Ideas & guides

Difference Between SPC and WPC Flooring

Large open room with wood-tone flooring, artwork and a long wall of tall windows.

Vinyl flooring comes in many formats and designs. Compare the construction and installation requirements of the actual products you are considering.

But the success of vinyl as a flooring material of choice also creates problems. Homeowners looking to install a vinyl floor in their homes are presented with such a wide variety of vinyl flooring that it is hard to decide which option is best for their homes, says Real Property Group.

SPC and WPC are two categories of rigid-core vinyl flooring. Manufacturer terminology and formulations can vary.

Similarities between SPC and WPC

Close-up of angled wood-tone floorboards with a diagonal band of shadow.

Before we explain the differences between SPC and WPC, let’s first look at their similarities.

  1. Many SPC and WPC products use a floating click-lock installation. Follow the selected product’s instructions; a rigid core does not establish one installation method for every product.

  2. SPC and WPC products commonly combine a protective surface, a printed design and a rigid core; backing and wear-layer specifications vary. Compare the selected product’s construction and warranty. Scratch resistance and a waterproof plank claim do not make an installation scratch-proof or flood-proof.
  3. Rigid-core construction does not eliminate subfloor preparation. The substrate must meet the selected flooring manufacturer’s flatness, moisture and structural requirements. There is no universal ¼-inch defect that every plank can safely bridge.

  4. In terms of design and appearance, there is little to choose between SPC and WPC. Both can look like wood, stone, ceramic, marble, or any other kind of finish. The two are available in a range of interesting textures.

  5. Both SPC and WPC are available in different formatting options. SPC and WPC can be manufactured in the following formats: wider or longer planks, wider tiles, and multi-lengths/widths in one carton.

Differences between SPC and WPC

Bedroom with dark curtains and a chevron-patterned floor.

Core construction is one distinction. The wear surface, backing, locking system and approved applications also matter.

The core layer

  • WPC commonly has an expanded polymer core that contributes to a softer feel underfoot. Evaluate the full product and backing rather than assuming the abbreviation specifies one formula.

  • SPC has a denser solid core. Radiant-heat compatibility is product-specific: confirm the approved system, temperature limits and installation requirements before choosing either SPC or WPC.

Waterproofing

  • A WPC plank may be rated waterproof, but that rating does not establish that its joints, perimeter or the assembly beneath it form a waterproof barrier. Check the particular product’s installation instructions, approved rooms and warranty exclusions.
  • Do not assume SPC protects the subfloor from water above or below it. Leaks, flooding and substrate moisture still require assessment and correction. The selected product’s instructions determine moisture testing, vapor control and perimeter treatment.

Durability

Slender black chair legs on a brown wood-grain floor.

  • Heavy furniture can indent a floor. Check the selected product’s loading and furniture-protection instructions, regardless of its core category.

  • Core density can influence indentation resistance, but it does not establish scratch resistance or wear life by itself. Compare the complete product and its intended-use rating.

Choose between specific SPC and WPC products based on comfort, expected use, substrate conditions and the full installed price. Neither category is automatically the best choice for every basement or room.