If it is a power wheelchair, it's pretty heavy with the user in it. A manual chair would be much lighter. Also, the wheel treads hold grit and wetness and bring it into the house, especially here in Canada in winter. We went with ceramic tile for those reasons.

If the tile has an exposed cut edge (where the edge of the wear layer is exposed), you could have a problem in areas where the chair turns and the tread scrubs against the floor. Rolling straight across is not a problem, but the scuffing of a turning wheel can be.

Our LVP floors after one month with a wheelchair. We learned too late from some helpful people here on this site that one cannot install them as floating floors and also never with an underpad, which is required if you are in a condominium apartment. They have to be glued down, which is also not allowed in many condos. We also found out the installation was not done well even though we had hired a professional, licensed contractor to reno the unit for family, seniors.

The wheelchairbeing used is a manual, folding type. On occasions, a walker is used.

Oh wow. We just had LVP installed (floating), but have not moved in yet, as everything has taken longer with the pandemic. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks for sharing.

You are welcome.

How are your floors holding up cmr1111? Our are much worse...even in rooms where the wheelchair is not a factor. Each month, the Coretec floors are more damaged.

@ HU-...5779

Have you gone after the installer who told you the lie, "We aren't allowed to touch the subfloor"? You discovered the Condo board has NO PROBLEM with subfloor work, if I remember correctly. Have you gone after the installers who did NOT do subfloor prep????

I thought you had done that already.

He said he did a good job and that the damage is our fault..that we caused it. He said he never had this problem before. I requested help, and he says he wants to help but he does not come up with any plans or options...nothing. Not even how to keep the boards from breaking apart further, for example in the tiny kitchen, where the wheelchair or walker was never used because only one person standing fits in.

OK...HU - ...1242 are you the same as HU - ....5779?

For some reason, when I type on a tablet and the cellphone, the numbers change.

My husband is in a wheelchair and is very weak. In our old house that we just sold, I put down LVP in the basement. I thought this would be a good option for him, but it wasn't. This is because there was a texture on the surface, and when he went to transfer from the wheelchair, his foot wouldn't slide on the surface. It would be really good to be able to test out the flooring with the wheelchair user. In the new house, we have a lot of hardwood that has a satin finish and it is working much better for him.

Another resident in our building uses a walker ans wheelchair and her floors are floating hardwood...They are still okay after 15 years.

Rachael, so sorry about your husband. Ir is good to know that hardwood floors work better.

The manufacturer just called me and told us they are going to issue a credit for our floors. Although they could not tell me how much that will be, after all these months, I am glad to have good news.

Thank you for your kindness. In our new build, the lvp was going to cost as much as the hardwood. I am so happy we went this route.

Way to go HU-...5779! At least you get the purchase price back. That's a nice thing to hear at this time of year in this year of COVID.

It was really good news. I am so pleased that Shaw made this decision after all these months. Now I must research the right floors to use and will follow tips provided here on these discussion boards. I learned so much from people's experience and advice. Thank you.

Not sure if this helps at all at this point, but my flooring guy will only glue down lvp...he won't do a floating installation. He thinks the glue is that much better. FWIW, the wood floor we used that was priced reasonably was by Bruce, 4" plank, factory pre-funished, but not engineered. It's a nice smooth surface for the wheelchair.

Rachel you have an honest and knowledgeable flooring installer. Is the wood floor you installed glued down?

No, on the basement level, used Shaw Journey Tile LVP and this was glued down. As it turns out, gluing this product down on higher floors is pricy, so we went with the hardwood. I'll try to find the hardwood we purchased, but it was a little less than the LVP! HW was nailed in I think.

Here's a link Bruce Waltham Pewter to the hardwood. I like the way this looks, but I think I should have gone a little lighter for more camoflauge. It isn't the wide plank everyone wants but when building a new home, you have to pick where you are willing to exceed your allowances. This is the LVP would put in the basement and it is glued down. It has a texture, so not easy for hubby but he isn't in the basement usually. Shaw Journey Tile Kingsport

Thank you Rachael. I will check with the manufacturer about installation requirements and whether the floors will be suitable to install in our place. Lovely colour choices, and the smaller planks are perfect for an apartment.

I have recently been having a issue with my floor also. It’s a LVP and we have a daughter in a wheel chair. Took me months to pick it out and they told us it would be perfect for her electric chair. It didn’t even last 6 months. They contacted the manufacturer and they sent out a inspector or blamed the installer who has been doing this for 30 years. BUT won’t give us a copy of the report. Just states it was his fault during installation. We spent Thousands on this floor. I’m so frustrated. Been fighting with this company for months. :(

@Wendy McHenry Here's a hint as to why they won't give you the report:

S/He who pays for the report; owns the report.

And the person who owns it does NOT have to release the information unless directed to by a judge or an adjudicator/mediator.

If they blame the installer, which is very common, then it means something is going on with the REQUIREMENTS of the floor. The manufacturer doesn't have to supply warranty coverage if SOMETHING is incorrect.

What are we talking about? Simple things: like expansion gaps at all vertical obstacles (walls, doors, windows, cabinets, etc). Or things like 'direct sunlight' hitting the floor. Or 'too much heat' hitting the floors. Or an UNPREPARED subfloor (either installer didn't do it OOOOORRRR...the homeowner didn't PAY for it).

Is this a floating floor (click together)? Or glue down? Is this over concrete? Or wood joists? What is it that tells you the floor is failing/having issues?

Please load some photos of what is going on. If you want to have your own report in hand (ie. you are going to go after either the installer or the manufacturer = battle of the expert reports) you will have to pay for it yourself. It can be several hundreds of dollars well spent, or it can be a waste of money.

I recently purchased a condo for my mother who is in a wheelchair. The entire condo had floating LVP flooring. The floor was installed correctly . The floor absolutely does not withstand the movement of a wheelchair. After 2 months the floor was completely destroyed.

@SJ McCarthy thank you for the advice we are still having a conversation per say with this company. We finally got the inspection report from the inspector that they sent out here, from the manufacturer, it just showed up in my email one day from the company. Blames the contractor for expansion gaps which are to manufacturers code and transition my husband custom made due to electric chair breaking the wood ones. Was ridiculous, really! Contractor had conversation with owner again recently and he statwd he was going to let us choose flooring or money but i do not want to so business with them anymore so i stated money. Have not seen it yet and im not sure i will, Was never contacted by the comiany

I bought a house with LVP floors recently installed 3 years ago, and are destroyed by my wheelchair.
My substrate is concrete and no one told me that this could happen.

All over the Internet I read that LVP is great for wheelchair users, but it’s not.

Where can I find the LVP installation guidelines for wheelchair users? I couldn’t find the National Vinyl Floors Association Website online. The installer followed the manufacturer’s guidelines but he didn’t know that the house will be used in the future by a handicapped person. The seller, Realtor, and House Inspector did not say anything about the floors also. It’s sold as a water resistant floor, ideal for the beach. Who can know who the buyer will be when selling a house with floating LVP? Or if a buyer will become disabled over time while living in a house with this unsuitable floors? As I didn’t know 6 years ago that someone will hit me head-on while texting, making me disabled.

Where can I find the LVP installation guidelines for Wheelchair users? I don‘t trust anyone now, since the installer had thousands of 5 star reviews. I must learn to be sure I get the right floor and it is done properly next time, no more LVP. Thanks.

Shaw floors just denied my floating LVP floor damage due to an utralight titanium MANUAL wheelchair. They say no rolling loads in the warranty information.

The click lock is destroyed wherever the wheelchair goes. LVP floating on concrete. Just got their response, gave to attorney generals office where I live.

"I’d recommend looking for rigid core vinyl (SPC or WPC) for better dent resistance compared to cork-backed options. And yes, a wear layer of at least 20mil is a solid choice for durability, especially with wheelchair use. Good luck finding the perfect fit!"

https://mahamwheelchair.com

I can tell you with a manual chair and Shaw LVP flooring that the click locks will break under a manual chair. Power chair ought to be worse. The warranties excluded rolling loads so we had to tear up the old floor and put ceramic tile down. .