, and both come with integrated underlay already attached. The click systems work slightly differently when it comes to fitting, which is why it is worth checking which one your chosen floor uses before you start.

For the full installation details, including preparation, acclimatisation, expansion gaps and the correct fitting sequence, read the 2G and 5Gi fitting guides for the product you have chosen.

For the full detail on subfloor preparation, expansion gaps and everything else that goes into a proper fit, our LVT substrate preparation guide and individual fitting guides cover the technical side before you start.

It is easy to spend most of your time thinking about the flooring itself and leave the finishing pieces until later. Skirting boards, scotia, trims and door bars are worth planning at the same time, especially as they are what help cover expansion gaps and finish the edges neatly.

They also matter where the flooring runs between rooms or across a change in level. The right transition piece helps everything feel complete and keeps the finish looking considered from one space to the next.

It is worth checking what is available for the range you have chosen before you order. Matching or complementary trims and door bars can make the final result feel much more pulled together, and it saves you having to find something suitable once the floor is already down.