If you‘ve been shopping for new floors at Home Depot, I bet you‘ve seen the Lifeproof vinyl plank, tile, and laminate flooring options. With prices that won‘t break the bank, positive reviews, and constant ads from Home Depot, it seems like a pretty good deal.
But here‘s the big question – who actually manufactures Lifeproof flooring? Is it made by Home Depot themselves? I decided to dig into this and find out everything I could about this popular budget-friendly flooring line.
After thorough research, here‘s the scoop…
Lifeproof flooring is made by Halstead New England Corporation, headquartered in Norwalk, CT. Halstead is an American company that produces several house-brand flooring lines exclusively for Home Depot, including:
- Lifeproof Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tile
- Allure Ultra Vinyl Plank
- TrafficMaster Laminate Flooring
- Gripstrip Resilient Vinyl
So while Lifeproof is a Home Depot-only brand, the manufacturing is handled by Halstead, not Home Depot themselves.
To save on production costs, Halstead has the Lifeproof flooring made at contract factories in China. This is pretty common practice – big brands like Mohawk and Shaw produce many of their budget vinyl and laminate floors in China as well.
Now that we know who makes Lifeproof, let’s look at what flooring options they offer and how the prices stack up against competitors.
Overview of Lifeproof Flooring Products & Prices
Lifeproof provides a full lineup of vinyl, laminate, and sheet floors aimed at the value-conscious shopper.
Here’s a quick look at their product lines:
Luxury Vinyl Plank
- Available in 6.5mm, 7mm, and 8mm thickness
- Oak, hickory, exotic, and distressed looks
- $2 – $3 per sq. ft.
Vinyl Tile
- Stone, ceramic, and wood visuals
- 12” x 24” sizes
- $1 – $2 per sq. ft.
Laminate Flooring
- Lifeproof and TrafficMaster brands
- AC3 and AC4 scratch-resistant laminate
- $1 – $2 per sq. ft.
Sheet Vinyl
- Gripstrip resilient sheet vinyl
- Adhesive strip installation
- $0.50 – $1 per sq. ft.
In terms of pricing, Lifeproof hits that sweet spot between the ultra-budget vinyl floors and premium-priced brands.
Their luxury vinyl plank runs $2-3 per square foot on average. That’s noticeably less than top-tier LVP from the likes of Mohawk and Armstrong, which can cost $4-6 per square foot.
But it‘s still pricier than the basic no-frills vinyl you find at home improvement stores for $1 or less per square foot.
So if you don’t want the cheapest flooring, but also don’t want to pay luxury brand prices, Lifeproof hits a nice middle ground.
Next, let‘s see how Lifeproof stacks up against competitors on other factors like durability, warranties, and installation.
How Does Lifeproof Vinyl Flooring Compare to Other Brands?
I dug into the specs of Lifeproof vinyl plank and tile to see how it matches up to entry-level, mid-range, and premium LVP products:
Lifeproof vs. Entry-Level LVP
| Lifeproof Vinyl Plank | Entry-Level LVP | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 6.5mm to 8mm | 4mm to 6mm |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil | 10 mil |
| Warranty | Lifetime Limited | 10-15 years |
| Prices | $2-3 per sq.ft. | Under $1 per sq.ft. |
Lifeproof vs. Mid-Range LVP
| Lifeproof Vinyl Plank | Mid-Range LVP | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 6.5mm to 8mm | 5mm |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil | 12-15 mil |
| Warranty | Lifetime Limited | 15-25 years |
| Prices | $2-3 per sq.ft. | $2-3 per sq.ft. |
Lifeproof vs. Premium LVP
| Lifeproof Vinyl Plank | Premium LVP | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 6.5mm to 8mm | 6.5mm+ |
| Wear Layer | 20 mil | 20+ mil |
| Warranty | Lifetime Limited | Lifetime |
| Prices | $2-3 per sq.ft. | $4-6+ per sq.ft. |
A few things stand out:
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Durability – Lifeproof offers better wear layers than basic LVP but can‘t match premium options. Provides good durability for the moderate price.
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Warranty – Lifetime limited residential coverage is decent but premium LVP often has 25-30 commercial use coverage.
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Waterproofing – 100% waterproof vinyl core, good for kitchens, baths, basements.
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DIY Install – Easy click-lock system floats over subfloor. No glue or nails needed.
So while Lifeproof doesn’t have all the perks and materials of high-end vinyl plank, it provides impressive durability, performance, and looks for the reasonable price point.
Now let’s see what actual customers have to say in Lifeproof vinyl flooring reviews.
Lifeproof Luxury Vinyl Plank Reviews and Feedback
On Home Depot‘s website, Lifeproof luxury vinyl plank flooring earns a strong 4.6 out of 5 stars across over 1,300 customer reviews.
In the reviews, shoppers praise Lifeproof LVP for:
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Affordable Pricing – Nice floors for budget-conscious buyers, saves 20-40% vs premium brands.
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Easy DIY Install – Floats right over subfloor without glue or nails. Snaps together quick.
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Appearance – Mimics real hardwood very closely. Looks high-end for the price.
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Durability – Holds up nicely to pets, kids, high traffic. Very waterproof and scratch resistant.
Negative feedback focused on these areas:
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Difficult Clicking – Planks don‘t always click tightly together during install. Gaps can appear.
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Hollow Sounds – Can make hollow, cheap noises if installed over uneven subfloors.
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Scratch Resistance – Not as resistant to scratches as higher grade vinyl plank.
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Commercial Use – Durability concerns in heavy commercial settings long-term.
However, most complaints seem related to installation and subfloor prep, rather than inherent product flaws.
When installed properly over flat, smooth subfloors, Lifeproof earns consistent praise for its quality and performance, especially given the affordable price.
The Pros and Cons of Lifeproof Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Based on my research, here‘s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of Lifeproof LVP:
Pros
- Costs 20-40% less than premium vinyl plank brands
- Thicker wear layers than basic vinyl plank (6.5mm-8mm)
- Extremely waterproof and dent resistant
- Huge variety of wood looks – oak, hickory, exotic species
- DIY friendly click-lock floating installation
- Good durability and scratch resistance
- Lifetime limited residential warranty
Cons
- Not as durable or realistic as high-end luxury vinyl plank
- Hollow sounds can occur without proper subfloor prep
- Prone to gapping if planks don‘t lock together tightly
- Only 15-year limited commercial warranty
So if you‘re on a budget, Lifeproof hits a great balance of affordability and quality. Let’s discuss whether it provides good value for the money.
Is Lifeproof Vinyl Flooring Worth the Money?
For shoppers wanting the best flooring value, Lifeproof hits a sweet spot.
It provides a more durable, better performing product than super cheap vinyl plank floors. The 6.5-8mm thickness and 20 mil wear layer offer increased resistance to dents, scratches, and moisture compared to basic 4-5mm vinyl.
And the selection of wood, stone, and tile visuals is gorgeous. While not 100% indistinguishable from real hardwood and stone, the texturing and colors mimic natural materials very closely.
Factor in the easy DIY installation with no glue or nails, and lifetime limited warranty, and Lifeproof luxury vinyl is absolutely worth the moderate price in my eyes.
It can make a fantastic choice for homeowners wanting beautiful, budget-friendly, waterproof floors. And it delivers about 80% of the performance and looks of premium LVP, but at half to a third of the price.
Now I‘d suggest visiting your local Home Depot to browse Lifeproof floors first-hand. Check out the various plank widths, stone tiles, and wood species in person.
And remember to use their floor finder tool on HomeDepot.com to calculate how much flooring you need and total project cost.
Well, I hope this guide gave you a thorough overview of Lifeproof vinyl flooring—who makes it, how it compares, pros/cons, and whether it‘s worth the money. Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m always happy to chat floors.
