The Worst Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands – Buyer Beware

The Worst Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands - Buyer Beware

If vinyl plank flooring is on your home improvement to-do list, you’ll want to avoid these Worst Vinyl Plank Flooring Brands that make floors a fiasco. With the right intel, you can dodge disappointment and find long-lasting flooring that looks awesome. Put these vinyl plank duds on your “no-fly” list.

LifeProof - The Proof is Failed Product Tests

The Home Depot heavily advertises LifeProof as ideal for busy households with kids and pets. But many real-life customers tell a way different story. Their reviews read like a rogue's gallery of vinyl plank pitfalls: warping, discoloration, peeling, and seams that split apart faster than Taylor Swift changes boyfriends. One exasperated customer said their LifeProof floor started warping and peeling after just over a year. Their advice? "Don’t waste your hard-earned money on this poorly-performing product.” Ouch.

Shaw Floorte - More Like Floor-catastrophe

Shaw Floorte aims to deliver vinyl plank value by cutting corners (and likely quality) to offer budget-friendly prices. However numerous unhappy customers report disappointing performance like scratches, dents, and loose edges soon after installation. One site put it bluntly: “Shaw sacrifices durability to keep costs down.” That bargain buy can become expensive when you have to replace worn floors ahead of schedule. Learn from other’s mistakes and avoid this brand.

WPC Click Flooring - All Click, No Stick

This click-lock vinyl plank brand has earned an epic fail from customers, judging by the pages of complaints on ConsumerAffairs and PissedConsumer. Problems run the gamut from ill-fitting pieces to locking systems that fail outright, causing boards to separate. “My WPC floor started clicking and steadily coming apart,” said one dissatisfied customer. With that many bad reviews, it’s clear this click-lock floor is anything but a snug fit.

Cali Bamboo - Creating Consumer Cold Shoulders

Cali Bamboo built its reputation using renewable bamboo materials. But their foray into the vinyl plank market seems to have tarnished their eco-friendly image. Disgruntled reviewers report quality issues like scratches straight out of the box, premature wear, dents, and seams that don’t fit tightly. As one customer put it, “I expected more from a company advertising exceptional quality.” Alas, this Cali brand left many customers out in the cold.

 

SmartCore - Dumb Purchase

As Lowes’ in-house brand, SmartCore aims to deliver style and durability on a thin budget. But scores of negative reviews reveal some major quality misses. Problems range from discoloration to curling edges to seams separating not long after installation. Or as one fed-up customer asserted: “Don’t think you’ll save money on SmartCore. You’ll pay double when it quickly falls apart.” Ouch. Harsh words, but a common sentiment.

Steer Clear of These Stinkers

While vinyl plank flooring seems like an affordable, kid-friendly choice, some brands fail to deliver on quality and longevity. Do your homework, read up on the vinyl plank losers, and avoid these frequent offenders. With a little legwork, you can find flooring that looks great and wears beautifully for years of happy feet. Leave the duds on the shelf and make your floors fantastic.