LVP does look more fake than laminate. I work at a flooring store, and Coretec has enhanced versions that look more realistic. What brand is that?

Tranquility by Lumber Liquidators. I received a credit to replace the flooring since the original wasn't available anymore, so needed to use one of their products.

Coretec has fewer pattern repeats which also helps it not look as fake. The one you chose has some very obvious pattern repeats and they were installed in the exact same position a few rows over, with the seam in the exact position also. That's what I see in the picture that I'm not loving. If it's a click product and not glue down, you could adjust the placement of those really obvious repeats in the middle of the floor and it would look better. You will love the practicality of the LVP.

Yes, I think that's what is bothering me. I will ask if we can adjust the placement. Thank you!

Yes! The pattern is placed too uniform.

flyer4fun beat me to it. The plank placement and the patter repeats are bothersome things. If you ask to have the planks/pattern shuffled, you will need to be aware that you might need MORE product.

Vinyl planks are not very robust. Once they are removed, they are often too damaged to be used again. If you have 5-10 boxes left over, then go ahead and have a few spots changed out (the bathroom is particularly bothersome) but leave the rest.

I've seen laminate floors have 10% - 25% waste when it was removed and then reinstalled. A vinyl floor will be much higher. I would guess that you will have 25% - 50% loss of product. That means you may have to buy a whole SCHWACK of product just to alter the look of a floor.

And please check the installation instructions to see if transition strips in doorways are required. Most vinyl floating floors require transition strips in doorways, while others do not. Your manufacturer will be the one to stipulate whether or not a little transition is required through each and every doorway.

I do have plenty of product because I decided to hold off on doing another room, as I'm not happy right now. The workers tell me they were told to lay the pattern this way, so I'm a little mad I wasn't asked this first. And now that more than half the floor is down, they're clearly unhappy about having to redo any of the planks. But I just don't like it, just wish I had caught it sooner.

Whoever told them to lay the pattern that way needs their head examined. Looking at the picture almost makes me dizzy ... it looks like waves rippling across the floor. Thoughtless on the installer's part. He should happily make adjustments!

So installer said he's can't make any changes. Claims its the only way to lay the floor and says other ways to lay it would make it more apparent it's a pattern. I'm not sure who to believe. The bigger room seems ok, and looking at the old floor in my other work, it was laid out that same pattern (although the planks were lighter and longer, so visually may have worked better). Don't know if I'm getting the runaround or what.

Looks 'too busy'.

Here are two more pictures. One of the whole floor, and the room that still has the original laminate flooring. Probably not fair to compare since they are two different products, but agree it's busier (although the old one was a little busy as well). I can't redo it, so i guess I'll have to live with it. At least if I get another flood, I won't have to worry about pieces delaminating/cupping like the old laminate one did.

Here is my sister's. Hers reminded me of yours. It was staggered.

Thanks for sharing. Is that also vinyl plank?

No. I believe it is just a laminate. Who was your installer? I would ask another professional opinion of another contractor to confirm. Please read. He must not know about staggered joints. My best friend (an installer) says he would have staggered them. This could have happened with any type of laminate, wood, or vinyl. He sounds inexperienced.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stagger-vinyl-plank-floors-35023.html

I spoke with partner of installer tonight. I was told because it’s a lower-cost vinyl click, there’s more repeats and can only cut in thirds(?). I’m almost tempted to rip the vinyl out and reinstall using a thicker, more expensive product. Is that insane?

I have LVP from Lowes, Smartcore, and it's not soft and very durable. It's cut with a saw or score and snap, and it takes a lot of pressure to get it to snap! I chose it because of the color and pattern. Easy to install, but a little harder to clean up muddy pawprints than my wood floor because of the texture. https://www.lowes.com/pd/SMARTCORE-by-Natural-Floors-12-Piece-5-in-x-48-in-Canberra-Locking-Luxury-Commercial-Residential-Vinyl-Plank/50076955

If the pattern repeats too often (every 4th plank is about as bad as the low-end products get) and it MUST BE installed using 1/3 planks, then you won't be able to do anything about what you see.

Just google the installation instructions to find out if the 1/3 plank off-set is written anywhere. If it is, you won't be able to make any changes. This is as good as it gets.

Thanks for the info and advice from everyone. I think I have 2 choices: I either live with it or take it out and use another vinyl plank or go back to laminate. I’m going to mull it over tonight.

After tossing and turning all night (amazing how a flooring issue can stress you out!) I'm going to keep it. My husband's face when I suggested replacing was priceless. The additional cost isn't worth it. My sister thinks once the furniture is in place and I have a rug down, it'll be fine. Just disappointed on how spongy it feels, as the samples I received were very stiff. I will say it POURED this morning and while no water got into the basement, I was relieved that if it did, at least it wouldn't have destroyed the new flooring.

I have occasional water issues (about once ever 5 - 7 years) and last year tiled the whole basement with porcelain tile - the only thing that can for sure survive some seepage / water. Start a little fund and when the vinyl wears out, do tile.

Yeah, the thought of having to remove the entire contents of the basement again doesn't thrill me, but I'll start my own fund in case I still hate it in a year.

@abubniak - I'm interested as to why this floor should feel spongy. It should feel like you are walking on concrete = extremely hard and a little cold (not quite as cold as concrete).

Did the installer use and underlayment or an underpad of some sort? Is there a vapour barrier underneath the vinyl? Did the concrete slab get any preparation before the vinyl was installed? Did you pay for concrete preparation?

A vinyl floor that feels "spongy" has one of two things going on - and neither of them are "good".

1. The installer used an underlayment (like foam used under laminate) that is normally not allowed with most vinyl products; or

2. The concrete was never prepared and you have humps and bumps and hollows that the vinyl plank can't handle (not like laminate...which can span the hollows, etc).

Please check to see if the installers are using something underneath the vinyl. Better yet, send a photo of what they have used. They will need a vapour barrier - but that will be a thin sheet of plastic that looks and feels like a garbage bag (maybe a little thicker).

If they used something THICKER and with some "sponginess" to it, then you will have to have a HARD LOOK at the installation instructions. I would say 99% of all vinyl planks do NOT allow underlay/pad to be used underneath. The lower priced vinyls are even less likely to allow the padding underneath.

Please, please, please check. And please ask if they did any work to the concrete. And check to see if you PAID for work done on the concrete (would be listed under floor prep on your invoice).

My spidy senses are tingling on this one!

No prep beyond removing the old flooring. They did the original floor install and I did not pay for any floor prep beyond the removal. There is a thin vapor barrier underlayment that was purchased with the flooring. I may be exaggerating -- It's in certain spots as I walk, not the whole floor. I think this happened with the laminate as well, then went away after a few months of walking on it. But since this a different product, perhaps not.

I also had that type of floor installed in my basement. Primarily because it is not recommended to have wood for basement flooring. The installer alternated the pattern. Of course it doesn't; look exactly like wood but it does look nice and it's been there for 6 years and we have been very happy with it. A few of our friends followed our example and done the same thing in their basements.

There are vinyl floors that look a lot better than this and shouldn't feel soft. Your floor needs to be level. This does look horrible. Replace it with better vinyl

Bee, if you can send me a pic of your flooring, would love to see it. Gcostaki, would love to replace it, but I don't know if I can afford it. I'm so upset -- no excitement at all about my basement at this point.

We bought very cheap vinylplank from Home Depot 10 yrs ago it has stood the test of time with 2 big dogs in and out of a free run dog run with dog door in all kinds of weather still looks awesome with just a damp mopping.We laid Dri-core on the concterete and then the flooring to give a bit of warmth underfoot no sponginess at all.

Abubniak, I've installed Coretec vinyl myself, and read the instructions for Tranquility vinyl (pondering it for another project). "Can only cut it in thirds" is total bull$@/&. You can read the installation instructions online (on the Lumber Liquidators website).