Are you interested in vinyl flooring for your new build or home renovation? If vinyl floors have caught your eye but you’re not exactly sure what you’re buying, this article is here to help.
Read on to learn all about vinyl flooring, including what vinyl flooring is made of, the major advantages of vinyl flooring, and potential drawbacks that you will need to consider.
What is Vinyl Flooring Made Of?
Vinyl flooring comes in several different forms, but they all have one thing in common. Vinyl flooring is primarily made using PVC, which stands for polyvinyl chloride. This is where the name vinyl flooring comes from.
Vinyl flooring is typically made up of multiple layers, including a base layer that is made using fiberglass. The PVC goes over the base layer, forming the core of your floor. The surface layer is then added, which includes printing and embossing to mimic wood flooring, ceramic tiles, or natural stone.
Multiple polyurethane layers are added to make your flooring incredibly durable. These are known as wear layers.
The vinyl flooring market was traditionally known for its glue down sheets, but you can also get high-end vinyl planks and tiles. Vinyl planks and tiles are often considered Luxury Vinyl Flooring because they have a thicker core layer. Some vinyl planks and tiles even have stone or wood present in the core.
The flooring industry has a lot of different terms for vinyl flooring. You might hear the terms Luxury Vinyl Plank, Luxury Vinyl Tile, Engineered Vinyl Flooring and Engineered Vinyl Plank.
The main thing you need to remember is that luxury vinyl usually represents a premium product. It will have a thicker PVC core and increased durability.
Engineered vinyl usually refers to vinyl products with stone or wood in the core, which offer even more strength. Each of these varieties also has its own term; they are known as Stone Plastic Composite (SPC) and Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) respectively.
What Are the Benefits of Vinyl Flooring?
Now that you know a bit more about what goes into vinyl flooring, let’s explore some of the biggest benefits of this type of floor.
Durable
Aside from cheap sheet products, vinyl flooring has always been known for its durability. This has only increased as the products have improved over time.
The latest luxury vinyl planks and tiles are long-lasting and resistant to scratches, cracks, tears, and dents. Vinyl flooring can absorb heavy forces and it can also stand up to staining and bacteria. If you want a floor that looks like hardwood, ceramic, or stone but isn’t as fragile as some of these floors, vinyl is the perfect choice!
Warm
If you’ve ever walked barefoot on cold kitchen tiles, you will appreciate the warmth of vinyl flooring! Wood floors can also be hard and cold, but vinyl flooring will always provide underfoot warmth and comfort.
Waterproof
You can install vinyl flooring all throughout your home without any fear. This flooring product is known for being not just water-resistant but waterproof! Install vinyl flooring in laundries, bathrooms, kitchens, and any other wet or dry space in your home.
PVC itself is waterproof and the multi-layer design of vinyl flooring only serves to reinforce this waterproofing. Additionally, vinyl flooring installations can be seamless. Vinyl tiles and planks can sit side by side, while vinyl sheets can be laid as a single piece, ensuring there are no gaps for water penetration.
From small spills to standing water, vinyl flooring can stand up to it all.
Stress-Free
From installation to maintenance, vinyl flooring is simple and stress-free.
Most vinyl flooring products can simply be laid onto your floor or locked into place. Other vinyl products will use glues and other adhesives to secure your floor. Vinyl flooring will often contain built-in underlay, meaning you just need a smooth and even surface to place it over.
Professional installation should be cheaper than other flooring installations, and it’s also possible to achieve seamless results when doing it yourself!
When it comes to maintenance, a little bit of sweeping and mopping will go a long way.
Versatile
The visual versatility of vinyl flooring is practically unmatched. You can get vinyl flooring in a wide range of different colours and styles. You can mimic dark or light hardwood floors, limestone, marble, and other natural stones, as well as ceramic tiles and complex tile patterns.
Vinyl flooring can also match the texture of different flooring styles, and you can even get vinyl as individual tiles and planks for greater authenticity.
Limitations of Vinyl Flooring: 5 Things to Consider
While vinyl flooring has many benefits to enjoy, it’s important to understand what it can and can’t do. Here are some limitations and considerations to think about when buying vinyl flooring:
- The surface that you install your vinyl flooring on must be level, smooth, even, and consistent. Vinyl will show off any imperfections hiding below, so a perfect subfloor is a must!
- Exposure to sunlight and UV rays will eventually cause vinyl floors to fade or discolour, even if you choose UV-resistant vinyl. Consider each room’s exposure to sunlight when you are assessing its suitability for vinyl.
- Luxury vinyl floors are strong, but if they succumb to damage there is no way to repair them. While you may be able to sand or polish hardwood floors, vinyl will need replacing. If you have vinyl planks or tiles, you may be able to replace them individually. If you have sheet vinyl flooring, the entire floor will need replacing to fix the damage.
- If you’re installing vinyl floors that utilise adhesive, it may be difficult to remove your floors in the future.
- Vinyl flooring products vary drastically in quality and price (although they will almost always be cheaper than natural flooring products). Luxury vinyl products will look better, last longer, and provide a premium look for your floor. Cheaper vinyl floors are more prone to damage and look more artificial. It’s important to do your research and know what you’re buying when you’re considering vinyl flooring products.
Vinyl Flooring: Final Thoughts
Now that you know all about vinyl flooring, you can start shopping for your favorite styles. Talk to a trusted retailer to find the perfect vinyl flooring for you, including a range of designs inspired by hardwood, natural stone and ceramic tile flooring! From planks to tiles to vinyl sheets, there are so many options to explore, and there’s sure to be a vinyl floor that suits you!
