Vinyl Flooring is an Excellent Choice

A synthetic cousin of linoleum, vinyl flooring is water and stain resistant, versatile, and provides good durability for the cost. Thanks to a number of advances over the years, today’s vinyl floors are attractive and economical. Call us for a FREE consultation and you are sure to find high quality vinyl flooring that fits both your taste and budget.

Types of Vinyl Flooring:

• Sheet vinyl flooring is large sheets 6 or 12 feet wide. It is more water resistant than vinyl tile since there are fewer seams, if any.
• Vinyl tiles are better suited for do-it-yourself installations than sheet vinyl.
• Many  homeowners prefer vinyl tile, which replicates the look of a ceramic tile floor at a more affordable cost.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Vinyl Floors

Vinyl flooring is a durable flooring product and stands up well to heavy foot traffic. It is comfortable under foot and reduces noise, which can be important for homeowners with kids or pets. It is also less expensive than many other flooring options, and is easy to install and maintain. Vinyl flooring comes in a broad range of colors and patterns to match every décor, including patterns that mimic hardwood flooring.

On the other hand, vinyl floors do not stand up well to heavy loads and can be damaged by sharp objects. Also, colors can fade with exposure to too much direct sunlight, and floors can be damaged by extreme temperatures. For that reason, vinyl is not recommended for outdoor or indoor/outdoor uses. It is also not the most environmentally sound flooring option available — and many may see this as an area of concern.

Vinyl Floor Installation

The key to successful installation of vinyl flooring lies beneath the flooring itself. Vinyl tiles require an extremely smooth surface, because any flaws and imperfections will show through as bumps and indentations in your floor. Usually the best sub-floor is a layer of well-sanded plywood. Some manufacturers offer do-it-yourself installation kits, but many homeowners choose to use a contractor in order to achieve a smooth, professional look.

Most manufacturers do not recommend laying new vinyl over more than one layer of existing vinyl, and in fact will not guarantee the flooring if there is more than one layer of vinyl beneath. Another problem with installing over existing vinyl is that if the lower layer is patterned, the texture will eventually show through your top layer. Vinyl flooring can be laid on top of concrete, but again, uniformity and smoothness can be a problem.