Shaw LVP Buyer's Guide: 5th and Main vs Resilient Residential vs SFN

Shaw makes some of the most-installed luxury vinyl plank in America. They're not the brand that invented rigid-core LVP — that's COREtec — but they sell more of it than almost anyone else, in part because Shaw owns COREtec's parent company and operates as the larger, broader-reach LVP manufacturer.

Their lineup is also harder to navigate than COREtec's. Shaw sells LVP under three collection names (5th and Main, Resilient Residential, SFN) plus a handful of trademarked sub-brands (Pet Perfect, Floorte, ArmourBead, Stabilitas) that overlap across collections. Most buyers walk into a showroom and pick by color, missing the spec differences that determine how long the floor will actually last.

This guide cuts through that. We'll explain what separates each Shaw LVP collection, the specs that should drive your decision, and which products fit different households. We sell every Shaw LVP product covered here at FloorFreight as an authorized dealer.

The Specs That Matter Most for LVP

Three numbers separate Shaw LVP products from each other. Understand these and the lineup becomes navigable.

Wear layer thickness (measured in mil). Wear layer is the clear protective coating on top of the printed design layer. Thicker means better scratch resistance, longer surface life, and longer warranty. Shaw's LVP spans 6 mil (entry, replace in 10-15 years) up to 30 mil (premium, commercial-grade durability for 20+ years).

Core type — WPC vs SPC. Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) is thicker, softer underfoot, warmer, and better for sound absorption. Stone-Plastic Composite (SPC) is denser, harder, more dent-resistant, and thinner. Shaw uses WPC in their comfort-focused products and SPC in their tough-traffic and commercial-grade products.

Attached pad presence. Most Shaw LVP ships with attached underlayment — EVA, Foamed, XPO, or generic "Attached Pad." A few products ship without and require separate underlayment. Attached pad means less installation labor, better sound dampening, and more comfortable underfoot feel.

Three specs together explain almost every Shaw LVP pricing decision. Wear layer × core type × pad presence = where a product sits in the lineup.

The Three Shaw LVP Collections

Shaw groups their LVP into three collections at the category level: 5th and Main, Resilient Residential, and SFN. Below are sub-brand marketing names you'll see on Shaw's site (Pet Perfect, Floorte, Matrix, Stabilitas), but those cut across the three collections rather than defining them.

5th and Main: The Entry-Tier Workhorse

Wear layer: 6 mil Price range: $2.39/sq ft (entry — actually the cheapest LVP in our entire catalog) Best for: Budget-conscious buyers, investment properties, or rooms where LVP performance matters more than longevity

Shaw's 5th and Main collection currently lives at one product in our active catalog: METROPOLIS 6 ($2.39/sq ft). 6" × 48" planks, 6 mil wear layer, direct-glue installation, 11 colors with city-themed names (Baltimore, Chicago, City Park, and others).

The honest tradeoffs:

It's not waterproof. This is the only LVP in our active Shaw catalog that's not flagged 100% waterproof. METROPOLIS 6 is water-resistant — it handles spills you clean up quickly, but it's not engineered for standing water or basement installations. Most LVP buyers assume "all LVP is waterproof"; for METROPOLIS 6, that's not true.

It's not floating. Direct-glue installation only. This means professional installation is essentially required, and you can't easily remove it later if your floor plan changes.

The 15-year residential warranty is short by LVP standards. Most other Shaw LVP carries lifetime residential warranties.

Where it makes sense: A bedroom or den getting refreshed before a sale, a basement office where some moisture protection is enough, a rental property where you need real LVP at the lowest possible cost. For everyday family living spaces, you want to step up to Resilient Residential.

Resilient Residential: Shaw's Main Catalog (and Where Most Buyers Should Look)

Wear layer: 6 mil to 30 mil Price range: $2.99–$8.19/sq ft Best for: Active households, families, and homes that want real waterproof construction without breaking the budget

Resilient Residential is where the vast majority of Shaw LVP lives — 23 of 28 active styles. It's also where Shaw's tier-based sub-brands sit: Pet Perfect, Floorte, ArmourBead, Stabilitas. Rather than walk through each style alphabetically, here's how the collection breaks down by what you'd actually use it for.

Entry residential ($2.99–$3.79/sq ft, 6-12 mil wear layer)

• Endura Plus ($2.99/sq ft) — 12 mil wear layer, EVA pad, 17 colors. Best entry-tier value because of the 12 mil wear layer — punches above its price point.
• Impact Plus ($2.99/sq ft) — 6 mil wear layer, EVA pad, 7 colors. Skip in favor of Endura Plus unless one of the 7 colors is specifically what you want.
• Anvil Plus ($3.79/sq ft) — 6 mil wear layer, EVA pad, 8 colors.

Mid-tier 20 mil ($3.89–$5.79/sq ft)

• Anvil Plus 20 MIL ($3.29/sq ft) — 20 mil wear layer, floating, no attached pad. Bridges entry and mid-tier — 20 mil wear layer at $3.29 is unusual.
• Infinite SPC ($3.89/sq ft) — 20 mil, SPC core, 13 colors. The best SPC value in Shaw's LVP catalog.
• Paladin Plus ($3.89/sq ft) — 12 mil, floating or glue, 16 colors. The Paladin name carries weight in the LVP space.
• DOCKSIDE ($4.09/sq ft) — 20 mil, Foamed Pad, 7 coastal-named colors.
• Ignite ($4.19/sq ft) — 20 mil, EVA pad, 5 colors. Limited color choice but tight pricing for 20 mil.
• DISTINCTION PLUS ($4.79/sq ft) — 12 mil, attached pad, 13 colors. Don't pay this much for 12 mil unless one of these 13 colors is irreplaceable.
• Dwell ($4.79/sq ft) — 20 mil, attached pad, 12 colors. Modern color palette.
• FRESH TAKE ($4.59/sq ft) — 20 mil, EVA pad, 13 colors with Bentwood Tan, Butterfly White, Cabriole Brown.
• Traditions ($4.99/sq ft) — 5" × 48" planks (narrower), 20 mil, EVA pad. Traditional 5" plank width.
• TIVOLI PLUS ($5.19/sq ft) — 12 mil, two colors only (Delfino, Pecorino). Skip.
• Ambition ($5.19/sq ft) — 20 mil, no attached pad, 6 colors. The "no attached pad" matters here.
• Northern Voyage 9 ($5.39/sq ft) — 20 mil, EVA pad, 9" wide planks, 3 wine-region colors (Calistoga, Napa, Rutherford).
• Allegiance + Acc ($5.59/sq ft) — 20 mil, XPO Pad, 8 colors with diplomatic-themed names.
• PARAGON 7 USA ($5.79/sq ft) — 20 mil, made in USA, 5 pine-themed colors.
• Paragon 7 Plus ($5.79/sq ft) — Same as PARAGON 7 USA, slightly different colorway.

Wide-plank 9" ($6.29–$7.19/sq ft, 20 mil)

• Aspire Natural Bevel ($6.29/sq ft) — 9" × 60" planks, 20 mil, EVA pad, 10 colors.
• Paragon Tile Plus ($6.29/sq ft) — 12" × 24" stone-look tiles, 20 mil. Bathroom/laundry-room appropriate.
• Pantheon HD Plus ($6.49/sq ft) — 20 mil, attached pad, 11 colors with Italian-themed names. Premium spec.
• Pantheon HD+ NATURAL BEVEL ($6.49/sq ft) — Same as above, natural-bevel edge profile, 15 colors. The natural bevel reads as more authentic hardwood.
• Ascent NB ($7.19/sq ft) — 9" × 72" planks, 20 mil. The widest, longest Shaw LVP at the upper end of the mid-tier.

Premium 30 mil ($6.79–$8.19/sq ft, commercial-grade)

• Titan HD Plus Platinum ($6.79/sq ft) — 30 mil wear layer, 9" × 72" planks, IXPE attached underlayment. Commercial-grade durability at residential pricing. This is the best long-term value in Shaw's LVP lineup.
• TITAN HD PLUS ($8.19/sq ft) — Same construction as Platinum, different colorway (Aged Saddle, Antique Chestnut, etc.). 6 colors. Pay the upcharge only if you specifically want these colors.

The honest take on Resilient Residential: This is where 23 of 28 Shaw LVP styles live, which means it's where the real decisions get made. Three picks stand out for value:

• Endura Plus ($2.99/sq ft) — Best entry-tier value
• Infinite SPC ($3.89/sq ft) — Best mid-tier SPC value
• Titan HD Plus Platinum ($6.79/sq ft) — Best premium value in the entire Shaw LVP catalog

For a complete walk-through of all 28 Shaw LVP styles with full specs, browse the Shaw LVP hub on FloorFreight.

SFN: The Smaller Cousin

Wear layer: 12-20 mil Price range: $5.19–$6.49/sq ft Best for: Specific look needs that the larger Resilient Residential collection doesn't cover

SFN has just two active products in our catalog:

ANTICA HD PLUS ($6.49/sq ft) — 7" × 48" planks, 20 mil wear layer, attached pad. Same construction profile as Pantheon HD Plus in Resilient Residential. Eleven Italian-themed colors (Argento, Caldo, Cenere). If you want the look without preferring the SFN name specifically, Pantheon HD Plus from Resilient Residential gives you the same product at the same price.

SABINE HILL PLUS ($5.19/sq ft) — 7" × 48" planks, 12 mil wear layer, attached pad. Same construction as TIVOLI PLUS in Resilient Residential. Two colors only.

The honest take on SFN: Skip it. Almost everything in SFN duplicates a product in Resilient Residential at the same price. SFN exists primarily because Shaw needs distinct brand identities for different distribution channels and retail partnerships. As a buyer, you don't gain anything from the SFN label.

Shaw LVP vs COREtec: How to Choose

Shaw owns COREtec via the Shaw Industries → USFloors corporate structure. Both brands sit under the same corporate parent and share manufacturing infrastructure. But the two are positioned differently in the market.

Buy Shaw LVP if: You want the broadest product range (28 active styles), the lowest entry-tier prices ($2.39 for METROPOLIS 6 if you can accept water-resistant rather than waterproof), or specific Shaw sub-brands like Pet Perfect that aren't available under the COREtec name.

Buy COREtec if: You want the brand that invented rigid-core LVP, universal attached cork underlayment, the explicit pet damage warranty coverage, and the premium WPC/SPC distinction COREtec is known for.

For our complete COREtec walk-through, see our COREtec LVP buyer's guide. For broader LVP shopping comparing Shaw and competing brands like LifeProof, see our Shaw Floors vs LifeProof comparison.

Pet Perfect, Floorte, Matrix, Stabilitas — What Are These?

Shaw's LVP marketing uses several trademarked names that confuse buyers. Quick translations:

Pet Perfect® — Shaw's pet-focused LVP sub-brand. Features PawDefense® Technology (50% more scratch-resistant than traditional luxury vinyl), AKC-endorsed, made in USA. Lives within the Resilient Residential collection.

Floorte — Shaw's premium LVP brand. Same Resilient Residential collection bucket, marketed under the Floorte name for retail differentiation.

Matrix — Costco-exclusive Shaw LVP brand. 8mm thickness, 20 mil wear layer, WPC core. If you've shopped Costco for flooring, you've seen Matrix.

Stabilitas — Shaw's commercial-grade LVP marketed for high-performance applications.

ArmourBead™ — Shaw's proprietary durability finish, applied across multiple LVP products. Not a brand or collection, just a finish technology.

ExoGuard™ — Another Shaw finish technology, applied to some 5th and Main products.

These names matter for buyers who've seen them in marketing — but for the purposes of comparing specs, focus on the wear layer × core type × pad combination of any specific product, regardless of which trademarked name it carries.

Shaw LVP vs Shaw Hardwood

A useful frame for buyers crossing between Shaw's product categories:

• Shaw hardwood at $5.19-$11.39/sq ft gives you real wood, refinishable in select premium tiers, lifetime structural warranty
• Shaw LVP at $2.39-$8.19/sq ft gives you 100% waterproof construction, pet damage coverage, easier installation, no refinishability

The categories aren't substitutes — they solve different problems. Use LVP for bathrooms, basements, kitchens with active cooking, and rooms with kid/pet traffic. Use hardwood for bedrooms, formal dining rooms, and living rooms in stable environments where the authenticity of real wood matters.

For Shaw's hardwood lineup, see our Shaw hardwood buying guide. For the full LVP-vs-hardwood comparison, see our hardwood vs luxury vinyl plank guide.

Final Word

Shaw's LVP lineup looks complicated until you focus on three specs: wear layer, core type, and attached pad. Everything else is marketing collateral.

For most buyers, the right path is:

• Budget tight, water resistance not critical: METROPOLIS 6 from 5th and Main ($2.39/sq ft)
• Entry-tier waterproof: Endura Plus ($2.99/sq ft) — best 12 mil + EVA pad value
• Mid-tier SPC durability: Infinite SPC ($3.89/sq ft) — best mid-tier value
• Premium long-term floor: Titan HD Plus Platinum ($6.79/sq ft) — best premium value, 30 mil commercial-grade durability at residential pricing

Three picks cover roughly 80% of buyer scenarios. The rest of the catalog exists to serve specific color preferences, plank-width requirements, or distribution partnerships.

Order a $5 sample before you commit. Shaw's LVP print quality varies meaningfully between tiers — the 12-color Pantheon HD+ Natural Bevel reads very differently in your kitchen's lighting than Distinction Plus's 13 colors.