Key takeaways
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is a vinyl floor made in plank form to look like wood.
- One contract covers the plank and the installation, so you never coordinate separate luxury vinyl plank installers.
- Removal of the old floor and any slab leveling are their own lines on the estimate.
- LVP warranties depend on installation to the maker's specification, including the expansion gap Arizona heat calls for.
- For kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms, choose LVP its maker sells as waterproof.
Why "Sells & Installs" Matters More Than It Sounds
RDC Renovation & Design Concepts is a flooring contractor in Phoenix, Arizona. It sells and installs flooring, tile and countertops from its Bell Rd showroom. When one company sells the plank and another installs it, a problem can turn into a dispute between the two. RDC avoids that by handling both.
Open-concept LVP flowing through the living, dining and kitchen areas of a Phoenix home.
Who Actually Sells and Installs? A Straight Comparison
RDC both sells and installs LVP. You choose the plank in the showroom, and RDC manages the installation with the licensed installers it works with. One company is answerable for the result. Tile, hardwood and carpet are sold and installed the same way; see flooring installation in Phoenix.
That matters because a retailer that only sells the plank hands installation to a third party. That is a different business model, not a scandal. It does change who is responsible when something goes wrong.
| Type of provider | Sells the LVP | Installs it | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local showroom contractor (RDC and similar) | Yes | Yes, RDC-managed | One company, one estimate, one schedule, one workmanship warranty, with full-size samples you can compare in person. |
| Big-box home centers (national chains) | Yes | Through the store's installer network | The store sells the plank and books an independent installer; ask who holds the installation contract and warranty before you sign. |
| Warehouse flooring retailers (national warehouse chains) | Yes | Referred independents | Large selection, but installation is arranged with a separate contractor who bills and warranties separately. |
| Specialty flooring retailers (national specialty chains) | Yes | Connected installers | Staff who know the product well; the install relationship is still yours to manage with a third party. |
| Wholesale showrooms (trade-only suppliers) | Yes, trade-oriented | Referral network | Trade pricing, but you generally arrive with an installer or get matched to one. |
| In-home sellers (shop-at-home companies) | Yes | Yes | Genuinely single-source and fast, though you choose from samples brought to your door rather than a showroom floor. |
| Manufacturer "find a pro" locators | No | Certified installers | Useful for protecting a specific brand's warranty, but you still buy the material somewhere else. |
| Independent installers | No | Yes | Often excellent craftsmanship, but you source and purchase all material yourself. |
If accountability is why you want a contractor that does both, two rows deliver it: the local showroom contractor and the in-home seller. Only the first lets you stand in a showroom comparing planks side by side before you decide.
What Actually Happens When the Roles Are Split
The split model works fine until something needs fixing, and then the practical questions start. Is the gap opening between planks a material defect or an installation error? Is cupping along one wall a slab moisture problem the installer should have tested for? Or is it a product issue the manufacturer covers?
When one company sold the floor and a different company installed it, answering that becomes a negotiation between two businesses. Each has a reason to point at the other. When one company did both, there is nobody to point at. That is the practical value behind "sells and installs" on a whole-home floor.
- One estimate, so material and labor aren't quoted against different assumptions about the subfloor.
- One schedule, so delivery and installation aren't coordinated across two companies' calendars.
- One workmanship warranty for the finished floor.
- One point of contact if anything needs revisiting months after the job.
How Does the Installation Protect Your LVP Material Warranty?
The installation protects your LVP material warranty by following the maker's written specification for that exact product. Manufacturer warranties are conditional on it. Skipped moisture testing, the wrong underlayment, an insufficient expansion gap, or an out-of-tolerance subfloor can each give a manufacturer grounds to decline a claim.
Shaw's residential resilient warranty, for one, requires installation to the company's guidelines and excludes subfloor moisture emissions. RDC tests slab moisture following ASTM guidelines on every job. It installs to the manufacturer's specification for the brand you choose, so the material warranty's conditions are met.
The moisture test and leveling are explained step by step on the slab moisture testing guide. The same specification rule applies to every floor covered on flooring installation in Phoenix.
What to Ask Before You Hire a Luxury Vinyl Plank Contractor
Before you hire a luxury vinyl plank contractor, ask about brands, subfloor prep, removal and the labor warranty.
Which brands & wear layers?
25+ flooring, tile and countertop brands, including LVP from Mohawk, Shaw and COREtec (see the brands we carry). Wear layer has its own section below. Torn between plank types? See LVP vs laminate vs LVT in Phoenix.
Subfloor prep & moisture testing?
Moisture testing and a flatness check are part of every estimate. Any grinding or leveling the slab needs is its own line, about $1 to $4 per sq ft.
Removal & disposal included?
Removal and disposal of the old floor are their own line on your written estimate, about $3 to $5 per sq ft. You see the full cost upfront, never as a surprise later.
Labor warranty vs. manufacturer's?
Every installation includes a 1-year RDC workmanship warranty on top of whatever warranty the LVP manufacturer provides on the material itself.
Click-Lock vs. Glue-Down Luxury Vinyl Plank: Which Fits Your Home?
Click-lock LVP suits most rooms and lets a damaged plank be replaced on its own. Glue-down LVP suits large open areas, commercial spaces and slabs with minor variation. The subfloor and the room decide which one RDC, a flooring contractor in Phoenix, recommends. Both appear below with RDC's installed prices.
| Method | Best For | Notes | Typical Cost Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Click-lock (floating) | Most rooms, faster installs, easy spot-repair | Installs over a compliant underlayment; individual planks can be replaced without redoing the floor | $5 to $9 / sq. ft. |
| Glue-down | Large open-concept areas, commercial spaces, uneven subfloors | More rigid, quieter underfoot, works well when the subfloor has minor variation | $4 to $8 / sq. ft. |
Please note: these are typical ranges and can vary. Final pricing is set individually for each customer based on your specific project, materials, and scope.
White oak-look LVP in a Scottsdale living room; compare wood and stone looks side by side at the showroom.
Is LVP Waterproof?
Not all LVP is waterproof, so check how its maker sells it. Rigid-core LVP sold as waterproof is made to take water on its surface. Shaw's warranty covers "topical moisture" as long as the water does not flow over the surface's edge. Water from below is a different matter.
Moisture rising through the slab is the risk the warranty section above covers. RDC installs both LVP and tile; compare them on LVP vs tile for Arizona homes. For every other floor, see flooring installation in Phoenix.
Does LVP Expand in Arizona Heat?
Yes, LVP expands in Arizona heat, so the installation leaves room for it. Mohawk's SolidTech instructions call for a 1/4 inch expansion space at the walls, widened to 5/8 inch where temperatures exceed 85°F. RDC leaves the gap that the maker of your plank specifies.
Sun adds heat of its own. Shaw's Floorte guidelines warn that direct sunlight can cause thermal expansion and UV fading. They recommend drapes or blinds during peak sunlight hours. For other materials, see the best flooring for Arizona heat or flooring installation in Phoenix.
What Wear Layer Should LVP Have?
The wear layer is the protective top layer of LVP, measured in mil, and heavier use calls for a thicker one. MSI, a flooring maker, puts 6 to 12 mil at light residential use. It puts 12 to 20 mil at active residential and light commercial use, and 20 mil or more at commercial projects.
Wear layer is one of the factors that sets where a floor lands in RDC's installed price. Pet households can compare options on flooring for dogs and pets in Phoenix. For every floor RDC sells, start with the Phoenix flooring contractor home page.
Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation Across Phoenix and the West Valley
LVP suits the Arizona climate when the plank and the installation are planned for it, as the heat section above shows. Arizona's median home was built in 1992 and Phoenix's in 1985 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024, table B25035).
RDC handles waterproof vinyl plank flooring installation across Phoenix and the West Valley, including Peoria, Surprise, Sun City, Sun City West and Glendale. The material is the same everywhere; what changes is the slab. Census estimates put Glendale's median home at 1986, with 68% built from 1970 to 1999, and Peoria's at 1999 (ACS 2020-2024). Older slabs are why the checks in the warranty section come first.
East of Phoenix, the white oak-look floor above is a Scottsdale job; see the flooring contractor in Scottsdale and flooring contractor in Mesa pages.
Wood-look LVP across an open living area and kitchen in a Peoria home.
What Goes Into an LVP Installation Estimate in Phoenix?
An RDC estimate for LVP installation in Phoenix runs $4 to $9 per square foot installed, plank included. Plank size, wear-layer thickness and the subfloor prep the space needs set where a floor lands in that range. Every RDC estimate is written and itemized before work starts, with no obligation to move forward.
A single room or open-concept living area is often completed in a single day once the subfloor is prepped. Whole-home projects take a few days, depending on square footage and how much old flooring has to come out first. Every other floor RDC installs is on flooring installation in Phoenix.
For whole-house LVP totals by plank tier, and what removal and leveling add, see how much does LVP flooring cost in Arizona. For your own floor, call or text (602) 788-1446.
Light wood-look LVP in a room that opens onto a backyard pool.
We Also Handle Commercial LVP
RDC also supplies and installs commercial LVP. Commercial jobs include a Trust Auto dealership in Mesa, a Phoenix clinic and the Phoenix and Scottsdale locations of a Valley senior-living operator.
Commercial LVP installed by RDC in a Phoenix clinic.
Visit the Showroom
Compare LVP samples in person at our Phoenix flooring showroom, 1610 E Bell Rd Suite 101 in North Phoenix. It is open Sunday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM and closed Saturday. From there we schedule a free in-home visit to measure the space.
See more work in the project gallery, every material on the flooring page, and financing options to spread the cost. Replacing old tile with LVP? See tile removal and replacement. For a business, see our commercial flooring contractor services.