Yes, vinyl mainly wins over other forms of flooring because of multiple factors such as strict standards and quality control measures that are put into use while manufacturing.
Known that materials such as wood, stone and ceramic might have a bit more aesthetic value than vinyl, one simply cannot ignore the fact that they are costly and slap high maintenance tasks on the customer.
Sheet vinyl flooring is slip-resistant and is relatively soft; it is not harmful from the customer’s point of view either. That is why; it is the most popular form of flooring in existence. In addition, this kind of flooring is comparatively modern in terms of patterns and textures, and can be installed in a very short span of time.
Vinyl Flooring Health Benfits
The strict standards enforced by the manufacturers of vinyl flooring ensure that it comes with several health benefits. These benefits mainly arise due to the fact that it is very easy to clean vinyl floors. Antimicrobial coatings and germ killers are also offered by manufacturers which easily boost the sales of this flooring type. One factor that plays down vinyl flooring’s hygiene card is that it generates gases that can be harmful to the lungs. Thus, it can spoil indoor air quality.
Structure of Vinyl
Vinyl flooring sheets consist of numerous layers, each of which have their own purpose. The base layer is fundamental and supports all other layers. On top of that is a fiber glass that holds the sheet straight and flattens the same. The pattern layer is responsible for offering color, texture and looks to the sheet. The wear layer and the top coat are just protective layers that add sheen to this flooring option.
Existence and History
Sheet vinyl came into existence in the mid-20th century and is one of the coveted types of vinyl that gets installed very fast. It is made up of a mix of quite a number of raw materials, each one of them, serving its own purpose.
- Poly vinyl chloride is used for its rigid nature that toughens the sheet vinyl.
- Foam gel is used for adding comfort and texture to the material and sometimes for insulation as well.
- Urethane makes the vinyl durable and long lasting.
- While sheet vinyl flooring installation is done, preferably by professionals, it can be permanently glued hard to the floor or can be loosely placed over the floor for gaining higher durability metrics.
Vinyl Composition Tile
Vinyl Composition Tile, popularly abbreviated in the flooring industry as VCT, is made up of vinyl and ground limestone. The specialty of this mixture is that it doesn’t exactly show itself off as a mixture that people usually expect it to be.
The only way possible for the installation for VCT is gluing it down; this has to be done mandatorily by a professional. This is because these tiles are square-shaped and very tough in nature. Therefore, while installing, it should be noted that each tile is placed closely and perfectly in sync with its neighbors. Vinyl floor tiles are manufactured using a process similar to that of vinyl sheets. But in reality, vinyl tiles turn out to be way harder than other sheets.
How Vinyl Differs From Laminate Flooring
Vinyl flooring is often confused with laminate flooring as it cannot be distinguished and identified easily, which leads to people getting stuck between deciding as to which one of them is better. Although both vinyl and laminate flooring are durable and inexpensive, there are a lot of differences that might get overlooked by customers like you.
Here, thickness, materials, resistance to water and comfort level are different. Base materials make all the difference. We can begin with two simplifications:
Vinyl’s flooring is 100% plastic core and is super resistant to moisture. It can be designed to look like wood boards and can be joined with a ‘click’ which snaps two tiles together. Laminate flooring is not as moisture resistant as vinyl flooring; however, it can be installed in a DIY way. Laminate flooring wins over vinyl flooring in terms of looks and installation.
As far as costs are concerned, both vinyl and laminate floorings stand at the same level. Laminate floorings take an upper hand over vinyl floorings in terms of factors such as resale value and comfort.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
Plank wood flooring provides a fresh and unique look to the floor and is thus in demand for its aesthetic appeal. At the same time, over the years, the quality and appearance of vinyl planks has been improved phenomenally, and has thus led to the skyrocketing of resilient flooring’s popularity.
This in turn has led to plank vinyl flooring’s growing demand in the industry. Beyond that, vinyl plank is less expensive than all other types of floor coverings - except for laminate floorings, as mentioned before. This is mainly due to the cheap availability of additional raw materials at an inexpensive rate.
Moreover, there are certain vinyl planks that appear in a rather distressed look, or are heavily antiqued. This is mainly for those who prefer their floors to look in such a way. Vinyl planks can be easily installed with a lock/click mechanism.
What to See while Choosing a Vinyl Floor
While choosing a vinyl floor, there are a lot of factors to be considered. Your choice of style is essential. There is a wide range of options available in the market that resembles stone and hardwood finish that can be very realistic. Texture, pattern, and finish are also very important factors as they contribute to the tactile, visual and aesthetic appeal of the floors, respectively.
- Care should be taken as to how tough the selected vinyl planks are.
- They should also stand up to spills and traffic.
- Waxing and buffing should be avoided.
- Vinyl can be installed on any flat surface which is dry and clean.
- A plywood base is always recommended for better installation.
Last Word
DIY friendly in nature, Vinyl tiles can be readily installed with the help of spray adhesives, self sticking materials, or with other options. However, installation of these sheets is largely done by professionals. Thus, it is best to seek professional assistance in order to install the best vinyl flooring, appropriately.
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