Everything You Need to Know About Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl is one of the most affordable flooring materials available today. They come with an adhesive backing which can be stuck to the floor even without the help of a professional. However, there are a lot of myths associated with the material and the biggest one is its confusion with laminate flooring. This blog post addresses these myths and tells you what vinyl flooring is all about.

What is Vinyl Flooring?

To begin with, vinyl is essentially a durable and easy-on-the-pocket synthetic flooring material. Its hassle-free installation adds to its popularity. Talking about the appearance, this is a versatile material which can realistically mimic wood planks or stone tiles. It is a water proof option to be easily used in bathrooms and kitchens.

Vinyl flooring is hygienic and does not retain dust or pollens making it suitable for people who suffer from allergies. Nevertheless, one of the most confused products with vinyl is laminate because of the similarities in marketing. Both have their own list of pros and cons, but they are clearly different and distinguishable.

The Differences Between Laminate and Vinyl

Vinyl is 100 percent synthetic where the base is made up of fibreglass coated with PVC vinyl and plasticizers. The sheet is then printed and embossed with a surface print layer over which, more wear layers are applied. Vinyl plank flooring, though, has a thicker core with multi-layered PVC vinyl. Even after so many layers, they measure up to 1.5mm to 5mm in thickness. These materials are completely waterproof and perfect for damp locations which come with no seams for a perfect floor fit. With a resilient surface, fragile items do not break on impact and sound does not echo to a great extent.

Laminate consists of a hard-plastic surface with a printed design layer. It has a rigid fiberboard core made from by-products of wood bonded with melamine resins. Each plank usually ranges from 6mm to 12mm in thickness, making them denser than vinyl. Because of its core, this material is known to swell if exposed to water. In situations where there is a strong impact with delicate items, they shatter immediately. It feels hollow under the feet when walked upon and echoes sound as well.

Having said this, both are inexpensive as compared to others and suitable for your homes. If you wish to get your hands on either vinyl or laminate flooring, Mississauga has great options to choose from.

Busting the Myths of Vinyl

Owing to the confusions that vinyl is often faced with, there are a lot of misconceptions about the material. Some of these misconceptions are debunked here.

• The Monotonous Look: When vinyl was initially introduced this was true. But with the ever-evolving technology, it shows a different story. Available in 3 types: sheets, planks and tiles; vinyl can mimic the look of every type of flooring material available. This ability to mould into any design ensures you can get vinyl in every pattern you want.

• Quality Variation Doesn’t Exist: Vinyl is pressed and designed to suit every environment. The thicker variants provide more friction, minimizing any chance of accidents. Some have high moisture resistance or better adhesive quality.

• Accident Prone Flooring: A major thing to consider before you buy any flooring material is it being safe for elders, pets or children. Vinyl has a high endurance power and so the chances of slipping is minimal. The texture is soft which makes sure it feels great underfoot.
• Self-Adhesive Backing Doesn’t Work: If you invest in a flooring brand of a superior quality, the adhesive backing will be extremely strong sticking easily. Having a flat and smooth surface to work on, you wouldn’t have to worry about any additional glues or tapes for sticking your tile.

Vinyl flooring is a very pocket friendly but lavish looking experience if you choose one that suits your interiors. It will last you decades with easy maintenance and little wear and tear. It is always safe to take a well-informed decision before adding vinyl flooring to your décor.