What is the difference between WPC and SPC flooring?

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Thanks to new technology, the options and possibilities luxury vinyl flooring offers to designers continue to expand. One of the latest luxury vinyl products is rigid core luxury vinyl flooring, which is a type of luxury vinyl flooring comprised of a more solid or “rigid” core for added durability. Rigid core luxury vinyl is a glueless format with a click locking installation system.

SPC, which stands for Stone Plastic (or Polymer) Composite, features a core that is typically comprised of around 60% calcium carbonate (limestone), polyvinyl chloride and plasticizers.

WPC, stands for Wood Plastic (or Polymer) Composite. Its core typically consists of polyvinyl chloride, calcium carbonate, plasticizers, a foaming agent, and wood-like or wood materials such as wood flour. Manufacturers of WPC, which was originally named for the wood materials it was comprised of, are increasingly replacing the various wood materials with wood-like plasticizers.

The makeup of WPC and SPC is relatively similar, though SPC consists of far more calcium carbonate (limestone) than WPC, which is where the “S” in SPC stems from; it has more of a stone composition.

WPC and SPC vinyl flooring both have 100% waterproof cores. In WPC vinyl, the core is made from wood plastic composite, while SPC vinyl floors are made with a stone plastic composite core. The stone is stiffer, sturdier and less resilient.