Evoke Laminate & Vinyl Flooring | Home Flooring Pros

Welcome to our overview of Evoke flooring and this week you get a two for one deal as we take a look at both Evoke Laminate and Evoke Vinyl.

Evoke Flooring was established in 2009 and is a subsidiary of the Canadian flooring company Metropolitan. Evoke manufactures and distributes laminate and vinyl flooring across Canada and the US.

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EVOKE LAMINATE FLOORING

Let’s start our Evoke laminate flooring report with a look at the options and styles available.

STYLES AND COLLECTIONS OF EVOKE LAMINATE

Evoke laminate has a reputation for trendsetting design, offering a more modern approach compared to classic brands like Pergo and Mohawk. You’ll find deep wood grain, battered barnwood, and luxurious faux mahogany among its color selections.

Evoke offers three main families of laminate flooring: Promenade, Heritage, and Au Naturel.

PROMENADE COLLECTION

Character: Classy, smooth, and swirling wood grain with brushed or matte surfaces. Sophisticated.

Style names: Ethel, Lottie, Fergie, Noah, Archie, Barbara, Paula, among others.

Installation method: Drop and lock, separate underlay required.

Abrasion Class: AC4, suitable for any residential or light commercial floor.

Air quality certifications: TSCA Title VI Compliant; CA Section 01350 Compliant; some have Greenguard Gold.

Pattern repeat: 12 inches

Warranty: Limited lifetime residential; 3-year light commercial

HERITAGE COLLECTION

Character: Weathered barnwood, wood-grain embossed, some with deep chiseling or distressing; Handscraped options.Classic.

Style names: George, Mason, Edward, Martin, among others.

Installation method: Angle and lock with underlay attached.

Abrasion Class: AC3 – Better for residential but OK for a light commercial setting.

Air quality certifications: TSCA Title VI Compliant; CA Section 01350 Compliant; Greenguard Gold.

Pattern repeat: 9 or 12 inches with board rotation.

Warranty: Limited lifetime residential; 3-year light commercial

AU NATUREL COLLECTION

Character: Genuine wood grain look, knots, both quarter-sawn and plainsawn look; Rustic charm.

Style names: Adele, Betsy, Blake, Michelle, among others.

Installation method: Drop and lock, separate underlay required.

Abrasion Class: AC4

Air quality certifications: TSCA Title VI Compliant; CA Section 01350 Compliant

Pattern repeat: 9-12 inches.

Warranty: Limited lifetime residential; 3-year light commercial

INSTALLATION OF EVOKE LAMINATE

Can you install your own Evoke laminate?  Yes!  Evoke is one of the few flooring manufacturers that encourages handy homeowners to DIY their flooring projects.  It markets the easy-to-install nature of laminate as a feature and provides extensive guides on how to properly install its product. Stick to the guides, and your floor will look great and perform as it should.

Au Naturel and Promenade products are installed using a drop and click system and must be installed over a separate underlay.  Heritage products use an angle and click installation method, which is a little trickier to master.  The advantage to Heritage products is that they come with the underlay already attached.

With any installation method, one of the keys to success is to level your subfloor before beginning installation.  The subfloor shouldn’t rise more than 1/8” over 8 feet.

WHERE CAN YOU INSTALL EVOKE LAMINATE?

The core of Evoke laminate flooring is made of HDF, or heavy-density fiber.  This composite fiber is wood-based, making it susceptible to water damage.   Laminate is not a great choice for bathrooms, mudrooms, or other locations that see a lot of water.  If you’re committed to using a steam mop in your kitchen, you’ll definitely want to steer away from laminate.

Evoke laminate is safe for use over radiant heat.  The manufacturer recommends only using laminate in spaces up to 30’ x 30’ square.

EVOKE LAMINATE COST

Evoke laminate prices range from $2.09 to $3.19 per square foot, akin to Pergo XP or Pergo Outlast

As you will see from our laminate price comparison table, Evoke laminate sits right in the mid-price range.

EVOKE  VINYL FLOORING

Now let’s switch our attention to Evoke’s luxury vinyl flooring and its mysteriously named Composite Core flooring

WHAT IS EVOKE VINYL COMPOSITE CORE?

“VCC” is an acronym unfamiliar to many homeowners, and even some individuals who work in the flooring industry.  Short for Vinyl Composite Core, VCC is Evoke’s unique product that falls somewhere between laminate and luxury vinyl tile.

In fact Evoke VCC is essentially another of the new EVP floors (short for Engineered Vinyl Plank). EVP, Rigid Core and now Vinyl Composite Core are all names for the same thing…a luxury vinyl plank with a WPC or SPC inner core that makes the flooring waterproof and more stable. Read our EVP flooring overview for more info.

VCC has a composite core made of vinyl and wood (WPC) or stone (SPC), depending on the style.  It’s installed using a click-lock system.  While not scratch-proof, it does resist scuffing or scratches from pet nails.

STYLES & COLLECTIONS OF EVOKE VCC

Evoke follows the same method in categorizing its VCC that it developed with its laminate: Choose a family name, then populate it with styles named after humans.  You can bring home Jude, Heath, or Milla to slap over your concrete.  Shake the dust off onto Barbara in your entryway, drip tomato soup on Angelica in your kitchen, and see how Beverly holds up to the rigors of a playroom.

The six families of Evoke VCC are dubbed Vital, Vivid, Bridge, Runway, Vigor, and their newest line, Spark.  We categorized them by similar features in the summary below.

VITAL AND VIVID

Pattern and surface: Embossed wood grain

Style names: Brooke, Zach, Lain, Bill, Holt, Reece, Dot, among others.

Wear layer: Vital – 12mil; Vivid – 20mil

Installation method: Click together with underlay attached

Core type: WPC – Wood Polymer Composite best for non-wet areas.

Air quality certifications: TSCA Title VI Compliant; Greenguard Gold.

Warranty: Limited lifetime residential.  Vital – 8 year light commercial; Vivid – 12 year light commercial.

SPARK AND BRIDGE

Pattern and surface: Expressive embossed wood.  Some Bridge styles have UV-protective finish.

Style names: Hugo, Erica, Mavis, Tabitha, Pam, among others.

Wear layer: 12mil.

Installation method: Click together with underlay attached.

Core type: SPC – Stone Polymer/Plastic Core.

Air quality certifications: TSCA Title VI Compliant; Greenguard Gold.

Warranty: Limited lifetime residential; 8 year light commercial.

VIGOR AND RUNWAY

Pattern and surface: Wide variations in shade and pattern.  Runway has UV-protective finish.

Style names: Jace, Faye, Lance, Baxter, Juan, Tyra, among others.

Wear layer: 20mil.

Installation method: Click together with underlay attached.

Core type: SPC

Air quality certifications: TSCA Title VI Compliant; Greenguard Gold.

Warranty: Limited lifetime residential; 12 year light commercial.

INSTALLATION OF EVOKE VINYL

Evoke designs its VCC with three different installation methods: stick, click, and quick.  These refer to glue-down (stick) floors vs. two different locking systems.

A neat feature of Evoke products is that the boards can be rotated 180 degrees and they will still click together.  Some styles have planks of varied widths and lengths, and some can be installed in a staggered herringbone pattern.  These options allow you to design your one-of-a-kind floor with maximum creative flexibility.

WHERE CAN YOU INSTALL EVOKE VCC?

Choose a line with a stone/plastic core such as Spark or Runway and you’re set to lay it anywhere – even the basement.  SPC cores are completely waterproof, making VCC a fabulous choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways.

All vinyl floors will expand and contract with the weather. If you’re using VCC in a seasonal home that goes part of the year without heat or air conditioning, choose a floating system rather than glue-down, and allow sufficient room for expansion – about ¼” at all walls.

VCC can safely be installed over a variety of subfloors, from OSB to concrete.  Make sure your subfloor is completely smooth.  Inconsistencies will “telegraph” or show up through pliable vinyl.  Rough spots or bumps in the subfloor will lead to tears or holes with wear.

EVOKE VINYL COST

We expect pricing for Evoke VCC to be in the $2.49 – $3.49+ per square foot range, similar to NuCore or Congoleum Triversa.

PROS AND CONS OF EVOKE FLOORING

Now that we’ve taken a look at Evoke’s laminate and vinyl floors separately let’s take an overall look at the pros and cons of Evoke flooring.

You may find skepticism about the quality of Evoke laminate and vinyl among flooring professionals who are unfamiliar with the brand.  But our research gives us the confidence that, although it lacks bells and whistles, Evoke is a good quality residential flooring worth the price. Warranties are excellent.

PROS:

• Bold and creative wood grain patterns.
• High print pattern repeat rate (12-15 boards in many patterns) for a finished floor full of character.
• Solid market-worthy construction.
• All products are certified for good indoor air quality.
• Manufacturer is more accepting of DIY installations for warranty purposes than competitors.
• Website includes a comprehensive catalog with high-quality images and an in-your-room visualizer.

CONS:

• Flooring professionals may not be familiar with the brand.
• Evoke is only available through licensed dealers, not at big box stores or online. You have to fill out a form on the Evoke site and wait for a dealer in your area – if there is one – to contact you.
• Evoke pricing is not published on the manufacturer’s website.

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

Both laminate and VCC floors require similar care and attention to stay looking their best.  Stay away from heavy vacuums or steam mops and instead use a personal touch to clean up spills as they happen with a dry or slightly damp cloth.

If you need a deeper clean, Evoke recommends Kentwood Floor Therapy spray, manufactured by its sister company, Kentwood Hardwood Flooring.

Evoke floors are built with high-quality finishes that resist scratches and staining, so there’s no need to use abrasive products.  The Evoke manual specifically warns against the use of wax, oils, soaps, and household cleaners on their floors.

Vinyl floors are soft underfoot, but that also makes them susceptible to gouges from pet nails or furniture.  Use coasters on furniture; lift heavy pieces instead of sliding them.

You can place mats in high-traffic areas to save the floor.  Encourage guests to clean their shoes before entering, or leave them at the door.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Kristin H. of Birmingham, AL writes, “Okay, so I feel like I chose Evoke Vigor VCC for superficial reasons.  It looked like a style out of Veranda magazine and the company representative was so friendly.  But really it has held up to our expectations.

We have two rowdy pre-teens and an elderly Cocker Spaniel so we weren’t going to *actually* install the hardwood out of Veranda.  After two years, I can find scratches on the floor but they really don’t stand out.  The bold print takes center stage and there’s absolutely no warping or buckling. And it’s so soft underfoot!”

Brent L. of Winthrop, IA had this to share:  “Evoke Adres.  Took a risk on a little-known laminate. Easy install job.  It wasn’t as cheap as other laminates.  Already seeing a few chips so not sure it’ll be worth it.  My teenage granddaughter likes the pattern.  Maybe she’ll come over more often.”

Please help our visitors by leaving your Evoke flooring reviews in the comments section below.

About the Author:

Greca Fotopoulos

Greca is the lead style writer at Home Flooring Pros (more), with a BA in Technical Art, she’s focused on flooring trends, flooring ideas, and flooring brand reviews.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than creating a home that you love. The hardest thing about this job is trying not to covet all the great floors I get to review; if I could remodel my home every month, I would!”