Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) have become extremely popular flooring choices. Like laminate, most vinyl plank is installed as a floating floor that requires an expansion gap around the perimeter. Shoe molding is the standard trim piece used to cover this gap.
Vinyl plank floors are relatively thin (usually 4-8mm), and the expansion gap needed is typically 1/4 inch. Standard shoe molding covers this gap perfectly. The slim profile of shoe molding is proportional to the thin flooring, whereas quarter round can look bulky next to thin LVP.
If the vinyl plank is glued directly to the subfloor (not floating), the expansion gap requirements are less strict. However, shoe molding is still commonly used to cover the edge where the flooring meets the baseboard, especially if the cut edge of the vinyl plank is not perfectly straight.
Many vinyl plank manufacturers sell matching quarter round or transition strips, but they rarely sell matching shoe molding. For the closest match to painted baseboards, paint the shoe molding the same color. For vinyl plank with a wood look, you can stain wood shoe molding to approximate the floor color, or simply match the baseboard color as described in our color matching guide.