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Thinking about LVT for your next renovation, but wondering how it compares to other flooring options? In this guide, we explain what LVT is, what it's made from, how it's installed, and where it works best around the home, giving you all the information you need to decide whether it's the right flooring choice for your space.

What is LVT flooring?

LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile, a durable synthetic flooring designed to replicate natural wood or stone. It's waterproof, low-maintenance and available in plank or tile formats, offering the look of premium materials without the higher cost or upkeep.

Learn more about how LVT compares to other flooring types in our guides to LVT vs laminate and LVT vs sheet vinyl.

Choosing between SPC and engineered wood is one of the most common flooring decisions UK homeowners face, and it's not always obvious which way to go. Both look the part, both handle everyday life well, and both are available across a wide range of styles and price points. The difference is in how they're made, how they perform under pressure, and which rooms they're genuinely suited to. This guide covers SPC flooring and engineered wood flooring side by side, so you can make the right choice for your home with confidence.

What is SPC flooring?

SPC stands for Stone Plastic Composite, and the name gives you a good sense of what makes it different. The core is produced by blending limestone powder with PVC and stabilisers, creating a rigid, dense construction that is 100% waterproof, highly scratch-resistant,

SPC herringbone flooring brings the elegance of parquet flooring without the usual upkeep. This guide explains what it is, the shades available, installation methods, pricing and where it works best, so you can decide whether it’s the right choice for your home.

SPC flooring explained

SPC stands for stone plastic composite, a rigid-core vinyl flooring made from limestone, PVC and stabilisers. The dense core makes it 100% waterproof, resistant to dents, and stable even with underfloor heating. Unlike laminate, moisture won't cause it to swell or lift. It fits over most existing subfloors using a click-lock system, with no need for adhesive. For a full breakdown of how SPC is made and where it performs best, read our guide to SPC flooring.

What is herringbone?

Herringbone

SPC flooring is available in a range of thicknesses, typically from 4mm to 8mm, and choosing the right one affects how the floor performs underfoot, how well it handles subfloor imperfections, and how it transitions with existing flooring in your home. This guide explains what each thickness means in practice, so you can pick the right option from our SPC flooring range with confidence.

What does SPC flooring thickness include?

When a product is described as 6mm SPC flooring, that measurement refers to the entire board, from top to bottom. It is not just the SPC core. The total thickness is made up of several distinct layers:

• SPC rigid core: The limestone and PVC composite layer that gives the board its rigidity and waterproof properties. This is the thickest individual layer in the construction.

SPC flooring is straightforward to maintain. Its rigid stone-composite core and protective wear layer resist dirt, moisture, and stains better than most floor types, but the right cleaning routine makes a real difference in how the floor looks and how long it lasts. This guide covers everything from daily upkeep to stain removal, including which products to avoid.

What makes SPC flooring easy to clean?

The construction of SPC flooring makes it one of the most practical surfaces to maintain. The rigid limestone composite core is 100% waterproof, so the floor won't swell or absorb moisture during cleaning. On top of that sits a clear wear layer, typically 0.3-0.5mm thick, which protects the design layer from scratches, scuffs, and surface staining. Because there is no wood content in the construction, you don't need to worry about warping from excess water, making damp mopping safe

SPC flooring is one of the easiest floors to install yourself, thanks to its rigid core and click-lock system. Whether you're working on concrete, timber, or existing tiles, this guide covers everything you need to know to lay SPC flooring on each subfloor type, with clear step-by-step instructions from prep to finish.

What are the different installation methods for SPC flooring?

There are two main ways to install SPC flooring: click-lock and loose lay. Click-lock (also called floating installation) is the most common method. Planks interlock along their edges without adhesive, creating a floor that floats freely over the subfloor. Loose lay uses the weight and friction of the planks to hold the floor in place with no locking system or glue required. Most SPC flooring sold in the UK uses a click-lock system.

Find out more about SPC

Yes! Stairs are often the last thing people think about when renovating a home, yet they're one of the first things you see when you walk through the door. The flooring has to handle constant foot traffic, look good doing it, and last. SPC flooring ticks all of those boxes: waterproof, scratch-resistant, and available in wood and stone-effect designs. This guide covers everything from suitability to installation.

Why SPC works well on stairs

Stairs are where most flooring starts to show its limitations. SPC is different. Its rigid limestone core absorbs the repetitive impact that stairs see every day, and being fully waterproof means moisture near an entrance or utility area isn't a concern. The wood and stone-effect ranges work well here; run the same product from hallway to landing, and the whole space feels cohesive rather than pieced together.

Worth noting before

SPC flooring is one of the most practical choices available for UK homes. Choosing the right brand to buy it from is where it gets more interesting. The core promises are consistent across reputable manufacturers: waterproof, durable, and compatible with underfloor heating. What separates a floor that looks as good in ten years as it does on day one comes down to 3 things: the wear layer, the core specification, and the design quality. 

This guide covers the best SPC flooring brands at Floor Giants, what makes each one stand out, and how to find the right fit for your home.

If you're still getting to grips with what SPC actually is, our guide to what SPC flooring is made of is a good place to start.

What to look for before you choose a brand

Two SPC products can look almost identical at first glance, yet perform very

We analysed data from thousands of flooring searches to find out what Britain is planning to put on its floors. Here's what we found.

Showrooms show you what looks good. Search data shows you what people are buying. Those two things are not always the same.

We analysed UK search volume data across thousands of flooring keywords to find out which styles, colours, and finishes are genuinely driving purchasing decisions right now. The result is the Floor Giants UK Flooring Trends Report: an annual look at the most searched flooring trends in the country, ranked by real data.

The findings might surprise you.

Floor of the year: the luxe look (+6.4%)

The fastest-growing trend deserves its own moment before the top 10. The luxe and boutique hotel flooring aesthetic is the fastest-growing trend in the dataset, up 6.4% over the last 12 months to 48,420 monthly searches.

What's driving

The SPC vs LVT flooring debate is a common one for homeowners looking for durable and stylish flooring. Both are popular vinyl-based options that look great and perform well in the home, but they are built differently and suit different needs. This guide breaks down what each one is, the pros and cons of both, and how to decide which is right for your space.

What is SPC flooring?

SPC, or Stone Plastic Composite flooring, combines limestone powder with PVC and stabilisers to create an exceptionally rigid, dense core. It replicates the look of wood or stone with the added benefits of stone-level stability. For a more in-depth explanation of what SPC flooring is made from and how it's constructed, read our full SPC flooring guide.

SPC flooring benefits

SPC flooring offers a strong