Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
Installation
in Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Elite Wood Flooring has been installing floors throughout the Grand Strand for 20+ years! Luxury vinyl plank is a 100% waterproof, multi-layer synthetic flooring product engineered to replicate the look of hardwood without any of the moisture vulnerability. For Myrtle Beach homes — where average annual humidity exceeds 70%, summer indoor humidity regularly climbs above 80% in under-conditioned spaces, and flooding from heavy coastal rain events is a recurring reality for ground-level and below-grade installations — LVP is a practical choice that solid hardwood and even engineered hardwood cannot match for moisture resistance. The U.S. flooring market for LVP has grown more than 20% year over year for the past several years, driven largely by coastal and high-humidity markets where wood flooring performance is limited by climate. LVP materials typically run $2 to $7 per square foot depending on wear layer thickness and overall plank construction, with installation adding $2 to $4 per square foot.
The performance difference between entry-level and quality LVP comes down to two numbers: wear layer thickness and overall plank thickness. A 6-mil wear layer is the minimum for residential use — 12 mil is appropriate for active households, and 20 mil or above is the commercial standard. Myrtle Beach Elite Wood Flooring installs LVP with a minimum 12-mil wear layer for all residential projects and sources products with attached underlayment where subfloor conditions allow, reducing both installation time and sound transmission through the floor.
Get a Quote
Fill in the form to get a free initial quotation.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation Services We Provide
Subfloor Assessment and Leveling
LVP requires a flat, clean, structurally sound subfloor. Most LVP products tolerate a maximum of 3/16 inch variation over a 10-foot span — any more than that and the locking joints at plank edges will flex under foot traffic, eventually causing the click-lock system to fail or the planks to separate. Concrete slabs in Myrtle Beach's older residential neighborhoods often have low spots, high spots, and surface irregularities from decades of settling. We assess every subfloor before installation and correct flatness issues with floor-leveling compound or grinding before any LVP goes down. Unlike wood flooring, LVP does not require moisture testing over concrete — its waterproof construction makes vapor emission a non-issue for the flooring itself, though we still check for active water intrusion or hydrostatic pressure issues that would need to be addressed before any flooring is installed.
Click-Lock Floating Installation
The majority of LVP installations use a click-lock floating method — planks lock together at the tongue-and-groove edge joint and float as a single unit over the subfloor without adhesive or fasteners. This is the fastest installation method, allows for same-day foot traffic in most cases, and makes individual plank replacement straightforward if a section is later damaged. Expansion gaps at walls and vertical surfaces are required — typically 1/4 inch minimum — to allow for the slight thermal expansion LVP undergoes with temperature changes. In coastal homes with large open floor plans, proper expansion gap management is critical to preventing buckling in summer months when interior temperatures fluctuate.
Glue-Down Installation
Full-spread glue-down LVP installation is the right call for commercial spaces, high-traffic areas, and installations where a more rigid, solid feel underfoot is required. Glue-down eliminates the hollow sound that floating LVP can produce and prevents any plank movement or shifting under heavy furniture or rolling loads. It is also the correct method for most stair applications. We use pressure-sensitive adhesives compatible with LVP's vinyl construction — standard wood floor adhesives are not appropriate for LVP and will cause adhesion failure over time.
Stair Installation
LVP stair installation requires stair nosing profiles, proper adhesive application on the tread and riser surfaces, and correct cutting technique to achieve clean, tight joints at each step. Stair work is detail-intensive and one of the most commonly mishandled aspects of LVP installation by less experienced crews. We install stair nosing that matches the plank product, use the correct adhesive for vertical and overhead applications, and cut each tread to fit the specific stair geometry rather than forcing standard cuts.
Transition and Threshold Finishing
Transitions between LVP and adjacent flooring types — tile, carpet, hardwood — require the correct profile for the specific height difference and application. T-moldings, reducers, end caps, and carpet bars all serve different functions and are not interchangeable. We measure and install all transitions as part of the project. An LVP installation left without properly fitted transitions is both a finished product and a liability issue.
Removal and Disposal of Existing Flooring
Most LVP installations involve removing existing flooring first — carpet, vinyl sheet, tile, or damaged hardwood. We handle removal and disposal as a project component. Tile removal requires grinding or skim-coating the subfloor after removal to eliminate adhesive and thinset residue before LVP installation. We assess removal complexity and subfloor condition at the estimate stage so there are no surprises in the project scope.
Types of Properties We Serve
Single-Family Residential
Coastal homes in Myrtle Beach's established neighborhoods — particularly those with slab-on-grade construction in areas like Carolina Forest, the communities along Robert Grissom Parkway, and older neighborhoods near the oceanfront — are ideal candidates for LVP in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and open living areas where moisture exposure makes hardwood a risk. Homeowners replacing outdated vinyl sheet or laminate frequently choose LVP for the combination of realistic wood appearance, waterproof performance, and durability under pets and children.
Vacation Rental Properties
LVP is the flooring of choice for short-term rental properties throughout the Grand Strand. It handles wet feet from the pool and beach, resists the scratches and dents that rental turnover produces, and cleans quickly between guests. Properties in oceanfront buildings, resort communities off Kings Road and Sea Mountain Highway, and vacation rental homes in Murrells Inlet and Surfside Beach benefit from LVP's performance consistency in high-use environments. Rental property owners also appreciate that damaged planks can be replaced individually rather than requiring a full floor replacement.
Commercial Spaces
Retail storefronts, restaurant dining areas, office suites, and hotel common areas along U.S. 17 Business and in the Market Common district increasingly specify LVP with 20-mil or higher commercial wear layers for the combination of visual appeal, durability, and low maintenance. Commercial LVP installations require careful attention to subfloor prep, seam placement, and adhesive selection to perform under the rolling loads and sustained foot traffic that commercial use generates.
Below-Grade and Moisture-Prone Areas
Ground-level units, below-grade spaces, and any area with documented moisture intrusion are situations where LVP's waterproof construction is not just a preference but a requirement. Solid hardwood and most engineered hardwood products should not be installed in these applications. LVP can be installed directly over concrete at or below grade with no moisture barrier required for the flooring product itself, making it the correct specification for basement-level condos, ground-floor units in multi-story buildings, and any space where water management is an ongoing concern.
What Our Customers are Saying
"Beach house near the oceanfront. We replaced carpet and old vinyl with LVP throughout the entire first floor. They leveled out a low spot in the slab near the kitchen, installed everything in two days, and the transitions to the tile bathrooms came out perfectly clean."
— Rick H., Myrtle Beach, SC
"Rental property in Murrells Inlet. Three bedrooms and an open living area. They did the removal of old carpet, prepped the subfloor, and installed a 12-mil LVP. Held up through a full summer rental season with zero issues. Would use them again."
— Carol F., Murrells Inlet, SC
"Commercial office space in Market Common. We needed a wood-look floor that could handle daily foot traffic and look good for clients. They recommended a 20-mil commercial LVP and installed it over a long weekend. Looked great on Monday morning."
— David L., Myrtle Beach, SC
"Ground-floor condo with a history of moisture issues. They checked for active water intrusion first, addressed a drainage problem at the sliding door threshold, and then installed LVP throughout. No flooring failures after 18 months."
— Nancy P., Surfside Beach, SC
Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation FAQs
What wear layer thickness do I need for my LVP?
For a primary residence with normal household use, 12 mil is the minimum worth installing. Active households with dogs, children, or high foot traffic should step up to 20 mil. Commercial applications should specify 20 mil minimum — 28 mil for very high traffic areas like restaurant dining rooms or retail checkout areas. Entry-level LVP at 6 mil will show wear within two to three years in any active household environment.
Can LVP be installed over existing tile or hardwood?
In many cases, yes. LVP can float over existing hard flooring surfaces that are flat, well-bonded, and in good condition — this avoids the cost and disruption of removal. The key constraint is height: adding LVP over existing flooring raises the finished floor level, which affects door clearances and transitions to adjacent spaces. We evaluate existing floor conditions and height implications at the estimate stage before recommending installation over versus removal.
How long does LVP last?
Quality LVP with a 12-mil or heavier wear layer carries manufacturer warranties of 15 to 25 years for residential use. Commercial products are typically warrantied for 10 to 15 years under commercial conditions. Actual lifespan depends heavily on maintenance and whether felt pads are used under furniture legs — dragging furniture across LVP is the most common cause of premature wear layer damage.
Is LVP the same as laminate?
No. Laminate has a wood-fiber core that swells and degrades when exposed to moisture — it is not waterproof. LVP is 100% synthetic vinyl construction throughout and is fully waterproof. The two products look similar from a distance but perform very differently in wet or humid environments. LVP is the correct choice for any coastal or moisture-exposed application; laminate is not.
Does LVP add resale value?
LVP adds value relative to carpet, vinyl sheet, and laminate, but it does not command the same premium as real hardwood at resale. For investment properties and vacation rentals where durability and low maintenance are priorities, LVP is the right specification. For primary residences where maximum resale value is the goal, engineered or solid hardwood will produce a higher return per dollar invested according to NAR resale data.