Vinyl flooring is an extremely versatile and cheap flooring material that offers a great combination of durability, ease of installation and flexibility. The best part is that it doesn’t require any special handling or maintenance. However, there are some downsides to this type of flooring.
One of the biggest downfalls of vinyl flooring is that it can release toxic chemicals into the air. If your home is not well-ventilated, these pollutants can seep into your lungs and into your bloodstream. Additionally, if a fire breaks out in your home, vinyl may become a liability, as it will release hydrogen chloride into the air.
Another downfall is that it can be difficult to extinguish after a fire. Typically, vinyl flooring is covered with decorative paper, which helps protect the floor from damage. Despite its resilience, however, it isn’t as hardy as other types of flooring.
Some of the highest-end luxury vinyl tiles offer a wide range of designs and textures. These are typically designed to look like popular materials like stone and wood. They also offer the lowest maintenance requirements. This means that you’ll spend less time cleaning your floors and more time enjoying them.
There are several different kinds of vinyl flooring, including solid and sheet. Sheet vinyl is often made to look like ceramic tiles. In fact, there are some high-end styles that mimic the texture of popular ceramic and stone tile. But the most common type of sheet vinyl is felt-backed. A felt backing prevents furniture from denting or tearing and makes the floor warmer and softer.
Vinyl roll flooring, on the other hand, offers an almost endless variety of playful and realistic designs. Although it has some limitations, it is one of the cheapest and most environmentally-friendly flooring options available. It’s backed by fibreglass, which gives it a soft, cushioned feel.
As a general rule of thumb, vinyl is a good choice for rooms that tend to get wet. You’ll also find a few styles that mimic natural materials. For instance, you can buy vinyl that looks just like ceramic or terracotta tiles.
One of the most interesting features of vinyl is its ability to stand up to water. Unlike some other materials, it can be installed on wet rooms. That means you can avoid replacing your floor after a flood or other disaster. Alternatively, you can purchase a planking system to make replacement easy.
If you’re considering vinyl flooring for your home, it’s important to take into account the size of your room. If you’ve got a large area to cover, you’ll want to consider purchasing more than one sheet. Similarly, if you’ve got a lot of foot traffic, you’ll need a thicker wear layer.
Whether you choose solid or sheet vinyl, you’ll need to decide how you want to install it. In general, you can choose to install it in either full glue-down or floating applications. Once you’ve decided, you’ll need to prepare the base layer. Typically, you’ll need to apply a protective outerwear layer, followed by a few polyurethane layers for wear protection. Finally, you’ll want to add a clear top coat to lend the floor a sheen.