Happy Feet International, a distributor of luxury vinyl plank and tile, has introduced Pinnacle, the name given to its completely new line of luxury vinyl plank (LVP) that is two to three times thicker than traditional LVP, creating durability and a floor that will last the test of time.

Most LVP in residential use has a wear layer of between 6 and 20 mils in thickness while Pinnacle is at 28 mils. The wear layer is the most important layer in protecting floors, whether in homes or businesses. For most commercial uses of LVP, the industry recommendation is a wear layer starting at 20 mils. At 28, Pinnacle provides a thicker plank that can stand up to households with playing children, pets and potential spills.

 “We installed Pinnacle in the color Cornwall in the basement of my home and are very happy with the results!” said Bruno Bertolli, owner of Bertolli Floors in Alpharetta, Georgia. “The install process went smoothly and having the painted beveled edge was a great plus to ensure the planks fit properly. This product combines the look of real hardwoods and the durability and performance of a top-quality LVP.”

 Only a handful of other companies within the industry carry a category of products similar to the thickness available in Pinnacle. Happy Feet is working on educating customers about Pinnacle since it is vastly different from anything in the company’s existing lines. For consumers, engineered wood is comparable in thickness. However, LVP like Pinnacle provides features not possible with engineered wood.

 Some challenges to engineered wood include blemishes and scratches, which can be caused by hard wear and tear, pet claw marks, sliding furniture or children playing roughly inside. Compared to engineered wood, Pinnacle is waterproof, pet proof and kid proof due its thickness and wear layer, which set it apart within the category of vinyl flooring.

“Within the first year of having engineered wood installed in my new home, I noticed scratch marks throughout the flooring where my dogs would run to the back door,” said Jeff Manley, who is VP of business development at Happy Feet, and felt strongly enough about the product to install it in his own home. “Since installing Pinnacle, I’ve seen no signs of dog claw marks anywhere.”

While engineered wood and laminate type flooring tends to absorb moisture, LVP such as Pinnacle does not absorb moisture. The new product also features Happy Feet’s ZeroMark technology, meaning that children could write directly on the floor in permanent marker, and it could be wiped off easily with a damp cloth.

Beyond the durability and the realistic wood visuals, the thickness and high quality make Pinnacle a go-to product for custom home builders.

“Our customers are attracted to the thickness and the weight of the individual boards, but Pinnacle also leaves an impression when they are looking for value,” said Jared Mertz, manager of Carpet Land Omaha, which is a stocking dealer in Nebraska. “The wear layer and finish are impressive.”

Because of the thicker wear layer and overall strength of Pinnacle, Happy Feet has included a lifetime warranty for the line in residential uses, which provides extra reassurance.

While some families may be concerned that LVP will not look like wood or even engineered wood, there have been major advancements in vinyl over the last several years. LVP distributors like Happy Feet use 3D imaging technology and transfer photographs of natural wood surfaces directly to the plank. Then, embossing is used to match the texture of wood.

Pinnacle takes this process a step further to include embossed in register and mimic the knots and other embellishments of real wood grain. In addition, Happy Feet’s Pinnacle flooring does not follow ordered spacing of the grain and knobs, and instead, it is closer to what is seen in nature. The result is a flooring that is difficult to discern from wood.

“The finish is high-end. Customers and designers prefer the style because it shows less shine than a standard LVP. It looks like engineered hardwood once installed in an area with natural light,” said Mertz.

Pinnacle offers a dozen diverse colorways to choose from, and the selections are aligned with market trends.

“Queensbury and Westminster have been awesome colors for us. We are seeing the market shift away from rustic hues, and the selection of our stocking colors is timeless,” said Mertz. “There are some busier colors like Argyll that we have been showcasing to introduce to customers, but the neutral range has been a hit.”

For more information, visit happyfeetinternational.com.