Offering a wide variety of quality home decorating products, Lowe’s stands among the leaders in home improvement retail, specializing in, among other materials, vinyl plank flooring.
Looking at the average price of Lowe’s vinyl plank flooring, including installation, it’s easy to spot how much the final cost can differ, since the expenses per square foot may total anything from $2 to $10.
There’s one primary issue with these calculations, though: Lowe’s doesn’t handle the installation itself but rather deals with third-party contractors.
In other words, getting an accurate estimate of the actual installation costs isn’t as straightforward as it seems. It’s worth knowing that most customers end up paying up to $3,200 for vinyl plank installation on 180 square feet of flooring.
How Much Does Lowes Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost?
| Flooring Type | Price per Square Foot | Installation Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Plank | $1-$4 | $2-$7 |
| Luxury Plank | $2-$5 | $2-$7 |
| Vinyl Tiles | $1-$5 | $2-$7 |
| Sheet Vinyl | $0.50-$1.50 | $2-$7 |
To install vinyl plank flooring from Lowe’s in a single room, you could pay anywhere from $250 to over $4,500. You can easily calculate the average of these costs – it’s $2,375.
To get a more precise amount, it would be best to understand what constitutes the total cost of vinyl plank flooring with installation.
Vinyl Plank Floor Cost by Type
Lowes has four basic types of vinyl flooring: standard planks, luxury planks, vinyl tiles, and sheet vinyl flooring. Each of those has specific traits that impact the flooring’s appearance, durability, and, by extension, price.
Standard vinyl planks are the most common type designed as a budget-friendly alternative to wood flooring. For this variant, the material itself will cost between $1 and $4 per square foot, while the installation expenses may be from $2 to $7 per square foot.
Luxury vinyl planks, as the name suggests, come at a higher price, although the difference between these and standard planks isn’t as considerable as one may presume.
These softer yet thicker vinyl planks sell for $2 to $5 per square foot. The installation costs are the same as with regular planks.
In fact, that’s a common theme when discussing vinyl flooring prices per type – installation costs don’t vary based on your choice of flooring. Only the cost of the material changes.
Since vinyl planks are the main subject of this article, we could wrap up this section here. But let’s briefly mention the prices of other vinyl flooring types for the sake of clarity.
Vinyl tiles have the biggest material price range, going from $1 to $5 per square foot. On the other hand, sheet vinyl flooring is the most affordable by far, costing between $0.50 and $1.50 per square foot.
Did you know? Vinyl started as a material primarily for shoe heels and golf balls. It took some time before the world discovered this material’s potential, but once that happened, its use exploded. Today, vinyl is used in everything from coatings through shower curtains to various appliances.
Additional Cost Factors To Install Vinyl Plank Floors From Lowes
Since the price of both the material and floor installation is calculated per square foot, the total area of your floor will be the key when calculating your expenses.
But, of course, that will be your primary consideration in any case. Here are the other factors that will impact your budget when installing vinyl plank flooring.
The cost of labor will be one of the most important factors, and it will depend on where you live. Average wages per hour vary widely between states, so an hour of work in Alabama will cost $21.60, and twice as much in D.C. Meanwhile, in Mississippi, it would be $19.27.
Location will factor into the total expense in another sense, too: depending on where in your home you’re installing the flooring. An installation job on a broad, rectangular floor will be much more straightforward to do, hence cost less.
However, navigating smaller or irregular spaces like stairs will require additional effort on the installer’s part. As a result, this kind of installation will usually come at a higher price.
Next, expenses will increase if the old flooring needs to be removed. Interestingly enough, this process might cost about the same per square foot as buying vinyl planks.
However, floor removal could be even costlier depending on the flooring type; you may end up paying around $6 to remove a square foot of tile.
Lastly, you might want to install some underlayment to keep your new floor perfectly level and quiet. Placing this additional layer is the choice of many homeowners, but it does increase the total cost – up to $0.80 per square foot.
Does Lowes Install Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Lowes doesn’t employ actual floor installers. However, that doesn’t mean the brand will simply sell you the vinyl planks and leave you hanging. Instead, Lowes has a list of third-party contractors that install the shop’s products regularly.
Choosing a contractor through Lowe’s isn’t mandatory even after you purchase vinyl plank flooring.
You’ll be completely free to work with any company of your choice. Regardless of your decision, asking for an estimate from Lowe’s could give you a better idea of the costs, as opposed to searching the market collecting estimates, and trying to determine the expenses.
Is It Cheaper To Find Your Own Flooring Pro vs Working With a Lowes Third Party Contractor?
By now it should be clear that Lowe’s doesn’t charge anything for vinyl plank flooring installation because the store doesn’t perform installations.
However, the question here opens up another point that might be worth considering. In particular, you might find going through Lowe’s to arrange installation with a third-party contractor is more expensive than if you found a contractor yourself.
Thus, this becomes a question of convenience. Depending on the square footage of your home, you could end up saving quite a bit if you hire a contractor independently.
Yet, that process will require a considerable amount of time and research to make sure you’re getting a fair offer, but the overall savings may be worth the effort.
Did you know? The average square footage of U.S. homes varies from one year to the next. For instance, the average house had a total surface of 2,057 square feet in the year 2000. In 2015, this number rose considerably, reaching 2,467 square feet.
Lowes Vinyl Plank Floor Warranty
Most vinyl plank flooring you buy from Lowe’s comes with a warranty. The important thing to note here is that Lowe’s isn’t a manufacturer but a distributor, which means the store itself doesn’t issue warranties – the manufacturers do.
To that end, you’ll have plenty to choose from. Some manufacturers will offer one-year warranties while others might have lifetime policies.
Also, vinyl plank flooring warranties will differ depending on what they cover. For instance, a wear warranty will usually cover a shorter period, guaranteeing that the flooring won’t show signs of use in the first, say, five years.
On the other hand, vinyl plank often receives limited lifetime warranties covering factory defects.
Benefits and Disadvantages
As is the case with any other flooring product, vinyl plank flooring has its pros and cons. Also as with other products, there may be a “pro” that provides a factor impelling you to make a purchase, or a single “con” may be a deal-breaker.
To that end, it’s best to understand the advantages and downsides of vinyl plank flooring before committing to a decision.
Top Benefits
The first advantage to notice about vinyl plank flooring is its exceptional water resistance. This factor is an outstanding perk of vinyl planks because they often serve as an alternative to hardwood flooring. Naturally, wood is much more susceptible to water damage, making it an inferior option in that regard.
Similarly, vinyl planks won’t succumb to scratching as easily as, for instance, hardwood. In fact, vinyl flooring usually comes with specialized layers designed to stave off wear and tear. These layers minimize the chances of the planks becoming damaged easily.
Water and scratch resistances together make for a surface that can endure even the greatest bane of many a floor: pets.
Whether it’s a pup eagerly digging at the floor or a kitten that just can’t resist doing its business in a secluded corner, vinyl plank flooring will more than likely endure all of the (unintentional) abuse from most pets. This also means odors won’t stick around as they could on other surfaces.
Easy maintenance is another perk that comes with vinyl plank flooring. You can clean the floor without issues, using the usual cleaning supplies.
Unlike wood flooring, you won’t need to engage in detailed, regular maintenance and any spillage or staining will be nearly effortless to remove.
Outside of practical considerations, vinyl plank flooring is extremely versatile in terms of looks.
Essentially, you can purchase flooring that looks like just about whatever you want – wood, granite, slate tile, and more.
The only limitation here will be in what the retailer has to offer, and Lowe’s has a vast selection of vinyl planks.
Lastly, vinyl plank flooring is very affordable, offering great quality for a relatively low price. Better yet, this flooring type can bring extra value to a home while also being an inexpensive improvement.
Naturally, it can’t all be upsides, even with flooring like vinyl plank. Let’s look at the downsides of this flooring type.
Pro Tip: If you’re considering vinyl plank floors to boost your home value, think about doing some work on the kitchen and bathrooms, too. These upgrades can also drive the value up considerably, and the same applies to boosting curb appeal.
Top Disadvantages
Despite being highly resistant to certain elements, vinyl plank flooring shows weakness when it comes to sunlight.
If exposed continuously to the sun, this flooring type may show signs of UV damage like discoloration and fading. Luckily, a solution for this problem exists in the form of special anti-UV coating.
The next disadvantage may sound more dangerous since it has to do with potentially hazardous gases. In particular, vinyl plank floors are among the materials that give off volatile organic compounds or VOC. Yet, this is less an issue than it sounds – almost all industry products release VOC, and the gas is relatively safe in regular quantities.
On a similar note, vinyl planks are built from a special type of plastic that makes them incredibly durable and long-lasting. So why is this a disadvantage?
The durability and resilience of the material also mean it’s nearly resistant to decomposition or recycling. Worse yet, if a vinyl plank does get damaged, no repairs can be done to it, which means the plank must be simply thrown away. Simply put, vinyl planks can be less than eco-friendly.
Finally, remember we mentioned that vinyl planks are practically impossible to repair? That creates another problem.
Although this flooring type is quite resilient, it can still be damaged or scratched, possibly leaving you with a less-than-attractive floor.
The best possible option is to conceal the scratch, if the extent of the damage allows it.
Lowe’s vs. Home Depot Vinyl Plank Flooring
Lowe’s and Home Depot are renowned giants in the home renovation industry, so it’s no surprise both brands can offer plenty of vinyl plank flooring options.
In fact, you can find several of the same manufacturers in both stores.
The pricing is likewise quite similar. We’ve already covered Lowe’s vinyl plank costs. When it comes to Home Depot flooring, some of the most popular variants of vinyl planks cost between $3 and $4 per square foot.
One aspect in which Lowe’s and Home Depot aren’t entirely equal is the variety of available styles and color options.
Home Depot is slightly in the lead here as some of the brands on offer feature a greater variety of colors.
Still, the difference isn’t very significant – whatever style you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it or something similar at Lowe’s as well.
Lowe’s vs. Menards Vinyl Plank Floors
Comparing Lowe’s and Menards initially seems like a challenge. Both companies have an excellent choice of vinyl planks and offer quality-made flooring solutions.
Additionally, Menards has plenty of affordable options available, placing it on even ground with Lowe’s attractive prices.
However, there’s one aspect in this comparison that tips the scales in Lowe’s favor: online shopping.
While both companies have online stores, Lowe’s offers practically every flooring option for online purchases. On the other hand, Menards has numerous choices that can only be bought in brick-and-mortar stores.
This might not be a major issue, were it not for the fact that Menards only has physical stores in 14 states. Since some products may be unavailable to buyers, Menards takes second place in this competition.
Did you know? Menards has been in business since the late 1950s. Starting from a single DIY-built store, the company grew into a massive chain of over 300 locations.
The history of Lowe’s is arguably even more impressive. This company started in 1921 as a single hardware store. Just shy of a century later, the brand entered the Fortune 100.
What Is the Best Vinyl Plank Flooring at Lowe’s?
Of all the flooring products that Lowe’s has to offer, Smartcore would have to count among the best, if not the very best. The reason for this verdict is relatively straightforward: Smartcore is the most versatile and durable of the vinyl plank options at Lowe’s.
These planks are tough and good-looking due to two crucial layers. The first is the thicker wear layer that prevents damage and makes the plank more resilient. The second layer gives the plank a wood texture, boosting its visual appeal.
Smartcore vinyl planks also feature a tough foundation made of a composite of wood and plastic and, possibly more importantly, an underlayment layer specifically intended for sound isolation.
Additionally, these planks are completely waterproof, making them suitable for use in all rooms.
Other alternatives to consider are vinyl plank floors from Costco, COREtec, or LifeProof Floors.
How Much Does It Cost to Install 1,000 Square Feet Of Lowe’s Vinyl Plank Floors?
We’ve already covered the average cost of installing Lowe’s vinyl plank flooring per square foot – it may cost between $2 and $7.
This information also makes it easy to calculate how much you’d need to spend to install Lowe’s vinyl planks in a 1,000 square feet space. According to the available data, the minimal cost of such a job would be about $2,000.
But remember the factors that may influence installation prices? Different vinyl plank types may be installed using different methods, which can impact the cost.
Your expenses will also increase if the space is complex and features hard-to-reach places. And removing the old flooring beforehand will, understandably, cost extra.
Do You Need Underlayment For Lowes Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Underlayment for vinyl plank flooring isn’t a hard requirement, but it often serves a specific purpose, making the flooring even more efficient. For instance, underlayment can boost heat, moisture, or sound resistance, or simply make the floor more comfortable to walk on.
Due to this versatility, installing the underlayment is often recommended. The extra layer can make the difference between an okay floor and a perfect one.
It’s also worth noting that, while underlayment installation costs extra, the expense won’t be massive. This is particularly true if you consider the extra advantages coming from the underlayment.
Finding the Ideal Flooring Solution for Your Home At Lowes
Flooring should never be taken lightly. This element can make your home warmer, more pleasant to live in, and more manageable in terms of maintenance and cleaning. Vinyl plank flooring excels in all these regards.
In addition, this flooring type is relatively affordable when compared with other materials.
Lowe’s offers various types of vinyl plank flooring. If this is your chosen route for home renovation, Lowe’s will likely be the ideal choice.
And now that you understand the advantages of vinyl planks and what to look for in this flooring type, you’re ready to make an informed decision.
