Your thoughts on allure vs. luxury vinyl tile...

Is one better than the other? and if so why?

I have LVT in my residence and Allure in my rentals. My very expensive, professionally installed LVT SCRATCHED when I move my sofa to clean under it. The salesman had promised that would not happen. I was able to hide the scratch with the Rejuvenate pens, but still!

I have had ONE Allure floor badly scratched by a tenant repeatedly moving a chair that was missing a leg or something across the floor. We colored it in with regular gel stain - DH just dabbed it on and wiped it off - and it's fine and it's a couple of years since then.

We just installed the newer Click-lock Allure last week, or DH did. The in-stock stuff, not special order. Only $1.99/sqf! Harder to put down - I can't help anymore due to the way it goes together - but much thicker and DH says the top color goes all the way through (at least on the one we chose) so scratches will be less likely to show.

We just spent millions on a new high school. I subbed for science the day before spring break. Instead of academics, they were having the kids move books and stuff from their classrooms in the temporary building over to the new building.

They had a very nice luxury vinyl put down, but it wasn't as solid as the commercial vct that was in the temporary building they were using, or as solid as the Allure I used in my building. The kids had already gouged a vinyl tile with the edge of a filing cabinet.

Lovely stuff, and hopefully it will hold up well to foot traffic, but our stuff-- like theirs-- also has to take move-in and move-out traffic into consideration.

I have used both, and I install myself.

Allure - Good product, good price, requires very clean/flat subfloor (small pebbles or ridges/seams will show through), easy to cut unusual shapes such as around pipes/toilets. Other people have reported "gapping" at the seams but I've not had that issue...I think rolling the seams and installing in proper temperatures reduces risk of this. Even though they say it does not require anything underneath, I use roofing paper/felt to absorb tiny imperfections. Must be acclimated to house temp over a certain # of days (I forget how many...maybe 2 days?).

LVT - IMO a much better product than Allure, but higher cost. I have only used the type with a rigid backing and a "foam" layer to reduce noises. I used lifeproof, sold at HD. I have used this in my personal home in my office, and I love it. Comes in wider planks than Allure (About 7"), so it goes down quickly. Forgiving if there are small ridges or bumps/nails in the subfloor...the foam/cork layer backing will "absorb" these. A bit more tricky to cut around objects, and although they say you can scribe and snap it, I used a miter saw to cut all pieces...much easier IMO. ALthough it does have slight surface texture, it's still a bit slippery when wet or for dogs with toenails. It does not need to be "acclimated" to house temp, and the seams do not need to be rolled.

I have no evidence yet on longevity, but it seems to me the LVT would be longer-lived.

Both products are water resistant (some LVTs may have a wood product backing...avoid this).

I have used a lot of the Grip Strip Allure. Love it.

Only one instance where it has a serious gouge, and that is from the dumb kids installing appliances last summer in my new construction. We have no idea what they did, but they gouged a piece in one. I haven't fixed it yet, just made a note of it. Tenant put down an area rug over it.

OMG no Kangaback carpet! The foam backing sticks to the subfloor terribly, holds odors, and is heavy to haul out.

My nieces 6 unit next to CSU has allure since 2007 or 2008, lots of glop in the first floor because the entrance faces east, has to be mopped twice when the salty slush covers it but no open seams, lifting have occurred that a few here describe and I did not use a roller here but I did later in a couple kitchens.

Luxuy vinyl plank flooring is susceptible to color fading if installed in an area that will receive a lot of direct sunlight and will expand and contract with temperature fluctuations. Put LVP outside in the summer and you will notice how it expands, even if only exposed to 80 degree temperatures.

For rentals, I recommend Engineered vinyl plank flooring because it is not as susceptible to color fading and will not expand and contract like LVP will. I recommend Engineered vinyl plank that has at least a 20 mil wear layer, which is considered commercial grade quality. I don't do student rentals personally, but I have friends who do and they only put in EVP with a 28 mil wear layer since students are soo rough on properties.