I want to know, too! Really, really like the look of Core-Tec, but didn't see it in one of the best-of rankings I looked at, and in my small town, the supplier of Core-Tec doesn't work with some of the designer/contractors I'm interviewing. Not sure whether to let that tail wag the dog or not.

It seems so strange that different flooring salesmen pitch one product over another. It almost seems like they perhaps make a bigger commission or profit off of one particular brand.

I am in the same predicament. I have just about decided on Armstrong Luxe Vinyl Planking in Timber Cove Provincial Brown because it's highly rated on Consumer Reports. I like the look and trust Armstrong since it has been in business so long. However, even though there are stores listed on Armstrong's Website, when I visit these stores they either don't know anything about it or give me the run around. I'm at my wits end. I was considering a luxury vinyl planking with a cork backing and after reading the horror stories on the internet I have decided against that. I'm not going with a smaller company either. Karndean has no colors or textured that I like.

I looked at every manufacturer and LVP and LVT product I could look at in major metro area, plus wood, etc. Some--too much texture, some--not enough texture. I did not want 12x12 or square, nor wood look plank, going for stone look instead. We're having 1600sf of Coretec Plus 18-1/2 x 24 tile (marble look) installed as I'm typing. Only time will tell us if this was a good product for us, but on paper, it should be.

Last day of Coretec Antique Marble tile installed today. I am happy with the non-wood look and I'm sure it will blend well with our furnishings. I watched the installation crew work. It's critical that you have a knowledgeable crew, in my opinion. This crew has installed Coretec for three years. It is a click lock floating floor, technically called drop and lock, I believe. But don't let that deceive you. This floor is sturdy underfoot and my installers worked diligently to lock panels tightly. They used a few other tricks too. We will start living in the space tonight.

You are absolutely right that different salesmen push different products. This is because most showroom sales reps get commissions from manufacturers, often without the showroom owner/manager even knowing. This little "perk" can make it very hard for consumers to trust what they hear.

I recommend reading our Vinyl Basics Guide to get more information:

http://www.flooret.com/vinyl-basics/

Something to consider is whether your house is built on piers, especially older houses. Many houses built on piers in the 50's and even later did not have a moisture barrier installed on the ground underneath the house, nor rigid insulation (styrofoam sheets with an aluminum foil face on one side) on the underside of the joists. Without those two elements, especially in hot weather, the combination of cold air from the AC and hot air outside will cause moisture to accumulate in the subfloor...and the vinyl serves as a moisture barrier thus trapping the moisture and leading to the subfloor buckling and rotting. When we got rid of carpet, we explained to salesmen our house was built in the 50s on piers. We had never heard of needing a moisture barrier on the ground underneath the house. Salesman recommended vinyl plank. Neither the salesman nor the installation instructions gave any warning about the need for a ground moisture barrier. We learned the hard way. We're having to rip up about 1,000 SF of vinyl plank, as well as original oak floor in our living room (about 300 SF), perhaps more and hopefully there was no damage to joists and subfloor. Some of the oak floor in the living room, which had been covered with vinyl, has buckled up at a 45 degree angle. Installing moisture barrier and rigid insulation likely will cost $3-5,000. Then ripping out living room floor. Then installing new floor throughout entire house. Probably looking at $10-15,000 cost on top of the cost and installation time for the vinyl plank we have to rip out.

The fundamental problem is not the vinyl plank, but rather its installation over a wood subfloor in a house built on piers without a moisture barrier on the ground underneath the house. Not knocking the product, just saying to ensure you have a moisture barrier on the ground before you make a costly mistake.

Sorry, Hal, for your problems with moisture and damage. What a tragic mess. My house is built on pilons, with a basement with wood subfloor. There is a moisture barrier below. As a precaution, the installers did lay moisture barrier on the main level floor, underneath the vinyl tile. I will rest easier because some of our house is over crawl space (moisture barrier applied in that space too).

Our problem is compounded by living in North Louisiana where it is hot and humid at least six months a year. It rained 2-3 times a week from October until April, then for a stretch 4-5 days a week. When it finally stopped raining, temperatures rose quickly to 90-plus. That's when the buckling really started. As bad as it is, I think we caught it before subfloor rotted.

My understanding is newer homes with a crawl space over ground now require the moisture barrier. But lots of older homes, where there has been some settling, are strong candidates for vinyl but lots of people are unaware of the need for a moisture barrier over the ground.

ALL homes require moisture control of crawl spaces and basements.

Good post, Hal. I live in a semi-arid city with low humidity. But certainly environment and weather can play a big role in our house and general living conditions.

If anyone is looking for advice from other people who have installed COREtec in their homes, there's a discussion titled "Anyone used Coretec?" with over 550 comments in it. For some weird reason, it isn't coming up when I do a search on "Coretec" so here's a link to it: [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/anyone-used-coretec-dsvw-vd~2388434[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/anyone-used-coretec-dsvw-vd~2388434)

We put in Engage luxury vinyl reserve plank by Metroflor in the Wyndmere pine color. It turned out really pretty (I'll try to add a good photo). The only caution I have is that I'm in Seattle, where the weather doesn't typically get too hot or too cold. Or too sunny. We left the patio door open one day (75 degrees out) and the sunlight came in and in just a few hours, we had a nice raised area on the vinyl. It did go back down when the sunlight was blocked and after a day or so, you can't tell it was there. But it was pretty bad at the time. We'll be installing outdoor mechanical solar shades to block the heat of the sunlight. Since then, I've looked at all sorts of LVP information and pooled sunlight seems to be a very common warning amongst manufacturers. I still love the floor, but I think it's going to be more difficult to preserve than I originally thought. I'm thinking of getting a generator for the house, just in case we lose power through the winter. If vinyl can be so touchy about expanding with sunlight, I worry that if the temps get low, it will retract and unlock. I love how easy it is when walking around, and how forgiving it is if you drop a glass. But I sure hope I didn't make a mistake by putting it throughout my house. It's a split level and we have it upstairs, so not on a cement slab. And the subfloor was perfect. It was installed with the proper expansion gap as well.

We will be going with Modin Collection from Flooret. 40 mil wear layer, product is 5 mm thick. Lifetime warranty. Here is an end shot with Karndean Opus (Magna, light gray) next to Modin Imber. Huge difference.Modin is $3.49 SF with double the wear layer as most vinyl plank.

We've had Coretec for over a year, subjected it to great abuse, and it still looks perfect! its durable, warm, and water resistant. It has also held up to being installed over some unevenness that would be hard to fix in our old house. I've posted a bunch more detailed comments about pros and cons over at the other discussion that was referenced. I would definitely recommend it, though. We're actually planning to extend it to our kitchen :)

kdixon6, did you use glue down or lock? Cortec, Cortec plus or Cortec plus xl? I've read the entire thread over many days! Hahahaa... it's long with good info! No issues with the sun? (1st I heard that one)

We used the loose lay Cortec Carolina Pine. Floor has been down for about 4 months and we absolutely love it. Easy to maintain. I just sweep and damp mop. It looks clean even when I know it has been a week since I mopped. We have a 100 lb lab and she has not made one blemish with her nails, although I did have to put down some rugs because she slides if she tries to run. I can't say enough good things about this floor. It is beautiful and we are very glad we spent the extra money to lay it. Bought online with Riverwood Flooring and had 0 problems with the company. Our general contractor installed it.

I have had Amtico LVT in our house for 12 years with many pets and people. It still looks like new!

Carolyncuts, I think it was Coretec plus, the Dakota walnut, and it's the locking kind (not glued down). It's held up great!

That is GREAT to hear!! Thank you!

@kdixon6 would you be able to post or send me some photos of your Dakota Walnut? I cannot for the life of me find any installed pictures anywhere on the internet. I'm 95% sure I'm going with that color but would feel so much more confident in my decision if I could see an installed photo.

thanks!

Sure! I keep meaning to anyway, as someone else asked too, I think. We live In a tiny little bungalow, so it can be tough to get a good shot, but I'll try! I'm going to try to remember to do it tomorrow, but post again and remind me if I forget :).

This is the only picture on my phone that the floor is visible... Haha. I'll take a better one later :)

@kdixon even the little chunk looks pretty! Can't wait to see a bigger shot. thanks!

Can I ask - are you folks laying this floor everywhere? I am considering most of my main floor which includes bedrooms...wondering if we are going to miss carpet there??

@kdixon would love to see a full shot of your flooring also :)

Here are a few pictures of the loose lay Cortec Carolina Pine. We have had down about 5 months and could not be happier. We love it. We put it in the whole house, including kitchen. The only place we did not put it was in the Master Bath. We went with porcelain tile but I now wish I had used the Cortec in the Bathroom too. Do not miss the carpet at all.

Did you just caulk where the floor meets the cabinets? What did you do where the floor meets the bathtubs? We just installed and would like to avoid the "quarter round" shoe moulding on cabinets. The reps at the floor retailer also said we should use this at the tubs but I don't see that wood shoe moulding would work there. I saw a commercial grade vinyl glue on type but it is not the least bit desirable.

We did not use shoe molding in the kitchen. Our contractor made some strips out of wood that are about 1/2" square and used where floor meets cabinets. Since our cabinets are painted, you can not distinguish the strip. It looks like part of the cabinets. Your cabinet maker should be able to paint or stain to match cabinets if you choose to use something like this. I don't really like the quarter round either but we did use it along the walls because we did not want to take up the baseboard, the quarter round hides the edges. You might also look at other types of molding. We used an inverted molding at the ceiling (see picture) and you could use on floor. I have tried to take some pictures under cabinets. There were a very few places that we had to use some brown caulk, especially at back door but they are hardly noticeable.

Thank you maoper your comment and photos are much appreciated! If anyone can comment on the what they did at the bathtub/shower area (and if it's held up) that would great too TIA

My installers used a type of caulk at the bath tubs and shower enclosure. It was done in July and still looks new. I would anticipate we will have to redo it occasionally, just like windows and doors.

Would someone who has dakota walnut installed mind sending me some photos? I would so appreciate it, I can't find them anywhere!