Luxury Vinyl Plank in Wichita Homes: The Hidden Drawbacks You Need to Know

By Christian Raab

Are you considering luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring for your Wichita home?

It’s a popular choice—and at first glance, it’s easy to see why. You get water resistance, a

hardwood look, and a budget-friendly price tag.

But what if I told you we’re seeing LVP installations fail in ways homeowners aren’t expecting?

I was at a local vendor event here in Wichita recently and got to talking with a flooring rep

I’ve known for years. She mentioned something that immediately caught my attention: a

growing number of LVP issues—specifically click-lock failures—showing up in Wichita

homes.

This wasn’t a national trend or something she’d read online. It was happening right here, in

our market.

And she’s not alone. We’ve seen it too.

Now, let me be clear—I like LVP, and when chosen carefully, it can perform really well. But I

also believe homeowners should know the downsides, especially when those issues aren’t

talked about in showrooms or sales brochures.

In this article, I’ll walk you through:

• What causes LVP failures in Wichita homes

• How floor truss spacing and subfloor deflection contribute to the problem

• Which LVP products perform better—and which don’t

• And what you should consider instead to avoid frustration (and extra cost) down the road

LVP Locking Mechanism Problems: Why They Fail on Wichita Subfloors

Luxury Vinyl Plank is a floating floor, meaning each plank clicks together and rests over the subfloor without adhesive. That design makes installation quicker—but also more

vulnerable.

Why?

Because if your subfloor isn’t perfectly flat and rigid, the planks move. And that movement

stresses the locking mechanism.

Here in Wichita, many homes are framed with floor trusses spaced 24 inches on center.

That wider spacing allows for subtle deflection or bounce in the flooring system, even when the subfloor is properly installed.

Over time, we’re seeing:

• Planks that start unlocking

• Gaps forming between rows

• A spongy, unstable feel underfoot

These failures don’t always happen right away and could show up 12 months down the

road.

Cheap LVP vs. Premium: What Wichita Homeowners Should Know

We’ve tested a lot of LVP products at Pinnacle. Some of them hold up really well. But

others—especially the thinner, more budget-friendly ones—simply don’t have the core

strength or locking durability to withstand foot traffic and deflection.

We’re not saying LVP is a bad product. But if you’re picking it based on cost alone—or

choosing something off the shelf at a big-box store—you may be setting yourself up for

disappointment.

Here’s what we’re seeing with lower-end LVP:

• Gaps opening up within months

• Curling or lifting at the plank edges

• Excessive clicking or squeaking

• Premature wear in high-traffic areas

And in homes with 24” trusses, even some mid-tier LVP options are struggling to stay

locked.

Floor Truss Deflection in Wichita Homes: The Hidden LVP Risk

Let’s talk structure.

Older homes often used joists spaced 16 inches apart. But today’s builds frequently use

engineered floor trusses spaced 24 inches on center. Structurally, that’s still sound—but it

introduces more bounce in the flooring system.

That bounce, or deflection, isn’t a problem for every type of flooring—but it can be a

dealbreaker for floating LVP.

Better Flooring Alternatives for Kansas Homes

If your home has 24” on-center floor trusses, consider these better-fit flooring systems:

• Hardwood Flooring – Longer lasting and more stable

• Engineered hardwood – More rigid, longer-lasting, and repairable.

• Tile with Schluter underlayment – Durable, water-resistant, and movement-tolerant.

• Subfloor reinforcement and/or a high-quality LVP– In some cases, we recommend adding another layer of underlayment or reengineering the subfloor for better support.

So, What Should You Do Next?

I’m not here to talk you out of LVP—far from it. We still recommend and install it when it’s

the right fit.

Because if your home has structural deflection or subfloor irregularities, floating LVP may

lead to problems down the road—and no one wants to replace a brand-new floor two years after install.

So before you commit, ask:

• What’s the structure under this floor?

• Will this product hold up to bounce and humidity?

• Are there better long-term options for my home?

At Pinnacle, we help Wichita homeowners choose flooring that fits their structure, lifestyle, and long-term goals—not just what’s trending today.

Let’s look at what will actually work in your home.

Contact Us

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Written by: Christian Raab

Christian is the founder and owner of Pinnacle. He began the company here in Wichita in January of 2012. He grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, working the summers with his neighbor, who was a contractor. He later went to school to earn his degree in business with a construction emphasis. Christian’s vision for the company has always been to provide homeowners with a great experience as they work with a professional team they can trust.

When Christian isn’t at the office, you can find him spending time with his five  kids, woodworking, and watching the Steelers.