NuCore, also known as Floor & Decor’s in-house brand of luxury vinyl plank (LVP), is a type of rigid core flooring engineered to give the planks added stability and durability. Their planks offer an authentic look and texture of wood or stone at a fraction of the cost.
With a wide range of vinyl floor options available, you might be wondering whether NuCore Vinyl flooring would be a good choice compared to other LVP brands.
In this article, we’ll provide you with an in-depth review of NuCore Vinyl Plank flooring to help you have an informed buying decision.
- It is a multi-channel specialty retailer owned by private equity firms Ares International LLC and Freeman Spogli & Co.
- NuCore Vinyl Flooring features durable low-VOC vinyl planks with a thick rigid core, an ideal flooring option for areas with high-traffic activities.
- NuCore ® planks’ cost ranges from $2.49 /sqft (lowest) to $3.99 /sqft (highest) with varied coverage options available:
- NuCore Vinyl Flooring is a good choice for buyers who want durable waterproof vinyl planks that also provide easy installation and require low maintenance.
NuCore Flooring Overview
Floor & Decor, formerly known as FDO Holdings, Inc, was founded in 2000 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It is a multi-channel specialty retailer owned by private equity firms Ares International LLC and Freeman Spogli & Co.
Floor & Decor offers hard surface flooring, including wood, tile, vinyl, laminate, and natural stone flooring products. They also provide other accessories for flooring projects for do-it-yourself customers, professional installers, and commercial businesses.
NuCore® features two brand lines, namely NuCore ® and NuCore Performance ®. These brands are rigid core luxury vinyl planks that look and feel like authentic wood and tile.
NuCore ® planks have a 20 mil wear layer that comes in nine color options: Brown, Gray, Beige, Red, Blonde, White, Rust/ Orange, Black, and Tan with Medium, Light, Dark, and High Variation as their shade types. They also offer Wood Look and Stone Look as their two available styles.
NuCore ® offers five finish variations: Authentic Texture (EIR), Handscraped, High Gloss, Smooth, and Textured and comes in 5.5mm, 6.5mm, and 8mm for approximate thickness.
Moreover, customers can choose from the planks’ available width options: 12×24 in, 16×32 in, 24×48 in, Extra Wide (8in and over), Multi-Width, Plank (3 to 5.99 in), and Wide Plank (6 to 7.99 in). It can also be installed in the Floating/Locking method.
NuCore Performance® wood-style planks come in colors Gray, Brown, Beige, Rust/ Orange, Tan, and White with High Variation, Light, Dark, and Medium as the available shade types.
They also have two thickness options: 6.5mm and 8mm with four width variations: Extra Wide (8in and over), Multi-Width, Plank (3 to 5.99in), and Wide Plank (6 to 7.99in). Moreover, NuCore ® Performance planks have two available wear layer choices: 20 mil layer and Techtanium Plus.
For their edges, they come in Beveled and Microbeleved with Floating/Locking as their installation method.
Pros And Cons
Benefits:
NuCore Vinyl Flooring features durable low-VOC vinyl planks with a thick rigid core, an ideal flooring option for areas with high-traffic activities. Their planks also come with an affordable price list and an extensive range of styles, colors, and sizes.
NuCore Vinyl Flooring products are also waterproof and have an anti-microbial coating on top that helps resist staining and odor-causing mold and mildew. For their NuCore Performance® planks, they use a technology called Techtanium Plus that provides an added level of protection to withstand scratches, scuffs, dents, and fading.
Moreover, NuCore Vinyl Flooring products have pre-attached hypoallergenic natural cork underlayment that provides noise resistance. Their vinyl planks are also easy to install even on existing hard-surface flooring, which makes them suitable flooring for areas, including kitchens, bathrooms, as well as basements, and even sunrooms.
NuCore also comes with a lifetime limited residential warranty and a 15-year commercial warranty. For NuCore Performance, it offers a 20-year warranty.
Disadvantages:
NuCore Vinyl Flooring didn’t specifically include what their wear layers are made of. Their planks are also likely susceptible to fading and damage, especially in areas exposed to direct sunlight or spaces with very high humidity.
Unlike other kinds of flooring, Floor & Decor’s website doesn’t have any customer reviews. Reviews are important as they can strengthen a company’s credibility and customers’ confidence in buying products.
Moreover, NuCore vinyl flooring products’ warranty is prorated, meaning the warranty coverage is reduced by 2% every year and covers less, depending on the time you used them. Additionally, the warranty doesn’t include labor costs and only applies to the original buyer.
Price And Hidden Costs
NuCore ® planks’ cost ranges from $2.49 /sqft (lowest) to $3.99 /sqft (highest) with varied coverage options available: 14.84 sqft, 15.31 sqft, 19.14 sqft, 22.95 sqft, 23.21 sqft, 23.34 sqft, 27.73 sqft, 28.71 sqft, and 30.42 sqft. The overall purchase price ranges from $56.24 to $91.57.
NuCore Performance® planks’ cost ranges from $3.49 /sqft (lowest) to $4.29 /sqft (highest) with available coverage options, including 14.84 sqft, 15.06 sqft, 16.88 sqft, 17.19 sqft, and 17.87 sqft. The overall purchase price ranges from $59.21 to $76.66.
All Nucore vinyl planks are sold in boxes.
NuCore Installation
NuCore Vinyl Planks are installed with a floating/locking method or a tongue-in-groove system, which provides easy installation, especially for DIY homeowners. Their NuCore Performance® planks already have a pre-attached underlayment.
NuCore Performance® wood-style planks come in colors Gray, Brown, Beige, Rust/ Orange, Tan, and White with High Variation, Light, Dark, and Medium as the available shade types.
During installation, make sure to prepare the subfloor by inspecting and leveling it to 3/16” within a 10 ft span. The temperature in the room should also be between 50°F – 100°F (10°C – 38°C). If the flooring is in direct sunlight, it’s best to glue down the planks in those areas to stick properly.
After installation, the room temperature must range from -25˚F (- 31°C) to 155˚F (68°C). Temperatures outside of this range may cause the planks to expand or contract and lead to defects and damage.
Care And Maintenance
NuCore Vinyl Flooring is easy to clean and maintain. It only requires using a regular vacuum or broom with soft bristle attachments. After installation, the room temperature has to be within the 60°F to 80° to keep the planks in good condition and prevent warping or expanding.
Following the specified guidelines about pre-installation and after installation is important because damages to the products due to unprofessional installation will not be covered in the warranty.
Overall And Verdict
NuCore Vinyl Flooring is a good choice for buyers who want durable waterproof vinyl planks that also provide easy installation and require low maintenance. Their vinyl planks also come in a wide range of colors and styles and at a reasonable price.
Their vinyl planks are only available on Floor & Decor’s website but you can opt to visit their company’s stores as well for other flooring products available.
