Engineered vinyl plank flooring

11 years ago

We just put in EVP in a very low gloss finish. I don't like it!! Can I put something on it to make it a little shiny?? The mfg says not to use mop n glow like products, but I've seen where other LVP mfg say it's ok. What should I do?

Featured Answer

PRO

InterMix Interiors

11 years ago

Glass is half full perspective..... with the color of the floor the more shine it has the less it will look like real wood and the more you will see the dirt and pet hair. Shine equals see the imperfections. I agree with the other commenter that adding an area rug will break up the overall look:)

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Comments (7)

PRO
User
11 years ago
add an area rug . this will take away some of the holy that a lot of wood floor feeling you are having.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
11 years ago
To get a shiny floor, you need to start with a shiny floor. You have chosen a low-gloss satin/matte finish. You have a few options:

1) Live with it (least expensive)

2) Remove and replace (most expensive)

3) Apply the manufacturers "polish" to the floor every 6 months for the rest of the floor's life.

There are a few manufacturers out there who make a floor "polish". These polishes are EXCLUSIVE to their flooring brands. Do NOT mix and match! If the floor has a floor polish available to you, then you are welcome to go this route...but it has drawbacks.

Look on their website to see if they make a floor "polish" for this vinyl. BUYER BEWARE: once you go down this path, there is no turning back! A polish is a temporary finish that YOU HAVE TO REAPPLY every 3-6 months. Yep...wax on, wax off Grasshopper. You face the prospect of turning into a slave to your floor. You apply the polish (some are wipe on and let dry and others are apply + buff) every 6 months. Every 2-3 years you CHEMICALLY STRIP the polish build up (you'll see it at the baseboards as a creaming/pasty film after a few years) while scraping it off (can be hands and knees work). Once you are done removing years and years of polish...you start again.

Continue until you hate the polishing more than you hate a low gloss finish. At that time you will probably remove the floor and start again with "shiny".

That is the catch 22 of a floor "polish". Start the merry-go-round and you can never get off! If you LOVE working on floors and LOVE moving your furniture every 6 months to apply the polish...go for it...but don't say we didn't warn you.

You've purchased a "low maintenance" vinyl floor. If you start polishing you will create a "high-maintenance" floor...simply because you want shiny.

Rugs would be a place to start. To me the polish is the LAST resort (just before you rip the floor out).
nailgal thanked Cancork Floor Inc.
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smit2380
11 years ago
The low gloss is really pretty. With a few area rugs, it may grow on you.
nailgal thanked smit2380
PRO
ULTIMATE HARDWOOD LTD
11 years ago
You can hire a flooring pro to apply a uv cured polyurethane overtop. UVELITE is one brand I'm aware of.
nailgal thanked ULTIMATE HARDWOOD LTD
Natalie
11 years ago
Hi-

I think the floor looks very nice, perfect color with your walls and furniture-& I do see a bit of sheen... :)

Adding a rug and accessories will really pull the look together.

Pretty so far. Good Luck!
nailgal thanked Natalie
nailgal
Original Author
11 years ago
Cancork, wow I didn't know the can of worms I could be opening up! Yikes! No, I don't want to be a slave to this floor!! I'll do as suggested and just put down an area rug and call it a day. :). I had read on This Old House to add a couple drops of baby oil to the water when mopping. Would that build up like wax?

Natalie, I like the rug and pillow you posted. There's too much out there to choose from for a girl like me who can't decide on anything! I've looked at some but it's pretty overwhelming. Thanks for the comments :)