SPC vs WPC vinyl flooring explained

Core construction

SPC cores are limestone powder and PVC, compressed into a dense, rigid board typically 4 to 6mm thick. WPC cores are PVC with a foaming agent and sometimes wood flour, producing a thicker board of 5.5 to 8mm with air pockets that make it lighter and softer.

Dent resistance

SPC wins clearly. Heavy furniture legs, appliance feet and dropped tools dent WPC more readily because of the foamed core. In a rental, a kitchen or a room with a piano or heavy sectional, SPC is the safer specification.

Comfort and acoustics

WPC wins. The foamed core absorbs impact and sound, making footsteps quieter and the floor warmer to bare feet. Most WPC products include an attached acoustic pad. For bedrooms and for condos with acoustic requirements, this is a genuine advantage.

Subfloor tolerance

SPC's rigidity means it spans minor subfloor imperfections without flexing, but it also transmits the feel of bumps underneath. WPC is more forgiving in feel but more likely to flex over a poor subfloor. Either way, the flatness requirement of an eighth of an inch over six feet applies.

Temperature stability

SPC expands and contracts less with temperature, which matters in sunrooms, over in-floor heating, and in properties that are heated intermittently such as cottages. This is the main technical reason SPC dominates the seasonal-property market.

Common questions