Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is immensely popular for a range of reasons ranging from its durability, versatility and low cost. It is also easy to cut, install and maintain. Here are some leading vinyl flooring pros and cons that will help you decide whether to invest in it or not.
Pros:
- Innumerable designs available: Vinyl flooring is available in a spectrum of colours, textures and patterns, giving buyers a world of choice. It mimics the look of hardwood, natural stone or any other flooring material.
- Easy to care for: This flooring material is considered well-kept if it does not have any grit on its surface. So, sweeping it often and mopping it with a damp mop is all it needs to keep clean.
- Water-resistant: It blocks water from entering it, making it ideal for use in the bathroom, laundry room or kitchen.
- Stays warm in winter: Vinyl planks do not get cold during winters, making walking barefoot on it very comfortable.
- Remarkably soft and comfortable: The reason why people love vinyl planks during the winter months is that this flooring material does not get cold. In fact, it comes with a foamor felt padding that not only keeps the ground under your feet softer as you walk but gives you good cushioning and greater flexibility, thus making walking very pleasurable. You’ll realize this when you walk around your home barefooted or when you stand for protracted periods.
- Affordably priced: The prices of vinyl ranges from $0.50 to $10 per square foot, depending on its quality and design in its surface.
- Highly durable: If installed correctly, vinyl can last for at least two decades. Much depends on the quality of vinyl that you choose and how well you take care of it.
- 100% waterproof: The fact that vinyl is entirely waterproof makes it this material’s biggest benefit. This makes it perfect for use in areas of homes where there is some amount of humidity, such as the bathroom, basement, laundry room or kitchen.
- Resistant to stains: The wear layer that comes with vinyl sheets and tiles act as a protective barrier against spillage and stains. This flooring type is very easy to keep clean. If you go in for solid or composite vinyl tiles, they may not have this protective layer, and so will be prone to stains, thus requiring periodic polishing and stripping.
- Easy to install: Vinyl flooring is easy to install if you have an absolutely dry subfloor. It can be done as a DIY project, though the subfloor should ideally be prepared by a professional.
Cons:
- Not an eco-friendly product: Not a typical eco-friendly product, vinyl does not break down naturally in the air soon nor is it biodegradable. Not often do people recycle it, so it ends up in landfills. It is also made with petroleum and natural gas, both non-renewable natural materials.
- Erosion of flooring causes tears in flooring: Before laying vinyl flooring, you need to be very sure that the surface is absolutely smooth and free of any small grains that could erode it and cause tears in it.
- Damaged flooring means removal: Though good quality vinyl is highly durable, its low quality counterpart could well tear and must be replaced.
- Discolours with age: If you opt for low quality vinyl, you’ll find it yellowing with time. This could be due to exposure to harsh and direct sunlight that fades vinyl, or due to dirt that lies below vinyl’s wax layer. However, this is restricted to low quality vinyl flooring.
- Releases toxicity in the environment: Chemicals used to make vinyl flooring lead to toxic gas emission after the floor is installed, or volatile organic compounds (VOC). This could cause eye irritation, asthma or respiratory problems.
- Surface bumps: As you use your vinyl flooring, you will find it developing curls or bumps at the corners or at the seams.
- Not tough enough for heavy loads: This kind of flooring cannot bear heavy loads. Also, it gets damaged when it comes in contact with sharp toothed objects.
- Scratches due to moving furniture: The good thing about vinyl is that being spongy it doesn’t allow objects to break when dropped on its surface, but when heavy furniture is dragged all along its length and breadth, it can develop scratches. Unfortunately, these scratches are permanent and may force you to buy protective material for your floor such as floor runners.
Despite all the disadvantages of vinyl flooring, much depends on what your priorities are. Perhaps low cost and durability are primary reasons for you to buy vinyl flooring or its similarity to stone tiles.
