Amtico flooring has become a popular choice in many homes thanks to its natural materials, durable design and low maintenance features. But what is Amtico flooring and how do you know whether it is the right choice for your home?
Amtico can be used in all sorts of rooms, including bedrooms, living spaces, nurseries and even kitchens. It comes in a wide variety of colours and styles, including the popular wood-look tiles.
In this article, we’ll take a look at exactly what Amtico flooring is, as well as what types of homes it is most suited to. We’ll also compare it to other popular flooring choices including laminate, Karndean and vinyl flooring, helping you to make the right choice for your home.
Here’s What You Need To Know About Amtico Flooring
Amtico flooring is a luxury vinyl tile (LVT) that was originally manufactured by the American Amtico company. The LVT is favoured for its durability, ease of cleaning and resistance to scratches or scuffs. It also comes in several different colours and styles so you can choose the perfect style for your home.
Today, Amtico flooring is manufactured by the Tarkett Group who also make some of the leading flooring brands in the UK including Karndean and Quick Step.
The tiles are made from an extremely durable PVC material that is moisture resistant, which means it can easily be put in bathrooms or around the kitchen. It also comes with a 25 year guarantee against staining or scratching.
Amtico flooring is designed to imitate many different types of real wood and stone flooring – including ash, walnut, oak and slate.
What Are The Benefits Of Amtico Flooring?
Amtico flooring has many benefits that make it one of the most popular choices for homeowners. These include:
- Durability – Amtico is made from a very durable vinyl material, which means it is easy to clean and resistant against fading or staining. It also comes with a 25 year guarantee so you can buy with confidence.
- Appearance – Amtico comes in a variety of different styles and designs including wood, stone and tile, giving you lots of choice for your home.
- Low Maintenance – No matter where you choose to put Amtico (including the bathroom and kitchen) it is extremely low maintenance and will not rot, warp or fade.
- Cost-Effective – Although Amtico is a premium flooring type, it is actually surprisingly cost-effective. You can easily install this LVT on your own and it comes with plenty of choice for your home.
Amtico Flooring Disadvantages
But just like any other type of flooring, Amtico has some disadvantages that you should be aware of before making your final decision. These include:
Cost – Although it’s not the most expensive type of flooring, Amtico is more expensive than laminate or vinyl.
Installation – Most types of Amtico flooring do not interlock so will need to be glued down. Most types of Amtico adhesive take around 10 minutes to dry, making the installation process lengthy.
Moisture – Amtico is a water-resistant material, but it is not 100% waterproof. If the floor gets wet, you may need to use additional products or materials to fix it properly.
Permanent Marker – Although Amtico is scratch-resistant, some types of marker pens have been known to leave permanent marks on the flooring.
What Are The Different Styles Of Amtico
Amtico flooring comes in a variety of different styles and designs including:
- Wood-Style – This range looks like real wood laminate with a bevelled surface. It is available in 9mm, 12mm and 15mm thicknesses, comes in a wide range of different colour options and is scratch-resistant.
- Stone-Style – This range comes in a natural stone appearance with a V Groove design that looks great in bathrooms or kitchens. It is available in different thicknesses, comes in a broad range of different colour options and is both moisture resistant and slip-resistant.
- Tile-Style – This range of Amtico flooring has a textured appearance that can be used in kitchens or bathrooms. It comes in a wide range of different colour options and is fully waterproof.
What Is Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)?
Luxury Vinyl Tiles, or LVT, is a very popular type of flooring that is made from high quality vinyl. This means it’s tough and durable, scratch-resistant and easy to clean. It also comes in a variety of different styles that look just like real wood flooring, stone or tile.
LVT is great for busy homes because it can be installed quickly and easily – perfect if you’re on a budget too. In fact, LVT is so easy to install that many homeowners choose to do this themselves.
Although LVT is a type of vinyl flooring, it is a very different type of flooring to standard vinyl. This is because it is more luxurious and comes in a range of styles that make it look just like real wood, stone or tile – which makes it perfect for most rooms in your home including kitchens, bathrooms or living areas.
In fact, LVT is becoming a popular choice for homeowners who want a quick and easy way to update their home. This is because it can be installed in just a few hours without the need for glue, nails or adhesives – making your life much easier when it comes to installing new flooring
What Are The Benefits Of LVT?
Luxury Vinyl Tile, or LVT, is a popular choice amongst homeowners. This is because it provides many benefits including:
- High Quality – LVT is very durable and long lasting, so it will not fade or warp. It also comes with a warranty of up to 30 years, making it great value for money.
- Easy To Maintain – Compared to real wood flooring or tiles, LVT is extremely low maintenance and easy to clean.
- A Variety Of Styles – Because LVT is a versatile flooring option, it can be put in most rooms of your house including the bathroom and kitchen. It’s also available in different styles that look just like real wood or stone flooring.
- Cheap To Buy And Install – When compared to other types of luxury vinyl, LVT is very cost-effective. It’s also very quick and easy to put down, which means you’ll save on labour costs too.
What’s The Difference Between Vinyl And Amtico?
Although vinyl and Amtico are both luxury types of flooring, there are a few key differences in:
- Appearance – Amtico is designed to look like real wood and stone flooring, whereas the appearance of vinyl isn’t always as realistic.
- Durability – Amtico is significantly more durable than regular vinyl and can be used on all types of surfaces including in bathrooms and near the kitchen.
- Low Maintenance – You won’t need to do any regular cleaning with Amtico (and it’s resistant against water), whereas vinyl needs more maintenance and will fade over time.
- Approved Underfloor Heating Systems – When you choose LVT, your floor will be warm and comfortable even in the coldest weather. In fact, Amtico is approved underfloor heating systems that produce minimal noise and have a low impact on utilities.
Does Amtico Scratch Easily?
Amtico is both scratch and abrasion-resistant, which means that it will continue to look great for years to come. Whilst it is possible to scratch Amtico flooring, everyday wear and tear is unlikely to cause damage to this type of flooring.
Not only that, but Amtico flooring is made from high-quality materials that are designed to be easy on your feet too – great if you have young children or pets in the house.
Is Amtico Flooring Wood?
No, Amtico is not real wood flooring. Instead it has a unique composition that makes them look just like real wood flooring – without the problems associated with living with the real thing.
Amtico is made from pressed wood chips and other materials so it does have a little bit of weight to it when compared to vinyl. This means that it also feels warm and comfortable underfoot.
Is Amtico Flooring Better Than Laminate?
When you’re deciding on the right type of flooring for your home, you may be weighing up the pros and cons of Amtico or laminate. Whilst this choice is mainly a personal one, you will find that there are many advantages of Amtico over laminate flooring.
One of the biggest differences between Amtico and laminate is that laminate flooring can be damaged by water from spills or showers. In contrast, Amtico is water-resistant – so you won’t have to worry about this type of luxury vinyl getting damaged from everyday wear and tear.
Amtico also comes with a range of benefits including being scratchproof, easy to clean and maintain, as well as coming with a warranty.
Can I Use A Steam Mop On Amtico Flooring?
Amtico flooring is extremely durable, meaning that most cleaning products are safe for use on this type of flooring. However, it does have a special coating that protects it from scratches and other damage, as well as making your flooring water resistant.
For this reason, it is recommended that you do not use a steam mop on your Amtico flooring. This is because steam mops can damage the special coating on your Amtico flooring, reducing its durability and causing long term damage to the flooring.
Can You Vacuum Amtico Flooring?
You should always vacuum your floors daily – including your Amtico flooring. For best results you should use a vacuum cleaner with a height regulator to prevent deep scratches being caused by the brush bar of the machine coming into contact with the floor.
It is recommended that you clean your Amtico flooring every two weeks using either a specially formulated cleaner for LVT, or a damp mop – remember not to use a steam mop on your Amtico flooring.
What Is Better Amtico Or Karndean?
Amtico is one of the most popular luxury vinyl floors on the market, but it’s not the only option. If you’re thinking about investing in Amtico flooring, you may also find Karndean flooring to be another attractive option for your home.
So how do these two top brands compare? Let’s have a look at what they have to offer.
Both Amtico and Karndean are luxury vinyl floors that look like real wood flooring, but there are some differences between them too. When compared to Amtico, Karndean is thicker. However, this may not be what you’re looking for if you want a more sturdy flooring option in your home.
Karndean has also been designed with the busy family in mind. It’s extremely durable and much stronger than other luxury vinyl floors – making it ideal for families that have children or pets.
Amtico is lighter, meaning that it offers a good level of comfort underfoot when compared to Karndean. However, this does also mean that it’s more vulnerable to damage – including scratches from high heels.
Both Amtico and Karndean are very easy to clean, durable and offer a stain resistant coating – meaning that they are suitable for families. However, if you’re looking for a more heavy duty flooring option in your home, Karndean may be the better choice for you and your family.
Is Amtico Flooring More Expensive Than Karndean?
If you’re considering investing in Amtico flooring for your new home, you may also be interested to know whether it’s more expensive than other luxury vinyl options – such as Karndean.
In terms of price, you’ll generally find that Karndean is slightly cheaper than Amtico. However, this may not always be the case – as prices can vary depending on where you buy your flooring from. It’s also important to consider that you should only compare like-for-like products when you’re comparing Amtico and Karndean, as they do both offer different benefits.
Do You Need Underlay With Amtico?
When you’re buying your new Amtico flooring, it’s important to consider whether you’ll need underlay. An underlay is made up of a special material that sits underneath the vinyl planks in order to absorb sound – making it ideal for homes where noise can be an issue.
It’s recommended that you use underlay if you’re installing your new Amtico flooring in a room that’s located on the second or third floors of your home. However, if you’re installing it in a different location it’s important to consider whether the noise from people walking around and cleaning is going to be an issue – as this can damage the surface.
In Summary
Amtico is a popular flooring choice in many homes, thanks to its high level of durability and many different styles and designs. However, it isn’t the right choice for every home, so it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons before making your decision.
In this article, we’ve answered the question ‘what is Amtico flooring?’ as well as answering some of the most commonly asked questions about this type of flooring.