Next Floor Epic 586 Vinyl Plank Flooring

The vinyl aisle is full of look-alikes at very different prices, and the difference usually comes down to two specs most shoppers never check.

In simple terms: Next Floor Epic 586 is luxury vinyl plank, a wood-look floor that is 100% waterproof and built to take real-life traffic. It is WPC, Squarefoot Flooring carries it and our own crew installs it.

WPC means a wood-polymer composite core. It keeps the stability of rigid vinyl but adds a bit of cushion, so it is warmer and quieter underfoot than a stone core, which people notice most in kitchens and family rooms. It has a 20 mil wear layer, the sweet spot for busy homes and light commercial rooms, well above the builder-grade 6 to 12 mil you find in big-box vinyl. On vinyl, that mil number is the best single predictor of how long the floor keeps looking new, more than thickness or price. Because it is 100% waterproof rather than just water-resistant, you can put it in the rooms that rule out wood and laminate, full baths, laundry rooms, kitchens, and basements. It carries an IIC rating around 71 and an STC around 63, so it clears the sound-transfer rules most GTA condo boards set, a common sticking point in high-rises. Planks run up to 7 inches wide and 48 inches long, a wide-and-long format that reads like real wood. Micro-bevelled edges define each plank for a more authentic look. It is also FloorScore certified for indoor air quality. It is backed by a Lifetime Wear residential and 30-Year Wear commercial warranty. Colours in the range include Light Twine, Aged Driftwood, Salted Caramel, Silver Rustic Oak, and Candlelight.

Decision line: pick Epic 586 when underfoot comfort and quiet matter as much as waterproofing, such as kitchens and family rooms you stand in for a while.

Our own crew installs Next Floor Epic 586 across the Toronto and Mississauga area, Barrie, and Simcoe County, never subcontracted. A floating vinyl floor still needs a clean, flat base, so we level and prep first, then finish the trim and transitions. See our vinyl installation page.

Vinyl reads differently across a full floor than in a small sample, so it is worth seeing Epic 586 in person at either store. Contact us to check current stock, or browse the full vinyl plank range. Our is flooring waterproof guide explains what waterproof actually covers.