I also called Smartcore directly, they have the pieces in stock but will only sell through Lowes... and back around we go. With a little artistic license, it is possible to create interesting and eye-catching designs that are completely unique to your home or property – just order what you need and fit them together. That being said, when he saw what flooring I had, he got annoyed. Chance, if the product from US and China were not compatible and it had a different under layment based on place of manufacturing, then how did you manage to get them to lock ? The smartcore flooring from Lowes is advertise to lay over existing flooring. It came up in one place as shown in pic..the floor is level but has dirt or sandy touch to it. If you want a fairly small piece of quarter round, cutting the tongue off before installing insures that as the floor contracts, you won't see any of the tongue showing (because these floors do expand and contract some, although generally not as much as laminate). The only other thing I can think of is when you are giving directions to people on a stage, you always have to remember that your right is their left. Oh, yesSince this is concrete on second floor with no moisture, only sandy dust, do I need underlayment regardless? Project done. Not available online to order. In this Smartcore review we take an in-depth look at each collection, and what sets it apart from the others. Amanda, I’m pretty sure smartcore and other similar floors shouldn’t be used in a situation where they’ll be exposed to weather. Like Nancy said, its has to be tried and seen. When we pulled back the carpet, we found and inch of some type of floor leveler applied to the top of the concrete, its sandy and when you walk on it dust comes up..its awfull mess.. I’m considering Brunswick Maple. Looking at large area, not close up, then it looks ok. I assume I dont need a moister/vapor barrier either. The base molding has not been put yet in the basement, so I was planning to cut the tongue/groove off the 1st row against the spacers and the base molding should cover the gap. Given that the carpet and pad were removed, the landing is actually about 3/8ths of an inch lower and of course it is solid when you step on it. Dec 16, 2015 - Lowes Smartcore vinyl plank flooring. The thickest I saw was 6mm. We did not like the way the two locked together. Click together. I used underlayment and really happy I did, I love the feel of the floor and was well worth the 60 bucks for 3 rolls. Most of my pieces were all usable but some were chipped so I just used them as cut pieces and ended up fine. The flooring must be installed in accordance with the installation guidelines and … Apparenly some of this flooring is made in the USA, some is made in China, they mix these products and they do not match up. Rigid core and built in pad. I dont see any reviews on the entry level smartcore without padding..it looks the same as ULTRA in terms of wear layer and core without the padding. my advice make sure you buy one with holes. And most but not all require moisture barrier over concrete slab or crawlspaces.....your underlayment may or may not count as a moisture barrier. I will add a picture of the boxes to show you. We are building a second floor screened in porch in the south and looking for flooring to keep mosquitos for coming in from underneath. Name*: Email Address*: We just purchased the SMARTCORE Ultra Blue Ridge Pine laminant flooring fom LOWES. Its apsolutely not needed with this type of flooring. No I did not return the floors, I already had a couple of the rows donw and all of the floor laid out. I’m looking at the Rivers Edge. I’m not a huge fan of the trendy ‘looks like the wood was left outside all winter long’ weathered look that’s everywhere now. The 5 Year Light Commercial Limited Wear Warranty does not cover: 1. Nice tight fit with no gapping. I loved this floor so much. Same box, numbers, everything but different product. I'll ask one of the flooring people tomorrow for you. Apparently the specific product I used is currently unavailable. Here's an easy to follow instructional video showing key tips to install the revolutionary and patent-pending SMARTCORE® … Resist the temptation to blast away dirt with heavy-duty … Excessive moisture in the subfloor could promote mold, mildew, and other moisture related issues that will contribute to an … We love the classy look of our bathroom now and highly recommend the vinyl planks by SMARTCORE Natural Floors Sold Exclusively At Lowe’s. The biggest new thing is the dog can't stand right on the edge and bark because she doesn't have any leverage. We measured height and seems to be the same. We price shopped extensively and it was the best deal, plus still a quality product. Still not clear about the requirement why we need to go to from left to right during the install. Never miss a deal. I am deciding between basic smartcore product (without padding) and the ultra product for a second story condo. I returned the China made product and got boxes that were only manufactured in the USA. Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page. In that case an underlayment with a little more depth is fine. Existing sheet vinyl floors should not be heavily cushioned and not exceed more than one layer in thickness. #2 The LOWES employee said they had just lost a $25k job due to the flooring being an issue. I'm assuming you're returning all your flooring for a full refund? What's more, I didn't want to have a cold floor! Any solutions appreciated. It's made from really hardwood on top and vinyl core which makes it the only engineered wood product that they claim is waterproof and has a lifetime warranty. Sign up for our email newsletter. It’s not crap. BTW- I am a 47 year old female with no prior construction experience... so, no, installation was NOT a problem! Has anyone installed Smartcore on a covered porch? And if there is so much issue with the product, then why will you not return it for a refund ? I wound do it myself, except, again, I have two little boys, the youngest being 15 months old and very clingy. I once had a shelf where the back and front looked very similar. As you can see in the reviews almost all of the bad reviews are because of difficulty snapping the flooring together. The only way you would know is if you looked at it when wet-a little water seeped into the wood pores a few millimeters up the cut edges. I am planning to use Smartcore Ultra Tivoli Travertine for my basement. No one will order it. Oops! I had it all put together and it was a bit wobbly. Finally, a real hardwood floor you can actually live on. Has anyone used laminate flooring from Porcelanousa? I am wondering if the real wood veneer layer holds up with no splitting or cracking. The China one has holes in the padding. However, this part my effort was my front hallway, right on the concrete slab. A few things I learned and remember, these are my opinions and not meant to hurt anyones feelings or beliefs. They just released a smartcore underlayment, so I picked that up as well. Hi, we're looking for something that we can put over ceramic tile in a rental property. If you read the install instructions, it does say to use silicone caulk around the perimeter in tropical locations (as in Florida where I am) . Please help!!! SMARTCORE™ Premium Engineered Vinyl Flooring Installation Instructions SMARTCORE™ INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (V.1.1) 1 ATTENTION! Shop SMARTCORE by Natural Floors 5.5mm Rustic Hickory Floating (Interlocking) Vinyl Plank Sample at Lowe's Canada online store. Wondering if the real wood veneer holds up to splitting and cracking. Shop confidently with genuine waterproof hardwood that’s approved for bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms and guarantees no two planks are the same. Smartcore Smartcore Ultra Smartcore Pro Smartcore Naturals. Too many gaps no matter how hard you pound it. Smartcore flooring natural floors smartcore ultra a how smartcore flooring natural floors stillwater oak vinyl natural floors stillwater oak vinyl. Absolutely love it. So I am curious regarding the install issues (specially the locking part) and a bit surprised that no one else has had this problem.. Mike I would highly suggest you steer away from the stuff I used. It's just like a puzzle. Call us at 1-800-355-7429 and select option 2 twice! It is 100% waterproof and residential applications have a Lifetime guarantee. Get yourself a rubber hammer. You can install some flooring right to left, but it's harder to get the locking mechanism engaged without unlocking prior installed planks. No direct sunlight on floor. Look up SPC vs WPC. STAY UP-TO-DATE. I will try again with the picture, yes seems to be easy but mine would not load up, dont know why. I do have one spot on my floor where you can see that the floor did not lock in, however it can be interpreted as not being installed correct. Remember I am referring to the smart core flooring. SMARTCORE™ Comprehensive Warranty Program Page 3 of 3 Revised 11/28/17 4. Thanks for posting your pics. Or is he just trying to sell to me? I had to undo what he had begun and start over. ultra comes in two flavors. Shop SMARTCORE Naturals 5-in Hot Springs Hickory Handscraped Engineered Hardwood Flooring (20.01-sq ft) in the Hardwood Flooring department at Lowe's.com. If not, it may be a defective lot. The manufacturer recognizes there is a problem. 77 boxes and 41 to 36! I should have taken photos of the different backing, at the time I just wanted what I needed to finish my floor. I think what I used was 3mm. First off, I have never installed flooring before, but did my homework and watched a few hours of online videos. and she said she's never heard that as a requirement either. (Not sure as to why the above post had mold unless the floor wasn't dry during installation or they didn't put the underlayment down.) Yea or nae? Easy DIY click install over existing hard surface floors with no subfloor prep, acclimation or adhesives. Engineered on a waterproof composite core, this genuine hardwood plank gives you the gorgeous hardwood flooring you desire without the worry. LIMITED RESIDENTIAL FLOORING WARRANTY - LOWES SMARTCORE NATURALS WOOD This Limited Warranty is provided by Shaw Industries, Inc. (Shaw) and begins when the flooring is purchased. Has anyone used the Smartcore transition moldings? Has anyone had any issues with the Smartcore floors fading? The way the Travertine Tile is designed, it has the male groove on top and left side and female groove on right and bottom. I just uploaded a pic from Lowe's website. If i had a picture of the whole box you would see they are identical otherwise. Has anyone used this product? About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new … Good luck with your project. He may just not want the hassle of getting those first two rows started (hardest part with any luxury vinyl). I'm not aware that even the tile look vinyl planks have any "nap" to them. The installer said it was good. It’s just a less expensive product made by a reputable company. Earlier you said that they will not lock but now you are saying that you are able to finish the install ? Chance, no pictures came through, would love to see them if you can repost them. Shop hardwood flooring and a variety of flooring products online at Lowes.com. LOWES has acknowledged this as an issue and currently sending all of this product back, the company is also recognizing this as an issue and has already made a replacement for this particular style of vinly. There were a variety of depths listed in the various SmartCore Ultra on line (official) sources. It does say to use a rubber mallet and not a dead hammer. I have just installed 300 ft of lowes smartcore cottage oak flooring. It isn't rocket-science! Have talked with Lowes and the manufacturer. Chance, I am planning to order Smartcore Travertine this week. Could I add additional underlayment to Ultra? Thanks. I wanted to leave a review as there seems to be a lot of mixed reviews. Maintenance & care tips, as well as vacuum, mop & cleaner recommendations. I am so pleased I made this choice! SMARTCORE Naturals is the smart choice for those who want REAL hardwood, but need something that will Installation of flooring that contains any manufacturing defect is not covered by this limited wear warranty. We had a customer call and say that his installer could not get the end joints to snap together. 5. Now, we are having it installed this week and the person installing it who was recommended by our neighbor is contracted out by Carpet Wholesalers, and appears to push their products. Learn more. China made vs USA made. Installation was a DREAM! To my surprise, I fell hard for smartcore Rustic Hickory. Just remember, now that you've put Smartcore on the landing, that landing is now a teeny bit higher than it used to be. We want to prevent noise from protruding down to the condo owner below. This comment will raise some eyebrows but do your own research, and you will see. First off, you can toss that box of spacers and tapping blocks that the lowes worker said you needed. We had water damage, so the downstairs renovation is not exactly planned and convenient. its ugly but the extra warmth and thickness is welcome. Hello Karen/Nancy, thanks so much for your responses. It isn't ok! Do this correctly and you actually see the gap disapear. My brothe and myself have installed numerous vinyl floors in the past and have been very successful in doing so. Shop SMARTCORE Naturals 5-in Rivers Edge Oak Handscraped Engineered Hardwood Flooring (20.01-sq ft) in the Hardwood Flooring department at Lowe's.com. Have three houses left with carpet, Looking for reviews of The Smart core NATURALS. I hear good things about ultra, but dont know if its quiet enough. Installation was great, and a year into this, it it tough as nails. FOR BEST VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF YOUR FLOOR This flooring replicates the look of a natural product which has natural variations in color, … Has anyone used the "Peel and Stick" Vinyl flooring? 100% waterproof - won't swell, crack or peel when exposed to water. She was happier when I secured an area rug on it. Smartcore By Natural Floors 12 Piece 5 In X 48 Cottage Locking2020 S On Smartcore By Natural Floors Rustic Hickory VinylNatural Floors Smartcore Ultra A How To Product Review YouSmartcore By Natural … After speaking to a flooring associate at Lowe’s when returning, she told me smartcore was sold to Shaw a year or so ago, and since then the quality in production has gone down significantly. This was a review on Lowes.com, in case your issue is the end joints: As a flooring installer with almost 30 years experience I know what I'm talking about. READ BEFORE INSTALLING! Lowe's vinyl planks (smartcore, shaw,) all get horrible reviews for wearability and delamination. Also this floor does not expand or contract as other flooring so the spacers are just a pain, just butt it up to the wall. Normally a very basic underlayment will do. It is a very easy installation and durable product. I was pretty happy with the overall result and hope to get a chance to lay some more flooring as I felt I learned as I went. (Note: He had damaged several pieces trying to force the planks in the way 'he' thought they should be installed.) And if we decide to stick with the smartcore, I don’t want this guy installing it because he isn’t familiar with it and may break it (on accident or purpose). The US version has no holes and consists of a piece of solid foam. Install and lock the pieces on the long width side, and then tap the short ends gently with a rubber mallet. We have small rental houses. #1 The ends of the flooring will not snap together because the groove on the bottom side is cut down to low, this allows the flooring to not snap in and hold like it should. There were so many issues... Hello Nancy and Karen, I figured out the left to right install reason. These did snap in but do not lock in, you can pull them apart with little force, that should not be. larger gap, it appeared the overall thickness is not the same on the two. Well adapted to temperature. And cutting the tongue off against the spacers enables you to use a smaller piece of quarter round to cover the gap, without worrying about the tongue showing when the floor contracts (even vinyl floors expand and contract a little). SMARTCORE Naturals is the smart choice for those who want REAL hardwood, … So back to my questions, basic with good underlayment, ultra by itself or ultra with extra underlayment? My floor did come out great but only after having to fight with it and many trips to the store to bring and pickup product. Cut like butter and very clean cuts using a fine blade! Not only do they not match up but if you try to get them to you will damage the ends so they won't even go together, and if you do get some of them together they are a different height. Or he may may get a commission for every product he sells and wants you to buy from him. Temp in range. Wish I had more photos to show you. There were less of the China-made, so we swapped those out with USA. Has anyone used solid bamboo floor sold at Lowe's? The designee of the Smartcore Pro is a little different from the Ultra or the Standard Smartcore. Notice in the picture that the numbers are differrent, same flooring just differetn manufacturing codes based on where it is made. Sign up for our email newsletter. Most LVP has restrictions on how much underlayment you can use. Which is better? So are you asking out of curiosity or are you questioning me? Not available in store in the state. Try installing a few pieces the way you want and see how tough it is and what issues might crop up. Looking at the Smartcore Naturals, ... After speaking to a flooring associate at Lowe’s when returning, she told me smartcore was sold to Shaw a year or so ago, and since then the quality in production … By continuing to browse this site or use this app, I agree the Houzz group may use cookies and similar technologies to improve its products and services, serve me relevant content and to personalise my experience. My shot in the dark guess is that maybe its faux stone appearance works something like the nap of a fabric. I’m so disappointed. Not only is it 100% waterproof and fire-resistant, but it also provides dimensional stability, durability, and impact resistance up to 20 times that of current laminate flooring technology. It’s one of the better options in the mid-priced range. Looking at the Smartcore Naturals, specifically the Rivers Edge Oak. The floor is not even and we didn’t level it- so the baseboard molding has done gaps. Csunbean, you might want to start a new discussion/thread because that's a totally different type of product. I am considering vi cork from pet friendly floors. On previous floors I have installed once I locked the planks together you could hold them up and they would stay together. Cost is comparable. SMARTCORE® Naturals flooring can be installed over most existing hard–surface floor coverings (including ceramic tile) provided that the existing floor surface is clean, flat dry and structurally sound. We like another man that posted have some made in China (has a halograff symbol on the box) and some from the US. Learn all you need to know about which SMARTCORE collection is right for you and how easy it is to install. STAY UP-TO-DATE. For me, their right should have been left and changed how front and back fit together as well. Also we found about a box worth that was bowed in the middle. Bought Smartcore Pro LVP flooring at Lowes and installed in two bathrooms. Find Vinyl Plank at … SMARTCORE Naturals is the smart choice for real waterproof hardwood, 100% Waterproof - won't swell, crack or peel when exposed to water, Easy DIY click install over existing hard surface floors with no subfloor prep, acclimation or adhesives, Designed to stand up to real life and then some, including rambunctious kids and rowdy pets, For additional comfort, noise reduction and moisture protection, install with SMARTCORE Soft and Sound™ underlayment item #1191177, GREENGUARD Gold certification means this flooring meets stringent indoor air quality emissions criteria, Lifetime limited residential warranty and 5 year light commercial warranty. I wish it had even a little sheen but the Maple seems to be pretty matte, which is trendy now, but to me it looks like I'm putting unfinished lumber on the floor. I placed the black 6-mil polyfilm underneath (concrete basement floors at a lake house) and began to reinstall. I shopped for months for a flooring I loved to look at. An update to my above statement. i have not read any of the above specifically regarding that product. The ends of some were cut at a slight angle so they wouldn't go together without pulling the middle apart. All SMARTCORE Naturals planks install directly over existing hard surfaces and won’t telegraph uneven floors. The floor is concrete yes concrete on second floor. I found SUPERcore through Another thread on here And ordered The oak gunstock and had zero problems with install. Hope that makes sense. The different collections are: SmartCore, SmartCore Ultra, SmartCore Pro and SmartCore Naturals. Whats stopping me from going Right to left for ex ? Now we're putting down the SMARTCORE Pro product in our family room. Good luck on your floor. Instructions recommended using a circular saw, but I got by with just a Jigsaw to do the ripping. I was able to install all of the floor but I have every intention on contacting the manufacturer and LOWES, I want someone to send me a letter stating that the floors are defective and i I ever have an issue i want them to replace them at their cost. We purchased ours at Lowes in Bridgeport, WV. Not the smartcore ultra or pro flooring. These do not do that, so while snapping other pieces together some would move and required rework. SMARTCORE Naturals is the smart choice for those who want REAL hardwood, but need … Buy the black plastic dead blow hammer that is available at Lowe's I did a practice floor with a rubber mallet and it did not work. Should I buy the basic entry level smartcore product with good padding like easygo, to ensure a good sound barrier or will i be fine with no underlayment/Ultra product? we have direct sun beaming in the living room all morning and the sun hasn't done anything to the floors! Mike I was just speaking with my brother, there were two other issues I forgot to mention. Extra underlayment is suggested only for flooring laid on concrete. Shop SMARTCORE Rustic Hickory 5.5-mm Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (5.0-in W x 48.03-in L) at Lowe's Canada online store. I should not have to do the work twice. When we were selecting our LVP for out 2nd level condo we couldn't find pictures of the floor color we were going with, so I am posting it here for others that may want to see the Lowes Smartcore Ultra Brunswick Maple color. when you make a large order, they sneak in the USA version. James can you post some pictures of your project? Finally, a real hardwood floor you can actually live on. What is the trick? … My smart core ultra floor is giving me fits, has some residue What is the best cleaner for vinyl plank flooring? If I reverse the tile, it will make the install very difficult. I was at Lowe's the other day and found Smartcore Naturals which is not Vinyl at all but it's really interesting. This creates a problem mostly because while laying the floor down as you go the others come apart and you have to go back and re-work, once you have it down and move on it will stay together but only after numerous times, it is still not locked in but will stay down due to the other planks holding it. When tapping the hammer ,do an angle hit toward the direction of the groove of the connecting piece. The China version is what is on display. Has any one had experience with the SmartCore Naturals? If you've installed click flooring before, you know to clean out the tongue and groove to remove any dust or bits left over from cutting? I love the wide planks and light color!It makes the room look so much bigger and the light color is so soothing. And for the 1st row of the LVT, do I need to cut the edges off to make it flush against the spacers ? Here’s what we recommend: If you’ve had good experiences with Lowes (or at least not bad experiences), take a … Hello Karen, what brand extra underlayment do you recommend or just use plastic moisture barrier ? I don’t want grey tones or super grainy texture. We have Smartcore flooring and are very pleased. Living room! Planned to come back later. It's basically a hybrid of vinyl and engineered wood. Husband jas messed with it since Dec. and not getting anywhere with it other than redoing, redoing, redoing, redoing! The end joints simply overlap and are tapped into place with a Dead blow hammer. Planks are about 2 ft by 1 foot. One factor would be, what are you using to cover the gap? USFloors is a selling brand of Shaw Industries, Inc. If you have any thoughts or experiences with vinyl plank flooring please … We still love them! Has anyone used Benjamin Moore Sea Glass from the Colour Story collect. The glue down method is not really recommended unless the floor is going to be exposed to extreme temperatures. Try a couple rows and you'll see. Unfortunately this particular flooring is defective., there are numerous issues tha I will list. Smartcore, made by COREtec, offers quality that is better than average, though not the best. Loved it and when following instructions, had absolutely no problems whatsoever locking the pieces together. I have been looking for reviews and firsthand experience with the Smartcore Natural products, also, but it is so new that there is no info out there yet. In closing, I know this wasnt the most expensive flooring available, but for the price, I am very satisfied with the results. Finally, a real hardwood floor you can actually live on. Used the underpayment too. Find SMARTCORE Naturals hardwood flooring at Lowe's today. Lowes Smartcore Naturals Floor Veneer Wood Reviews 0 comment Lowes Smartcore Naturals Floor Veneer Wood Reviews 0 comment Shop Brewster Wallcovering Urban Walls 56 4 Sq Ft Brown Non Naturals 5 12 In Stepp Falls Bamboo Engineered Hardwood Flooring 20 49 Sq Ft Breathe Easier About Your Flooring … Any advice appreciated! He said it’s trash, and now I’m upset and trying to figure out if I need to haul this load back to Lowe’s with two little children and go hunting again. I used an old one I had and put duct tape on the end as not to leave black marks on the flooring. BEWARE!! Selection is only so-so, at it is sold only at Lowes. Mike, in case Karen doesn't respond. The T mold appears to be incomparable with installation next to existing tile. Two colors. Follow the directions and lay the long end first, slide it to the short end and gently push in at a 45 angle and you will hear it click and then tap with your hammer. And many laminate manufacturers do recommend cutting off the tongue that will be against the spacers. Smartcore ya wood plastic composite (as is most wood look vinyl) and SUPERcmore is Stone Plastic composite. Mike, you can work "backward", but with the way the end locking mechanism works it will be more difficult to get them joined/locked. It may be required for the ultra or pro, I dont know. Treat yourself to a truly unique waterproof hardwood floor that’s sure to command the attention of any room and enhance your interior design. The most important thing I learned was that after you completed 3 rows, go back and check for pieces that come unlocked. #3 The backing is different on each one, it does not even look the same whichis why the height is off between the two. Same product but will not match. Plus, save time, money and hassle with no subfloor prep or acclimation and effortless, adhesive-free installation that you can easily DIY. A 2019 updated guide for how to clean vinyl plank flooring. SMARTCORE® Naturals floor covering is an interior product and must be stored/installed in a temperature-controlled interior environment, maintained between 55 and 85 degrees F or 13°-29°C. I just installed with the smartcore naturals maple and love it for the basement. I want to know if the wood veneer and finish hold up. We do the entire house in Brunswick Maple. Had a 'professional' to come and start the installation, but had a hard time and left. Too late to change, (unglue) I realized the diagram was like looking at a stage. Make sure the groove of the piece you are attaching to is clean of debree, its amazing how one speck in there can ruin your day. If you try to tap this flooring with a block you will just break the locking tabs. * Note that in 2016 USFloors was acquired by Shaw Industries (the company behind Shaw Floors) and so SmartCore … Mike--I asked one of our flooring specialist why the directions would say specifically for you to work left to right (Or right to left for that matter!) If the LVP already has underlayment attached, you might not be able to use any additional. I’m grateful I had found this thread a while back because as we were loading up 42 boxes onto our cart, I noticed some were made in China and some in the USA. How can I prepare a mosaic tile floor so we can put down LVP? Find SMARTCORE vinyl flooring in several different colored wood grains at Lowe’s. SMARTCORE Naturals is the smart choice for those who want REAL hardwood, but need … Looking for Input on how to level a floor (hardwood on concrete), Wood Tile Grout Color - Save my Marriage :). It didn't swell or discolor-it just dried out and looked the same! So, if you want them to move to your left, you have to tell them to "Move to stage right." SMARTCORE Naturals is the smart choice for those who want REAL hardwood, but need … Politely fire him and find another installer. Still have the WHOLE house to go! Take care when you lift each piece out of the box, Yes the tabs are fragile, but treat it with care and you wont have any problems. The LOWES floor sales/installers said they had never seen that type of underside before, we couldn't find another box with it either. While I was at Lowes the salesman showed me a new style they are already stocking to replace what I used.