LifeProof Vinyl Flooring Reviews: Is It Worth It?

Let’s talk a bit about LifeProof vinyl flooring! Home Depot’s in-house brand is relatively inexpensive, decently durable, and increasingly popular. But should you buy it and is it worth putting in your home?

Below, we’re going to show you everything you need to know about LifeProof. We’ll talk about its pros and cons, the collections it comes in, and talk about the most common themes that pop up in their reviews. Finally, we’ll compare it to some of the other best, vinyl plank flooring brands on the market. 

By the end of this guide, you should have a good idea of whether LifeProof is right for you! 

First: What is LifeProof Vinyl Flooring?

LifeProof is Home Depot’s in-house brand of vinyl plank flooring (aka LVP)—one of the most robust and popular types of flooring on the market today. 

One of LVP’s biggest selling points is that it’s a fantastic fake wood flooring choice. LifeProof certainly leans into that, and if you check it out on Home Depot’s website, you’ll find it in endless patterns that mimic every wood look imaginable.

That said, there’s a big gap between high-end LVP and budget LVP—and below, we’ll show you where it fits on that scale.

LifeProof Flooring Is Exclusive to Home Depot

Again, it can only be bought at Home Depot. The entire product line is Home Depot’s in-house brand.

How to Purchase LifeProof

Some options are available in-store at your local Home Depot location, but if you want to view the full catalog, you’d be better off visiting the store’s website. You can also buy it online and have it shipped to your home.

Who Makes LifeProof Vinyl Flooring?

Although it is sold exclusively at Home Depot, the manufacturer of these products is Halstead New England Industries. They make the product and ship it to Home Depot for re-labeling.

About Halstead New England Industries

If you’re unfamiliar with this brand, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Halstead isn’t exactly a household name.

Home Depot contracts Halstead to produce LifeProof, and if you peruse Halstead’s website, you’ll notice that some of its offerings are suspiciously similar.

What are the Most Popular LifeProof Flooring Colors?

It comes in tons of wood floor designs and colors. If you want something like ebony flooring (but don’t want to spend a million dollars trying to buy the real thing) LifeProof might offer a decent substitute. 

In fact, one of the best things about this brand, is the huge range of hardwood species it can look like. We’re not just talking normal stuff like sterling oak and hickory—we’re talking darkened and bleached wooden finishes that make for gorgeous contrasts. 

The Pros of LifeProof Flooring

There’s a lot to like, but we’d be lying if we said there weren’t some concerns too. Let’s start with the product’s advantages.

The Cost of It Is Relatively Low

It generally costs between $2.50 and $5 per square foot, which isn’t too bad. However, the price is dependent on the thickness of the wear layer and honestly how much inventory they have in stock. We have seen pretty aggressive price swings over the last few months, but from our research the price consistently stays within $2.50 to $5.

Many Reviews Mention That the Residential Warranty is Great

Lots of the reviews we read mentioned that the product’s residential warranty is excellent. The policy includes a limited lifetime warranty for factory defects, water damage, fading, stains, and general wear if the print pattern has been damaged.

This is definitely one of the best features. But there’s also a less-great side to the warranty that we’ll cover below.

It Is Certified Low-VOC

Low-VOC flooring, or flooring with a smaller concentration of volatile organic compounds, is becoming more popular than ever. Because it’s, well, healthier. 

Of course, low-VOC doesn’t mean non-existent-VOC. If you want something even safer, you’ll probably want to look at something like solid hardwood or a non-toxic laminate.

It Can Work with Radiant Heat

The brand is marketed as being compatible with radiant heat. So, if you’re wondering whether to use carpet or hardwood in a bedroom, maybe the real answer is LifeProof. You don’t have to sacrifice the warmth of a carpet, but you can still get the look of wood!

It Doesn’t Need an Underlayment

Another advantage is that it comes with its own underlayment. It’s not the only brand to do so, but this is an advantage nonetheless. 

The Cons of LifeProof Flooring

And here’s where the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring really start to show. Because unfortunately, LifeProof seems to accentuate the inherent flaws rather than solve them. Here’s why:

It Is Not Environmentally Sustainable

Being made of plastic, it is not a particularly eco-friendly flooring choice. It’s hard to recycle, and the production process isn’t sustainable. Many consumers shy away from their products because of this.

The Warranty Applies to the First Owner Only, So it’s Not Ideal for Resale Value

And here’s the first knock on the warranty policy: it only applies to the first owner/original purchaser. So, if the first owner sells their property and the flooring gets damaged when a second owner moves in, that second owner can’t redeem the warranty.

Put plainly, the warranty policy doesn’t even come close to the policies offered by most of the best brands in the industry.

Its Commercial Warranty Isn’t Great (and Hints at the Product’s Quality)

To this point, we’ve only mentioned the residential warranty. And that’s because the commercial warranty is… not great. The average commercial warranty only lasts five years, and doesn’t cover a host of common occurrences like wear. 

This begs the question, is it even intended for heavy-traffic areas? According to many reviews, the answer seems to be no. 

DIY Damage Is Way Too Common

In fact, for a product that’s supposed to be some of the easiest flooring to install, a lot of LifeProof owners note that they damaged at least a few planks during installation. 

That begs yet another question: do you need to hire a professional to install it? Because if so, it might be more economical to buy higher-end vinyl plank that’s easier to install by yourself.

LifeProof’s Biggest Problem: Reviewers Don’t Really Like It

We’re not going to say that the brand is terrible. There are many lower-end EVP flooring options that are a lot worse. 

But many reviewers who compare it to other products—particularly other vinyl products—tend to prefer the other options. That’s not a good sign. To be honest it sounds like most p

Comparing LifeProof Vinyl Flooring to Other Top Brands

So what are the best vinyl plank brands out there and how does LifeProof compare? Below we’ve selected four top brands (though by no means the only top brands) and stacked them up against LifeProof.

LifeProof vs. Proximity Mills

Proximity Mills is one of the most popular flooring brands in the country—and for good reason. The company’s products are similarly-priced to LifeProof’s, but with better warranties, thicker wear layers, and a much better buying experience (they only sell Proximity Mills at certain stores for more boutique-style customer service). 

Plus, Proximity Mills is ethically-sourced and fully recyclable. So if you’re looking for a floor in this price range, we’d recommend going with a brand like Proximity instead.

LifeProof vs. Liberty Home

One of the biggest issues in the vinyl plank industry today is the lack of inventory. Since COVID, supply chains have been a major issue, and it has affected vinyl plank inventory worldwide. LifeProof inventory has been hit especially hard given their product is sourced overseas.

If you need a product right away, we would recommend buying Liberty Home instead. The product is easy to install and the company prides itself on having inventory that is ready to ship next day.

LifeProof vs. Doma

If you’re looking for vinyl plank flooring that looks amazing (along with being seriously durable), we’d recommend looking into Doma. This company sells, hands-down, the boldest and most trendy designs in the world of LVP.

Like Proximity Mills, Doma is ethically-sourced and they only sell low- and zero-VOC vinyl products—so you know your family’s health will be taken care of.

In terms of price, Doma’s LVP offerings are a bit more expensive than LifeProof’s—but not by nearly as much as you’d think.

LifeProof vs. COREtec

COREtec is known for its COREtec Plus line, which uses cork in its base layer for strength. Don’t worry—you don’t have to worry about the pros and cons of cork flooring here—it just adds bounce and sound-dampening properties to the floor. COREtec is the original creator of WPC vinyl flooring. And while it’s more expensive than LifeProof flooring, we believe it’s also more innovative. 

LifeProof vs. Newton

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly LVP option, we’d recommend going with a brand like Newton. Newton’s LVP specs are superior to LifeProof’s, for the most part, but at a lower price (and with an arguably superior look).

That said, LifeProof offers way more products than Newton does, so you’re more likely to find a look you love in their catalog.

So, Is LifeProof Good?

We’ve delayed our judgment long enough! Our take: it’s okay. 

The simple truth is that there are better options available in similar price ranges (especially Proximity Mills.) LifeProof’s best selling point might be that it’s relatively easy to find, since there’s a Home Depot in virtually every county in the U.S. That said… well, we’ve all been to Home Depot. That’s all we’ll say.

What to Expect from It.

Their flooring in the 6.5-mil category may compare favorably to low-end LVP products, but not by much and not for the price. 

If you look at the 12- to 22-mil wear layer price range—and don’t mind the narrower selection—then you might actually end up with a decent floor.

LifeProof flooring is still vinyl plank—so you don’t have to worry about any solid or engineered wood disadvantages. But if you’re going in expecting high-performance luxury vinyl, there are better choices out there.

In Conclusion: LifeProof Vinyl Flooring Is… Okay. But There Are Much Better LVP Options Out There.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: if you want vinyl plank, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere. It isn’t terrible, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. And at its most affordable price point, it doesn’t offer a great product.