Your home is your castle. And you have the freedom to pick everything about it from window treatments to wall colours and of course, the flooring.
When it comes to flooring, remember, this isn’t the Middle Ages when a basic dirt or stone floor would do. No, a contemporary castle will require a sophisticated flooring option. After all, the flooring serves as the framework for the entire interior design. Making the wrong decision could condemn you to a life of wall-to-wall carpets. And trust me, you wouldn’t want that.
That said, if you consider installing vinyl flooring like most people nowadays do, it’s important to know its pros and cons. This article will try to paint a realistic picture of vinyl floors so you can make an informed decision.
What Is Vinyl Flooring?
It’s multi-layered synthetic flooring. It comes in the form of planks, tiles, or sheets that are put together and is made of materials including plastic, fibreglass, and PVC.
The majority of the floor is composed of a core layer, which may also have an underlay or backing. Over this is an image layer that can imitate a variety of materials, such as ceramic and wood. The sublayers are guarded against harm by a top wear layer with a range of thicknesses.
The Good Sides
Easy to Install
One of the main benefits of this type of flooring is the simplicity of installation. Given the small margin for mistake, vinyl plank, sheet and tile flooring was practically built for do-it-yourselfers. Since there is little learning involved, the majority of homeowners can begin installing right away without having to acquire specialised knowledge or tools. Typically, it takes three to four hours to finish a small room.
Plank flooring, in particular, is the easiest to install. The edges and ends of vinyl plank flooring are connected by a click-lock system, which snaps them together. Without the need for a glue-down bond, this flooring is typically installed as a floating floor that only floats on the underlayment.
Although the flooring and underlayment should be as level as possible, vinyl planks are much thicker than sheet vinyl and are therefore more forgiving of minor defects in the underlayment than sheet vinyl is.
Durable
Vinyl flooring is renowned for its toughness. The unique structure makes the majority of vinyl floors long-lasting and water-resistant. And if the flooring includes a wear layer, it won’t stain often and can withstand a lot of wear and tear, making it a fantastic alternative for any highly used areas.
Some companies create completely waterproof vinyl flooring, which is great for mudrooms or bathrooms.
Unlimited Designs to Choose From
The major flooring manufacturers provide vinyl plank, sheet and tile flooring in hundreds of colours and designs. While still far less prestigious than genuine hardwood or porcelain tile, interior designers and real estate experts believe it to be superior flooring to laminate flooring.
The majority of vinyl plank styles aim to resemble hardwood flooring, and they succeed in this endeavour admirably. Vinyl planks can give off an illusion of real wood that is more convincing than laminate flooring at first glance. On the other hand, vinyl tile and sheet forms typically attempt to replicate ceramics or genuine stone—again, pretty successfully.
Comfortable
Vinyl flooring feels “softer” and more “padded” underfoot when compared to materials like stone or oak because of its layered construction. These layers serve as insulation and aid in preserving the floor’s constant temperature throughout the year. Additionally, vinyl has the potential to be soundproof, which helps any area be less noisy and echo-free.
Easy to Maintain
It’s simple to maintain vinyl floors, especially high-quality ones. Most vinyl floors undergo a surface treatment (unique to the manufacturer) that helps make them more resistant to scratches and stains, depending on the wear layer.
Your floor can usually be kept clean with just a vacuum, a quick sweep, and a damp mop, and you can easily make your gentle cleaning solution rather than buy one. Typical floor maintenance procedures also apply, such as wiping up spills and stains, using rugs and mats, covering furniture legs with protective padding, etc.
The Downsides
Doesn’t Add to Your Home’s Resale Value
Vinyl floors typically (but not always) do not affect a home or building’s market value. Older floors with low-quality vinyl may even have a detrimental effect.
However, if you’re still keen on using vinyl, the plank form usually makes the best impression on potential buyers.
Isn’t Environmentally Friendly
Vinyl floors have been known to release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after installation and are made using harmful chemicals (volatile organic compounds). Off-gassed VOCs can hurt health, and they will be present in larger concentrations in an enclosed space, especially one without windows or ventilation.
If you are concerned about this, it’s best to stay away from high-VOC vinyl flooring and opt for a low-VOC floor.
Can’t Be Refinished
Vinyl flooring cannot be repaired since it has just one wear layer above the design layer. When a floor is broken, it must either be completely replaced or just the damaged portions need to be repaired. This is particularly true for vinyl sheets or vinyl of poor quality.
