Demand grows as Central Jersey homeowners seek durable, seamless, and cost-effective alternatives to hardwood for kitchens, basements, and active living spaces.

FREEHOLD, NJ, UNITED STATES, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As Central New Jersey homeowners renovate their living spaces, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) and waterproof laminate have emerged as the most requested flooring materials across the region.

"The waterproof products that we are seeing the most are Luxury Vinyl Plank & Waterproof laminate products," said Michael Ruggiero, owner of Supreme Flooring LLC. Ruggiero notes that these resilient surfaces now represent a major portion of his company's installations throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex Counties as homeowners prioritize durability, low maintenance, and realistic wood aesthetics.

According to Ruggiero, the shift toward LVP is driven by practical household needs across three common scenarios:

-Open-Concept Kitchens & Backyard Pools: "Many customers in their kitchens have sliding doors that lead to a backyard where they often have a pool," explained Ruggiero. "We install LVP in open-concept kitchens like these, which helps customers with children who frequently go in and out while playing in the yard and pool."

-Senior Living & Accessibility: "We have installed LVP in one level 55+ community where senior adults often don't want transitions between multiple floor products (example: tile in kitchen with a saddle then flooring)," Ruggiero noted. "Sometimes they also rely on walkers. LVP flooring allows the entire unit (sometimes including the bathroom) to be completed with one product. It's waterproof for those kitchen spills."

-Basement Flood Recovery: Highlighting the resilience of floating LVP, Ruggiero recalled a major water damage restoration job: "We installed Luxury Vinyl plank flooring in a basement a few years ago. 2 months later, the entire basement flooded," Ruggiero shared. "The basement was, I think, around 1500 sq ft. We carefully took the flooring up. We let it dry upright against walls for several days. We were able to use about 98% of the material we took up when we reinstalled. We needed to dig into about 3 of the extra boxes of flooring that customers kept after jobs.”

Ruggiero cautions homeowners to understand the crucial technical distinction between marketing terminology and actual flooring performance.

"The only true waterproof product where it can be left soaking underwater is tile," Ruggiero emphasized. "Not all Luxury Vinyl Plank products claiming to be 100% waterproof truly are. Most, if not all, are not. A lot require a 6 mil vapor barrier, and spec sheets want testing for moisture RH (relative humidity levels). Ask yourself: If something is 100% waterproof, why would that be necessary?"

"They simply are very water-resistant from spills, and the engineering of them far surpasses the ability to withstand moisture compared to hardwood and then engineered," Ruggiero added. "Just like my basement flooding example, even if the product is 100% waterproof, it was a commercial glue-down; the product has to be taken up for environmental reasons such as mold growth, which will happen between the subfloor and the LVP flooring."

When evaluating flooring options during client consultations, Ruggiero breaks down the core trade-offs between LVP, hardwood, and carpet:

- LVP vs. Hardwood: "Compared to hardwood flooring, LVP flooring usually costs about 30% less, offers better scratch protection, and includes waterproofing," stated Ruggiero. "It can last just as long, if not longer, than hardwood. However, hardwood (solid and engineered with enough wear layer) can be sanded and refinished, rather than replaced."

- LVP vs. Carpet: "Carpet is roughly about 30% cheaper as well compared to LVP flooring," Ruggiero noted, while highlighting that LVP provides vastly superior resistance to moisture, pet wear, and daily foot traffic.

Homeowners interested in new flooring can contact Supreme Flooring LLC to schedule a consultation and review material options, subfloor preparation requirements, and installation specifications. The company can be reached at (732) 707-9312 or info@supremeflooringllc.com.

About Supreme Flooring LLC
Supreme Flooring LLC is a licensed and insured New Jersey flooring contractor serving residential and commercial clients across Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex Counties (NJ State License #13VH07990000). Owned by Michael Ruggiero, the company provides hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, laminate, and carpet installation, Epoxy/ Polyaspartic, commercial rubber and vinyl, as well as floor refinishing and repair.

Michael Ruggiero
Supreme Flooring LLC
+1 732-778-4239
info@supremeflooringllc.com
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