When out looking at flooring options for your home, you might have come across vinyl flooring. This is very different from both laminate flooring and solid wood flooring as it comes with different layers and material. In vinyl flooring, you will usually find a durable layer and a decorative layer. Many flooring companies also add a foam layer which can act as an insulator and a glass fibre layer. Moreover, vinyl floors are a cheap alternative to hardwood and laminate as It can mimic natural wood designs. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of vinyl flooring.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl Planks or Luxury Vinyl Tiles are a popular and affordable alternative to wood or stone in many homes. Its realistic look of either wood, stone or ceramic tile is also resilient to daily wear and tear. With a wide range of design choices, LVT can mimic the look of natural hard floorings but easy to install and maintain. The sizes of LVT can be plank sizes or stone slab sizes.
Another form of vinyl floor comes in large, flexible sheets. This is called sheet vinyl flooring. It also comes with many design choices and is customizable. Vinyl sheets are popular floor covering for commercial, hospitality and institutional projects.
Pros and Cons of Using Vinyl Floors
Vinyl is an affordable alternative to expensive hard floors. Because of this, many homeowners see vinyl as a viable flooring option. And just like any flooring material, it has downsides too. Here are the pros and cons of vinyl flooring:
Pros:
Aesthetic Quality
Vinyl options are endless. Whether you’re looking to replicate a slab of calacatta marble or rich wood tone of an oak flooring, we are sure that you can find the perfect style and shade for your home. You’ll be able to find realistic hardwood copy in distressed and hand-scraped versions of vinyl. Hardwood floors are expensive that is why hardwood looking vinyl are the most popular and cheaper alternative.
Easy To Install
If you are looking for a DIY friendly floor, vinyl might be the one for you. No need for complicated tools and preparations, no sawing or hammering and cheap to install. Most vinyl planks can fit together very easily. You can simply trim vinyl with a knife to fit in a room. There’s a little room for errors and you can do it easily. Make sure that the subfloor is smooth and leveled, including the underlayment. With just adhesive, you can now install the vinyl.
It is Cheap
Ranging from £3 – £6 LVT costs considerably less than hardwood or stone floors. You can save as much as half the price of hard floors which makes it attractive to
Very Easy to Maintain
When it comes to maintenance, vinyl don’t need any other chemicals to hold its shine and protect the vinyl itself. In fact, you can just sweep the dirt off vinyl floors with a broom. For deep cleaning, you can mop the floor with a mild cleaner. Unlike hardwood, where you need wax to hold its shine, repolish if needed which is costly and labor intensive.
It is Durable
Vinyl being a resilient material, is harder to scratch even at entryways or other high traffic areas. Some LVT has a through-body composition which made it durable and less obvious for scratches. Spills will not damage it and they are very easy to clean and dry off. While it is very durable, remember that vinyl is not immune to damage caused by improper use and sharp materials.
Comfortable
Vinyl floors are softer than hardwood floors. Unlike other hard floors, vinyl are more comfortable to step on. It absorbs pressure becuase of its composition and layers of underlayment.
Cons:
Tough to Remove
Once the vinyl’s adhesive hardens and attached to the floorboards, the glue and vinyl is difficult to remove. If you are changing your flooring after several years, it might not be as easy as the installation process. It is more time consuming but still, will not require special tools and equipment.
Fading and Denting
The luxury vinyl print on its face is not immune to fading. Exposure to the sun can fade this layer but It won’t disintegrate. If you have large windows and glass doors, reconsider buying vinyl. As a solution, you can install window treatments that reduce and control sun exposure. Another disadvantage of vinyl is that it is prone to denting. Heavy items like furniture can cause permanent dents. Make sure to use furniture pads or padding to maintain its smooth and level surface.
Do Not Add Value to Home
Looking to add value to your home? Vinyl may not be a good idea. Realtors and home buyers do not look into the beauty of a material just by looking at it. They value the real deal. If you are upgrading the value of your home, use hardwood or stone.
Conclusion
Now that you an idea on the pros and cons of vinyl flooring, we hope that you select the flooring material for your home based on your budget, needs and style. Vinyl floors are a good flooring, In fact, a good choice if you are on a budget and practicality is on top of your list. Choose LVT and a higher residential grade material.