Is COREtec Vinyl Flooring As Good As It Sounds? Here's What The Reviews Say

When you're ready to install new floors, you want to get the best flooring value for your budget. One flooring that offers a friendly price and seems to be growing in popularity is COREtec vinyl flooring. However, COREtec does have some negative reviews, which means you might want to think carefully before purchasing and installing it. We sampled customer reviews, and we found that the review rankings vary quite a bit among different COREtec products, meaning you may want to avoid buying some of these vinyl plank floors and check reviews closely for any product you pick.

What are the disadvantages of COREtec flooring? Lowe's reviewer Marie and other reviewers say the material shows indentations. "We have permanent dents from some of our furniture even with pads underneath it. Also found a big gouge in the middle of my kitchen — not sure how that happened." If you're wondering whether COREtec floor scratches easily, several Lowe's reviews mentioned this issue. "Imagine my surprise when the floors got scratched just by sweeping them," one says. "I notice new scratches every day and I have no idea what they're from."

The other major problem customers often mention is a lack of durability. "We have three boys and two dogs — this flooring needed to be tough," a review reads. "Joke's on us." Although reviewer Ashley loved the look of these vinyl planks when newly installed, things changed quickly. "Over time, the edges lift and the floor corners start ripping up."

COREtec flooring certainly has some advantages worth exploring. Because it's a well-known and respected brand, real estate experts like COREtec as vinyl plank flooring that can help you maintain the value of your home. A common question people ask is whether Shaw or COREtec flooring is better. Shaw purchased COREtec in the mid-2010s, so a lot of similarities exist. However, some reviewers believe COREtec generally outperforms the budget models that Shaw offers.

Many reviewers mention that a key advantage of COREtec floors is that they look great. "I really like how there is light and dark wood color variations as well as some dark brown and black knots," Lowe's reviewer Thecraftycougar says. "If you are on the fence between a light and dark wood, this is a great choice." Reviewer Dintn also likes the realistic colors in the material. "I'm taking up 20-year-old carpet to install this in my bedroom. [My installer] liked it so much that he said he was going to get it for his home. The colors in the Blue Ridge Pine are so pretty."

It's also easy to clean. I "have only had it down for a week, but loving it already," reviewer Jic says. It "looks good and [is] a dream to clean." However, what should you not use on COREtec flooring for cleaning? COREtec recommends not using a steam mop or vinegar on these vinyl planks. A pH-neutral cleaner delivers good results.