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The color I wanted was in store in boxes on the shelf. Most use an easy click-lock floating method and only require a few tools. Both LifeProof and Smartcore LVPs will give you value for your money. Yes, they have many similar features that can suit the décor of your house. But based on the specs of each LVP name, Smartcore carries the day. Expect the terms of LifeProof to be different from Smartcore LVP. Below is a table showing the costs and guarantees of both LVPs’ names.
A good number of SmartCore flooring reviews confirm that SmartCore flooring installation is easy to DIY. It’s probably not as easy as peel-and-stick carpet tiles, but the interlocking click-together flooring tabs and optional adhesive don’t require a ton of experience. At the end of the day, the best hardwood floors should be durable, beautiful, and comfortable—but they shouldn’t have to be waterproof. Even the best engineered wood flooring is water-resistant at best.
But Reviews for SmartCore Naturals Are…Not Great
Yes, you can install SmartCore over subfloors that have hydronic radiant heating systems. However, the heating should never be set at more than 85°F, and you should closely follow the very specific installation instructions for best results. As mentioned above, SmartCore flooring can be installed in all rooms and on all levels of your home, as long as you pay close attention to using the correct installation method. From our own testing and feedback reviews from customers we have drawn up a list of Smartcore pros and cons. In terms of sizes, the SmartCore Pro collection has the widest wood look planks at 7” x 48”, and stone tile slabs at 12” x 24”. The planks and tiles in this collection are 6 mm thick.
Obviously, that’s a huge issue for any PVC flooring product marketed for its strength. Really, they're pretty much the same for the equal price points. I would just choose whichever you prefer the color/style of. Also, Lowe's does have 10% off for veterans.
CoreLuxe (Lumber Liquidators)
It also makes it a bit more sound-dampening, for noise-reduction. There’s nothing wrong with that—many national chains have their own private-label brands. But we wanted to mention it because there have been many attempts by stores like Lowes and Home Depot to sell proprietary flooring products.
Vinyl plank floors provide different style selections at a fraction of the cost. I’m really proud that I did this totally by myself, so if I can do it, I know you can do it. You can also check out more detailed posts on installing LifeProof luxury vinyl plank flooring and our review of LifeProof floors 1 year later.
Mowhawk Luxury Vinyl Plank (Lowe’s)
They were also all beautiful in the stores, and this line has a much wider selection of colors. But like some of the others, I thought they were too flimsy for my needs. We have a kid and pets, and this space leads to the backyard, where we spend a lot of time. Though, if you want LVPs that can last for long in your house and money isn’t a problem, go for Smartcore. Expect the Smartcore to range from 2 to 3.80 dollars per square foot. As for the LifeProof LVPs, the costs range from $2.99 to $4.39 per square foot.
It has a 12 mL wear layer, which provides durability and prevents stains, and scratches. All three lines of SmartCore vinyl plank flooring are purchased in cartons. This was one of the highly reviewed options from some of my friends who have the floors and live on them every day, so I was excited to check them out. LifeProof planks have an “innovative highly engineered” closed-cell foamed PVC core that makes them very rigid. They market their planks as having a protective urethane coating to provide enhanced durability. Mannington, Karndean, Congoleum, Cali Bamboo, and some of the brands I looked at have higher-end vinyl plank lines.
SMARTCORE ULTRA – SPECS AND STYLES
However, we ultimately chose to go the Home Depot route and get LifeProof Luxury Vinyl Planks in Sterling Oak. Here’s why we chose LifeProof flooring, as well as why we didn’t choose CoreLuxe or SMARTCORE. I was really impressed by how realistic the samples looked and how substantial the planks felt, especially with the attached pad. It felt like it would hold up very well and “felt” more like wood to me. I consideredSterling Oak,Ocala Oak, andChoice Oak.
That’s not to say the WPC core of SmartCore Ultra isn’t good—it just isn’t special. This kind of suggests that SmartCore flooring simply isn’t the best for commercial locations—or perhaps anywhere that sees consistent foot traffic. There are also loads of other exceptions to SmartCore’s warranty policy. For example, the warranty doesn’t cover manufacturer defects once it’s installed—which is absurd. The warranty for SmartCore flooring is even more limited for DIYers.
Ocala and Choice ended up being way too light and dark, respectively. Sterling oak seemed to be a great mix of gray and brown, though. All of the planks felt very substantial, much like the SMARTCORE planks at Lowe’s. I consideredWashed Oak Dove,Washed Oak Umber, andWashed Oak Cottage. Washed Oak Dove was my favorite, but unfortunately Lowe’s didn’t have any samples.
To paraphrase Hamlet, “that is the question.” Ultimately, you might say SmartCore flooring is a good budget option. The “VOC” in low-VOC flooring may seem like just another silly acronym—but this one’s actually super important. VOCs stands for volatile organic compounds, which are harmful chemicals released into the air by many plastics and adhesives. Seriously—even some traditional types of floor tiles can be harder to clean than LVP because they’re more porous. Out of the dozen-or-so SmartCore Naturals products that Lowes offers, only one product has a 5-star rating—and that’s on Lowes’ own website. The remainder top out at 3.5 stars or fewer.
Its design layer is a little more detailed, and you’re not paying more money for an SPC core that apparently adds very little benefit. SmartCore Ultra features a WPC (Wood-Plastic Composite) core. WPC incorporates an ultra-fine sawdust called wood flour into its construction. This gives the floor some extra “bounce” and makes it feel a bit more like authentic hardwood species.
SmartCore Naturals planks are around 6 mm thick. In fact, it is a kind of hybrid vinyl engineered wood, with a layer of actual hardwood or bamboo veneer on the top adhered to a waterproof vinyl core. The top veneer layer is also sealed with a protective coating. The standard SmartCore collection has a decent range of wood look flooring. The wood representations are oak, maple, walnut, hickory and pine, and there are both classic and contemporary looks available including some quite dramatic multi-toned looks. Newton is a value-focused brand, which means their products are going to come in right around the price of SmartCore vinyl.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because COREtec has been one of the top vinyl plank flooring brands for quite some time. Less thickness and wear layer than the Mohawk floors, so why did I even consider it? The colors looked lovely online, and the reviews were great. The gentleman at Lowe’s said this is the best option to hide very minor imperfections in subflooring.
